III. The Friars Overthrow the Old Monastic Ideal

And now, in the beginning years of the thirteenth century, after the monastic reforms of Cluny and the Cistercians, an entirely new expression of the monastic ideal appeared in the form of various orders of friars—in fact, it was a complete reversal of the old monastic ideal. “Live,” said the monk, “as if you were alone in this world with God.” “Live,” said both St. Francis and St. Dominic, “as if you existed only for the sake of others.” Their conception of monasticism was so utterly different that the friars were forbidden to enter the walls of any monastery. ^{46Workman, op. cit., pp. 271, 272.} The old orders had emphasized retirement from life in the world, and preoccupation with personal salvation amid the quiet austerities of monastic life. The new orders deliberately planted them selves in the heart of the busy haunts of men, and sought to make themselves indispensable to humanity. ^{47Ault, op. cit., p. 489.} They were essentially a company of social workers.PFF1 642.1

The order of Franciscan Friars sprang, of course, from Francis of Assisi, in Italy, who was born in 1181 or 1182. In 1208 he felt the urge to go out to preach and to heal the sick just as Jesus had done. He and some companions gave up all their worldly connections and went out barefoot to sing and to preach, and to dwell among the despised of mankind. Soon many followed, seeing in this way of life the only remedy for the corruption of the world. This order grew enormously. Then its founding ideals changed, and great churches were built, especially in Italy, to accommodate the vast crowds that came to hear the now popular Franciscan preachers, or Minorites, as they frequently called themselves. ^{48Ibid., pp. 489-491.}PFF1 642.2

Another group, the Dominican Order, recognized by Honorius III in 1216, was founded by Dominic of Castille (b. 1170). His burden was to preach the correct doctrine, to establish the true faith, and to erase all heresy from Christ’s kingdom. The Dominicans, or preaching friars, came to emphasize intellectualism. They were accomplished Latinists, and were thoroughly trained in theology and canon law. They became especially active in university towns. Some became noted scholars, and obtained professorships at Paris, Oxford, Montpellier, Bologna, and Toulouse. Thomas Aquinas was one of their greatest lights. ^{49Joseph R. Strayer and Dana Carleton Munro, The Middle Ages, p. 312.} Whereas the Dominicans were proud of their libraries, the Franciscans were proud of their sick wards. This perhaps best illustrates the difference between the two orders. ^{50Ault, op. cit., p. 492.}PFF1 643.1

In 1233 the Dominican Order was made primarily responsible, by Gregory IX, for carrying out the work of the Inquisition. As Inquisitors they became a distinct clan, dissociated from the pastoral care of souls. They even had power over priests and bishops, and no appeal could be made from their judgment except to the papal court. ^{51David S. Schaff, op. cit., part 1, p. 523.}PFF1 643.2

Both orders thus appeared in the period when papal might was reaching its climax, along with marked spiritual depravity. These, although willing instruments in the hands of the Papacy, nevertheless emphasized the spiritual side of religious life, thereby seeking to counterbalance and somewhat redeem the evil effects of an ecclesiastical hierarchy that had departed from the simple precepts of Christ.PFF1 643.3