They and their two families have always constituted an incredible team. There is a third figure who is rarely mentioned, but who was also brought into the circle, because of his great love for Francis. That was St. John de Matha, the founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarian Brothers).
At the mother house of the Trinitarians there is a big stained glass window of St. John washing Francis’ feet. The Trinitarians refer to Francis as “The Holy Father”.
Dominicans and Franciscans call him and Dominic, Our Holy Fathers. The Trinitarians call Francis, The Holy Father. They do not refer to St. John as the father, but as the founder.
The 7 Holy Founders of the Servite Friars also refer to Francis as “Our Holy Father Francis.”
The Mendicant Orders are a strong part of the tradition of the Church. Together with the monastic orders, they have upheld Catholicism through it’s worse times.
They are:
Franciscans (Friars Minor, commonly known as the Grey Friars), founded 1209
Carmelites, (Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Carmel, commonly known as the White Friars), founded 1206–1214
Dominicans (Order of Preachers, commonly called the Black Friars), founded 1215
Servites (Order of Servants of Mary), founded 1233 by the Seven Holy Men of Florence, Italy.
Augustinians (Hermits of St. Augustine, commonly called the Austin Friars), founded 1244 - 1256
We have to clarify here that the Dominican Friars, even though they are referred to as the First Order of the Dominican family are not truly the first order. The nuns were founded first around 1206 - 1208. The friars were founded second around 1215 - 1216. The friars did not like being called the second order, because in the Franciscan and Benedictine traditions the second order was the order for women. The Dominicans changed it. They refer to the friars as the First Order.
It was kind of a silly thing of the later Middle Ages. Today, no one pays any attention to such things. Mother Teresa founded a congregation of women first, then a congregation of men. Big deal! As long as they got founded. I guess in those days, the whole male female thing was important.
My guess is that there was the whole issue of clericalism. The Dominicans are an order of priests. In those days, priests occuppied the place of honor in many religious houses. Even the Carmelites and Franciscans, who were not originally priests, fell into clericalism.
Franciscan historians always blame it on the laity. That’s a very interesting debate. Many laymen argue that it was not their fault. I often wonder, does it matter whose fault it was? What matters is that we recover the vision and traditions of these great movements.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF :christmastree1:
I am offended that Carmelite is not an option.
(I do have great affection for them.)