Bonagratia of Bergamo (c. 1265–1340) was a Franciscan involved in the "poverty of Christ" controversy. As a trained canonist, he supported

Michael of Cesena Michael of Cesena (''Michele di Cesena'' or ''Michele Fuschi'') ( 1270 – 29 November 1342) was an Italian Franciscan, Minister General of that order, and theologian. His advocacy of evangelical poverty brought him into conflict with Pope ...

against

Pope John XXII Pope John XXII ( la, Ioannes PP. XXII; 1244 – 4 December 1334), born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse), was head of the Catholic Church from 7 August 1316 to his death in December 1334. He was the second and longest-reigning Avignon Pope, elected by ...

Life

Bonagratia joined the Franciscans in 1309, having already acquired a degree in canon and civil law. Due to his background in law, Bonagratia became assistant Procurator of the Franciscans at the Avignon Curia. He counseled

procurator Procurator (with procuracy or procuratorate referring to the office itself) may refer to: * Procurator, one engaged in procuration, the action of taking care of, hence management, stewardship, agency * ''Procurator'' (Ancient Rome), the title of ...

Raymond of Fronsac in his dealings with the dissident Spiritual Franciscans,Flood, David. ''Franciscan Studies'', vol. 61, 2003, pp. 293–296. JSTOR
/ref> and became Procurator in 1319. Bonagratia was deeply involved in the "poverty of Christ" controversy. It began at Narbonne in 1321 between the Dominicans and Franciscans. The main question at issue seems to have been whether it is heretical to assert that Christ and His Apostles possessed no property either in particular or in common. On account of the important bearing of the controversy on the rule of the Friars Minor, a general chapter of the order was convoked at Perugia, in June of the year 1322, and the minister general, together with the other members of the chapter, caused two letters or communications to be published in which the mind of the chapter regarding the controversy is set forth at considerable length.
Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 1 January 2020 Displeased at the action of the chapter at Perugia, Pope John XXII published the Bull "Ad conditorem canonum" in which he renounces the dominion of all the goods of the Friars Minor hitherto assumed by the Roman pontiffs, and echoes

Gerard of Abbeville Gerard of Abbeville (1220-1272) was a theologian from the University of Paris. He formally became a theologian in 1257 and from then was known as an opponent of the mendicant orders, particularly in the second stage of the conflict, taking part in ...

, declaring that the ownership of a thing cannot be separated from its actual use or consumption. The Franciscans objected to this attack on their longstanding beliefs and customs. The ''Appellatio magna monacensis'', an important manifesto of the group around

, has been attributed to him. He had been thrown in prison for his heretical views.

References

Sources

* * Eva Luise Wittneben (2003), ''Bonagratia von Bergamo: Franziskanerjurist und Wortführer seines Ordens im Streit mit Papst Johannes XXII''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bonagratia of Bergamo 1265 births 1340 deaths 14th-century Italian jurists Writers from Bergamo