Conventual Franciscans
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The Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv) is a male religious fraternity in the Roman Catholic Church that is a branch of the
Franciscans , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...
. The friars in OFM CONV are also known as Conventual Franciscans, or Minorites. Dating back to the 13th century, OFM Conv. has provinces worldwide. Dressed in serge habits with white cords, the friars teach in schools, serve as
chaplains A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...
, run hospitals and provide aid to the poor.


Background

The OFM Conv. is a
mendicant A mendicant (from la, mendicans, "begging") is one who practices mendicancy, relying chiefly or exclusively on alms to survive. In principle, mendicant religious orders own little property, either individually or collectively, and in many inst ...
Catholic religious order. It is one of three separate fraternities that make up the First Order of St. Francis, for friars only. The Second Order is the
Poor Clares The Poor Clares, officially the Order of Saint Clare ( la, Ordo sanctae Clarae) – originally referred to as the Order of Poor Ladies, and later the Clarisses, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Order, and the Second Order of Saint Francis ...
, for nuns only. The Third Order can be for men or women, secular or religious.


Source of the name

There are several theories as to the source of the name "conventual": * In the Bull ''Cum tamquam veri'' of 5 April 1250,
Pope Innocent IV Pope Innocent IV ( la, Innocentius IV; – 7 December 1254), born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 June 1243 to his death in 1254. Fieschi was born in Genoa and studied at the universitie ...
decreed that Franciscan churches where convents existed might be called "Conventual churches". * A second theory is that the name was given to the friars living in Conventual convents. * A third view is that the Latin word ''conventualis'' was used to distinguish the friars of large convents from friars who lived solitary lives like
hermits A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions. Description In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Chr ...
. Today the term "convent" denotes a residence for nuns; however, its original meaning meant residences for either men or women.


Friar versus monk

A friar is not the same as a
monk A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...
. Both take the evangelical counsels (vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience). * The monk chooses a life of cloistered
asceticism Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...
while the friar chooses a life of service in society. For the friar, the exercise of public ministry is an essential feature, for which the life of the
cloister A cloister (from Latin ''claustrum'', "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against a ...
is considered as but an immediate preparation. * The monk lives in a self-sufficient community, while the friar works among laypeople. The friar receives donations or other charitable support initially. * The monk often takes an vow of "stability", committing himself to one community in one place. The friar commits to a community spread across a province. He will move to different houses of the community within his province.


Current status

OFM Conv. includes 30 provinces, 18 custodies, 460 friaries and 4048 friars worldwide as of August 2018. There are four provinces in the United States. Friars serve in parishes, schools, and as chaplains for the military and for other religious orders; they serve in various types of homes and shelters, and with
Catholic Relief Services Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the Bishops of the United States, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 110 ...
. Particular characteristics of the Conventuals' tradition are community life and the
urban Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to: * Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas * Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities Urban may also refer to: General * Urban (name), a list of people ...
apostolate. The Conventuals enjoy the privilege of caring for the tomb of St. Francis at Assisi and that of St. Anthony at the
Basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
in Padua, and they furnish the penitentiaries to the
Basilica of St. Peter The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican ( it, Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano), or simply Saint Peter's Basilica ( la, Basilica Sancti Petri), is a Church (building), church built in the Renaissance architecture, Renaissanc ...
in Rome.


Habit

The OFM Conv.
habit A habit (or wont as a humorous and formal term) is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.
consists of a tunic fastened around the waist with a thin white cord, along with a large cape which is round in front and pointed behind with a small hood attached. The color may be either black, which was adopted during the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
, dark grey, or light grey which is worn by friars in
East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...
.


History

The original friars of OFM-Conv. sought to spread the ideals of Saint Francis throughout the new urban social order of the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
. Some friars settled in the urban slums, or the
suburbs A suburb (more broadly suburban area) is an area within a metropolitan area, which may include commercial and mixed-use, that is primarily a residential area. A suburb can exist either as part of a larger city/urban area or as a separate ...
of the
medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
neighbourhoods where the huts and shacks of the poorest were built outside the safety of the city walls. In
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
, the first settlement of the friars was set in what was called "
Stinking Lane King Edward Street is a street in the City of London that runs from Newgate Street in the south to Little Britain in the north. It is joined by Greyfriars Passage in the west and Angel Street in the east. Postman's Park is on its east side where ...
". Since the suburbs were also the place where
hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emerge ...
s were set up, the friars were often commissioned by the city government to facilitate the care of the sick. The friars also helped to construct sturdier buildings, replacing the previous huts, and constructed churches.
Robert Grosseteste Robert Grosseteste, ', ', or ') or the gallicised Robert Grosstête ( ; la, Robertus Grossetesta or '). Also known as Robert of Lincoln ( la, Robertus Lincolniensis, ', &c.) or Rupert of Lincoln ( la, Rubertus Lincolniensis, &c.). ( ; la, Rob ...
, then
Bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury. The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and ...
, marvelled that the people "run to the friars for instruction as well as for
confession A confession is a statement – made by a person or by a group of persons – acknowledging some personal fact that the person (or the group) would ostensibly prefer to keep hidden. The term presumes that the speaker is providing information th ...
and direction. They are transforming the world."


Rule of poverty

As the Franciscan Order became increasingly centered in larger communities (“convents”) and engaged in pastoral work there, many friars started questioning the utility of the vow of poverty. The literal and unconditional observance of poverty came to appear impracticable by the great expansion of the order, its pursuit of learning, and the accumulated property of the large cloisters in the towns.Some friars favored a relaxation in the rigor of the rule, especially as regards the observance of poverty. In contrast, other friars wanted to maintain a literal interpretation of the rule. The "Friars of the Community" sought to take Francis's ideals to the far reaches of a universal Church. After the founder's death, they began the task of translating Francis's earthly existence into what they saw as a more socially relevant spiritual message for current and future generations. The Conventual Franciscans nestled their large group homes into small areas of land surrounded by poverty. They used their abilities to combat the hardships and injustices of the poverty-stricken areas where they settled. After the death of Francis in 1226, his successor Brother Elias encouraged more leniency in the rule of poverty. A long dispute followed in which the “Friars of the Community”, who had adopted certain mitigations, gradually came to be called Conventuals. Friars who zealously supported strict observance were called ''Zelanti'', and later Observants. After the death of the Minister General,
Bonaventure Bonaventure ( ; it, Bonaventura ; la, Bonaventura de Balneoregio; 1221 – 15 July 1274), born Giovanni di Fidanza, was an Italian Catholic Franciscan, bishop, cardinal, scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister G ...
, in 1274, the Order grew even more divided. The Conventuals received papal dispensations, or permissions, to build their communities in the cities in order to preach the Gospel and serve the poor. The Observants followed absolute poverty and the
eremitical A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions. Description In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Ch ...
and ascetical dimensions of Franciscanism."History", Curia OFMConv
/ref>


Establishment of two fraternities

In 1517,
Pope Leo X Pope Leo X ( it, Leone X; born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, 11 December 14751 December 1521) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 March 1513 to his death in December 1521. Born into the prominent political an ...
called a meeting of the entire Franciscan Order in Rome to end this dispute about the vow of poverty and reunite the two factions. The Observants agreed to a union, but demanded that the entire order observe the vow of poverty without any dispensation. The Conventuals said they would not agree to any union that would require them to give up their dispensations. Recognizing the impasse, Leo X decided to officially divide the two factions into separate fraternities * Leo incorporated all the Franciscan friars who wished to observe the rule of poverty without dispensation as the Friars Minor of St. Francis, or Friars Minor of the Regular Observance. They would have precedence over the Conventuals; he moreover conferred upon the Friars Minor the right of electing Minister General of the Whole Order of Friars Minor. * Those friars who wanted to live under dispensations were constituted a separate body with the name of Conventuals (Bulls ''Omnipotens Deus'', 12 June 1517, and ''Licet Alias'', 6 Dec. 1517) and given the right to elect a master general of their own, whose election, however, had to be confirmed by the Minister General of the Friars Minor. The latter appears never to have availed himself of this right, and the Conventuals may be regarded as an entirely independent order from 1517, but it was not until 1580 that they obtained a special cardinal protector of their own.


Constitutiones Urbanæ

In 1565 the Conventuals accepted the Tridentine indult allowing mendicant orders to own property corporately, and their chapter held at
Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...
in that year drew up statutes containing several important reforms which
Pope Pius IV Pope Pius IV ( it, Pio IV; 31 March 1499 – 9 December 1565), born Giovanni Angelo Medici, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 25 December 1559 to his death in December 1565. Born in Milan, his family considered ...
subsequently approved. In 1625 new constitutions were adopted by the Conventuals which superseded all preceding ones. These constitutions, which were subsequently promulgated by
Pope Urban VIII Pope Urban VIII ( la, Urbanus VIII; it, Urbano VIII; baptised 5 April 1568 – 29 July 1644), born Maffeo Vincenzo Barberini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 August 1623 to his death in July 1644. As po ...
, are known as the "Constitutiones Urbanæ" and are of importance, since at their profession the Conventuals then vowed to observe the Rule of St. Francis in accordance with them, that is to say, by admitting the duly authorized dispensations therein set forth. In 1897,
Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII ( it, Leone XIII; born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2 March 1810 – 20 July 1903) was the head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 to his death in July 1903. Living until the age of 93, he was the second-old ...
reorganized the Franciscan Orders, giving each its own Minister General. The Urban Constitutions remained in force until 1932, when they were revised and replaced. A further substantive revision occurred in 1984, following the
Second Vatican Council The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the , or , was the 21st Catholic ecumenical councils, ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. The council met in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome for four periods (or sessions) ...
. The Constitutions were revised again in 2019, which remains the current version.


Notable members of the order


Saints

* Saint Peter de Regalado (1390–1456) * Saint John of Dukla (1414–1484) *
Saint Joseph of Cupertino Joseph of Cupertino, OFM Conv. ( it, Giuseppe da Copertino; 17 June 1603 – 18 September 1663) was an Italian Conventual Franciscan friar who is honored as a Christian mystic and saint. According to traditional Franciscan accounts, he was ...
(1603–1663) * Saint Francis Fasani (1681–1742) *
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Maximilian Maria Kolbe (born Raymund Kolbe; pl, Maksymilian Maria Kolbe; 1894–1941) was a Polish Catholic priest and Conventual Franciscans, Conventual Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a man named Franciszek Gajowniczek ...
(1894–1941)


Blesseds

*
Albert Berdini of Sarteano Albert Berdini of Sarteano (1385 – 15 August 1450) was a Franciscan friar and preacher. He was an associate of Bernardino of Siena, and a diplomatic envoy of Pope Eugene IV to the Coptic and Ethiopian churches. Life Born in Sarteano in 1 ...
(1385–1450) *
Francesco Zirano Francesco Zirano (1565 – 25 January 1603) was a Roman Catholic priest from Sardinia and a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He is recognized as a martyr in the Catholic Church. Born and raised in Sardinia, he became ...
(1565–1603) *
Antonio Lucci Antonio Lucci (2 August 1682 – 25 July 1752), born Angelo Nicola Lucci, was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (the "Franciscans") and served as the Bishop of Bovino from 1729 until his death. ...
(1682–1752) * Bonaventure of Potenza (1651–1711) * Antonin Bajewski (1915–1941) * Michał Tomaszek (1960–1991) * Carlos de Dios Murias (d. 1976) * Zbigniew Strzałkowski (1958–1991)


Venerables

* Quirico Pignalberi (1891–1982)


Servants of God

*
Nicolò Cortese Nicolò Cortese (7 March 1907 – 3 November 1944) - in religious Placido - was an Italian Catholic priest and professed member from the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He served as both a parish priest and as the director for the "Il Messagger ...
(1907–1944) * Michael Jerome Cypher (1941–1975)


Popes

*
Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV ( it, Sisto IV: 21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484), born Francesco della Rovere, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 to his death in August 1484. His accomplishments as pope include ...
(1414–1484) *
Pope Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V ( it, Sisto V; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order ...
(1521–1490) *
Pope Clement XIV Pope Clement XIV ( la, Clemens XIV; it, Clemente XIV; 31 October 1705 – 22 September 1774), born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 19 May 1769 to his death in Sep ...
(1705–1774)


Scholars

*
Simon Tunsted Simon Tunsted ( – 1369) was an English Franciscan friar, theologian, philosopher and musician. The authorship of ''Quatuor Principalia Musicae'', a treatise on music, is generally attributed to him. He originated from Norwich, though his year ...
(d. 1369) *
Nicholas of Freising Nicholas of Freising, commonly known as Nicholas the Minorite, was a member of the Franciscan Order during the early 14th Century. He is presumed to be the author of the ''Chronicle of Nicholas the Minorite'', an account of the conflict over Aposto ...
() *
Cornelio Musso Cornelio Musso (or Cornelius) (1511–1574) was an Italian Friar Minor Conventual, Bishop of Bitonto (1544–1574), Bishop of Bertinoro (1541–1544), ''(in Latin)'' and prominent at the Council of Trent. He was, perhaps, the most renowned ...
(1511–1574) *
Girolamo Diruta Girolamo Diruta (c. 1546 – 1624 or 1625) was an Italian organist, music theorist, and composer. He was famous as a teacher, for his treatise ''Il Transilvano'' (Venice, 1st part 1593; 2nd part 1609-10) on counterpoint, and for his part in t ...
() *
Mario di Calasio Mario di Calasio (1550 in Calascio, Abruzzi, Italy – February 1, 1620 in Ara Coeli) was an Italian Minorite friar. Biography Joining the Franciscans at an early age, he devoted himself to Oriental languages and became an authority on Hebrew. Onc ...
(1550–1620) *
Philip Faber Philip Faber (Fabri) (1564, Spinata di Brisighella – Padua, 28 August 1630) was an Italian Franciscan theologian, philosopher and noted commentator on Duns Scotus. Life In 1582 he entered the Order of St. Francis ( Conventuals), at Cremona ...
(1564–1630) * Matthew Ferchi (1583–1669) * Andrea di Castellana (
Scalimoli Scalimoli was a Franciscan friar and Roman Catholic Church, Catholic theology, theologian, better known by his religious name, Andrea di Civita Castellana, Castellana, from his place of origin in Apulia, Mezzogiorno, southern Italy. Biography He ...
) () * Bartholomew Mastrius (1602–1673) * Francesco Lorenzo Brancati di Lauria (1612–1693) *
Antoine Pagi Antoine Pagi (31 March 1624 – 5 June 1699) was a French ecclesiastical historian. Pagi was born in Rognes. After studying with the Jesuits in Aix, he entered the monastery of the Conventual Franciscans in Arles and made solemn profession on 31 ...
(1624–1699) *
Vincenzo Coronelli Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (August 16, 1650 – December 9, 1718) was an Italian Franciscan friar, cosmographer, cartographer, publisher, and encyclopedist known in particular for his atlases and globes. He spent most of his life in Venice. Biogr ...
(1650–1718) *
François Pagi François Pagi (7 September 1654 – 21 January 1721) was a French Franciscan historian of the Catholic Church. Life Pagi was born at Lambesc in Provence. After studying with the Oratorians at Toulon, he became a Conventual Franciscan, and wa ...
(1654–1721) *
Giovanni Battista Martini Giovanni Battista or Giambattista Martini, O.F.M. Conv. (24 April 1706 – 3 August 1784), also known as Padre Martini, was an Italian Conventual Franciscan friar, who was a leading musician, composer, and music historian of the period ...
(1706–1784) *
Stanislao Mattei Stanislao Mattei, O.F.M. Conv. (10 February 1750, in Bologna – 17 May 1825, in Bologna), was an Italian Conventual Franciscan friar who was a noted composer, musicologist, and music teacher of his era. Life Mattei was born in Bologna, then pa ...
(1750–1825) * Nicholas Papini (1751–1834) * Maria Antonio of Vicenza (1834–1884) * Thomas Grassmann (1890–1970) *
Celestin Tomić Fr. Celestin (Dinko Bruno) Tomić (6 October 1917 in Vis – 23 September 2006 in Zagreb) was a Franciscan Conventual and biblical scholar. Early life He comes from a large family of the island of Vis manual workers. Dinko Bruno was born on 6 ...
(1917–2006)


References


Sources


Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium - Conventual FranciscansConventual Franciscan Friars in the United States


External links

*
Friars Minor Conventual in Uganda
Greyfriars in Uganda
Conventual Franciscans in Wrocław, Poland
History with pictures
VIDEO: OFM Conv - Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium
OFM Conv - Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium {{Authority control 1209 establishments in Europe Religious organizations established in the 1200s Christian religious orders established in the 13th century Conventual Franciscan bishops