medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
For mendicants (and consistent with canon law), friars were required to
be licensed by their local ordinary (namely, their general minister or,
if delegated, to the provincial minister). That is because their
ordinary was their religious superior. Francis and other lay friars
(non-ordained) presents an interesting case after 1215 (Lateran IV and
its canon 10). The canon does not make a distinction between penitential
and doctrinal preaching. However, one assumes that preaching was to be
restricted more and more to clerics with
permission/authorization/licenses to preach. But this is an assumption
that needs a bit more investigation, I think, if foir no other reason
than to bear out the assumption. Francis and other lay friars, it seems,
did indeed continue to preach after 1215. But there are indications in
the 1220s and 1230s that such lay/penitential preaching was, if not
actually discouraged, somewhat on the wane.
Michael F. Cusato, O.F.M.
Director, Franciscan Institute
Dean, School of Franciscan Studies
-----Original Message-----
From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious
culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Howe,
John
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 1:52 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] License to Preach
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
culture
"When a mendicant takes upon himself the right to preach, does he
require any form of legal or written endorsement from the main
establishment in late medieval England and France?"
One distinction which has not yet entered into this discussion
is the distinction between penitential and dogmatic preaching. Early
mendicants, including Francis, may have been allowed to wander about
insofar as they were seen as preaching penance and telling how God
worked in the world and in their own lives. Many ecclesiastical
administrators felt that such "testimonials" did not necessarily require
theological training or holy orders. But once preachers claimed to
interpret the Bible or the teaching of the church, then that was quite a
different matter.
When mendicants won, and then partly lost, particular legal
privileges concerning their license to preach, then this distinction
about types of preaching became less relevant to them.
--John Howe, Texas Tech University
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