>Andrew Jotischky, Department of History, Lancaster University.
> I am interested in monasticism (including the mendicants) and
>in medieval travel to the east.
Strictly speaking monasticism does not include medicants, who are
friars. The Franciscans and Dominicans invented the ide of friars,
that is religious who were not monks, but could (and did ) do other
things.
Monks live in a community, and are committed to it and no other:
firars belong to an order, and can be (and are) moved about within
that order (or provice) from house to house.
Friars are committed to various purposes, as preaching, teaching,
missions, conversions, city and university work: and very well too.
Monks are monks: what they do is pray together, share life together,
work together and hear the word together. Friars can and do all
these things, but not so to speak qua friars.
The distinction is not always obvious in practice (and is invariably
ignored by journalists), since all Christians are expected to hear
the word etc. For monks it is an end in itself: for others (of many,
rich and fruitful varieties) it is part of some work tehy engage in
for the church and mankind.
In fact, when monks try to behave like friars, it does not usually
work very well. And I think quite a lot of friars would agree that
they should not be expected to pretend to be monks.
Watch this space: doubtless a cat-fight will now break out.
I wish this program had a spelling check..
a.c.
Anselm Cramer OSB
Ampleforth Abbey, York
GB - YO6 4EN
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