Pope Nicholas V

Subject:

High Middle Ages

Topic: Assisi

Naomi Ashley

Abstract

:

Assisi

is an ancient hill town

in

the Umbrian region of central

I

taly

during the High Middle

Ages.

It is most famous for being the birt

hplace of Saint Francis

(1182

–

1226)

and the for

mation

of the Franciscan

Order, which

included the First, Second, and Third Orders

–

the

O

rder

of Friars

Minor, the

Order

of Saint Clare

, and the Third

Order

of Saint Francis

,

respectively

.

Who? What?

Being

the pl

ace of origin of the Franciscan

Order

, Assisi has

been closely

linked

with

the cult and the distribution of

Franciscan

followers throughout

the world.

There are several

masterpieces of

medieval

architecture

attribute

d

to Saint Francis,

such as the

creation of the

Basilica of San Francesco

, the mother

church

of the Roman Catholic

Franciscan Orders

, after Saint

Francis

’

canonization

.

The

Basilica of San Francesco

involved

both

the Church of Rome and

the City of Assisi.

Fig. 1

I

n

terior

of the San F

rancesco church in

Assis

i, Italy.

Context

:

Although Saint Francis travelled much of his life

, mu

ch of his key references to his faith

reside

in Assisi.

T

hese

references incude

the grottoes of Le Carceri

(

a hermitage complex where Sai

nt

Francis

would often come to contemplate and pray

)

, San Damiano

(a ruined

church where Saint

Fra

ncis heard God

command

him to rebuild the

Catholic Church)

, and the Porziuncola

(

a

small

Catholic church

where the Franciscan

movement

began

in 1208

)

. His companion, Clare,

who

was

lat

er canonized, founded the

Second O

rder of

the Franciscans

, the Order of Saint Clare, most

commonly known as Poor Clares

.

In honor of S

aint Clare

, the

construction of the

Ba

silica of

Santa Chiara

followed

the Basilica of San Francesco

.

Why?

The

most significant event in the history of the medieval city of Assisi was the work of Saint

Francis. The

Franciscan

Order was one of the

most influential monastic

movements

in the

Christian world

.

The original rule of the Franciscan Order did not allow

members

to own

property. Therefore, many members traveled and

be

g

g

ed

f

or food while th

ey preached

in the

streets

. This

astringent

rule

was meant to imitate

the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Ultima

tely,

the Franciscan Order

focused

on the universal message of peace and

acceptance

to other

religions and beliefs.

In

addition

,

t

he

creation

of the

basilica was

one of the most important

structures

of Christian pilgrimage in Italy

d

uring the 13

th

century

.

Bibliography:

Subject: High Middle Ages

Topic: Assisi

Naomi Ashley

Abstract:

Assisi is an ancient hill town in the Umbrian region of central Italy during the High Middle

Ages. It is most famous for being the birthplace of Saint Francis (1182–1226) and the formation

of the Franciscan Order, which included the First, Second, and Third Orders – the Order of Friars

Minor, the Order of Saint Clare, and the Third Order of Saint Francis, respectively.

Who? What?

Being the place of origin of the Franciscan Order, Assisi has

been closely linked with the cult and the distribution of

Franciscan followers throughout the world. There are several

masterpieces of medieval architecture attributed to Saint Francis,

such as the creation of the Basilica of San Francesco, the mother

church of the Roman Catholic Franciscan Orders, after Saint

Francis’ canonization. The Basilica of San Francesco involved

both the Church of Rome and the City of Assisi.

Fig. 1 Interior of the San Francesco church in Assisi, Italy.

Context:

Although Saint Francis travelled much of his life, much of his key references to his faith reside

in Assisi. These references incude the grottoes of Le Carceri (a hermitage complex where Saint

Francis would often come to contemplate and pray), San Damiano (a ruined church where Saint

Francis heard God command him to rebuild the Catholic Church), and the Porziuncola (a small

Catholic church where the Franciscan movement began in 1208). His companion, Clare, who

was later canonized, founded the Second Order of the Franciscans, the Order of Saint Clare, most

commonly known as Poor Clares. In honor of Saint Clare, the construction of the Basilica of

Santa Chiara followed the Basilica of San Francesco.

Why?

The most significant event in the history of the medieval city of Assisi was the work of Saint

Francis. The Franciscan Order was one of the most influential monastic movements in the

Christian world. The original rule of the Franciscan Order did not allow members to own

property. Therefore, many members traveled and begged for food while they preached in the

streets. This astringent rule was meant to imitate the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Ultimately,

the Franciscan Order focused on the universal message of peace and acceptance to other

religions and beliefs. In addition, the creation of the basilica was one of the most important

structures of Christian pilgrimage in Italy during the 13

th

century.

Bibliography: