Belt Brotherhood of St. Francis

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The Belt Brotherhood of St. Francis ( lat. : Chordigeri S. Francisci Assiensis , religious symbol : Chord (Fr)) is a former Roman Catholic brotherhood . It was initiated in 1558 by the Franciscan Felice Peretti di Montalto, later Pope Sixtus V , and lost its existence around 1814/15, during the Restoration .

history

The designation " Belt Brotherhood " can be traced back to the narrow belt or cord that was worn by the members, following the example of Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan orders . The official title of the original brotherhood is therefore also “Arch brotherhood of the belt of St. Francis of Assisi". Wearing this cord should symbolize repentance and vigilance. In addition, the rule said that anyone who wore the consecrated belt would be protected from the "evil".

The brotherhood was initially a pious Christian association. According to the rules of the order, the daily duty included praying the “ Our Father ” six times . At the monthly meetings held with the Minor Brothers , devotions were held, donations were collected, and indulgences were given. As a member, anyone who submitted to the fraternity's statutes could enter and exit. Since this corresponded to a widespread wish of the members, the brotherhoods were very popular with the faithful .

distribution

The brotherhood in Munich

In the period from 1606 to 1665, the Belt Brotherhood spread quickly. As early as 1606, the community in the greater Munich area had over 17,000 members. The list of members ranged from Duke Wilhelm in Bavaria to Elector Maximilian I to showmen and evildoers .

The brotherhood in the Vohburg monastery

In 1762 in the received Monastery on the Danube Vohburg resident belt Brotherhood of St. Francis his own altar privilege . During the monthly processions , each participant was given a complete indulgence . Pope Sixtus V had already approved and approved this general indulgence in 1586. The members should wear their "belt" in public during prayer services and processions.

The Belt Brotherhood in Lechenich

The Franciscans in Lechenich had lived in Brühl since the 15th century . Since 1617, a religious priest has held a brotherhood celebration every 14 days for the Belt Brotherhood. Here, too, the brotherhood had been granted an altar right. The fraternity celebration was held in the parish church of St. Kilian in front of one of the side altars of the church dedicated to the patrons of the fraternity.

Schwarzenberg Monastery

In 1751 the 14 fathers and four brothers of the Franciscan monastery in Schwarzenberg founded a belt brotherhood with the permission of the diocesan bishop .

Brothers in Slovakia

In the Slovak town of Oreské , the local parish was cared for from 1721 to 1773 by the lay fraternity of belt wearers.

St. Benoit-Joseph Labre

St. Benoît Joseph Labre (1748–1783) was a member of the Belt Brotherhood of St. Francis. In 1860 he was appointed by Pope Pius IX. blessed and in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII. canonized . His cult spread particularly in Rome , France and in the Franciscan order.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Karl Suso Frank: Belt Brotherhoods . In: Walter Kasper (Ed.): Lexicon for Theology and Church . 3. Edition. tape 4 . Herder, Freiburg im Breisgau 1995, Sp. 1110 .
  2. ↑ Ekkart Sauser:  LABRE, Benoit-Joseph. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 16, Bautz, Herzberg 1999, ISBN 3-88309-079-4 , Sp. 889-890.  ( Article / beginning of article in Internet archive )