Order of the Cross of Bologna

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The Order of the Cross of Bologna ( Ordo Cruciferorum ), also known as the Italian Cross , was one of Pope Alexander III. on December 20, 1169 recognized order , to which the rule of Augustine obeyed regular canons belonged. The order ran hospitals dedicated to the poor and sick. The mother house was the Hospital Santa Maria di Morello in Bologna . The order spread to other European countries, which, however, were largely independent. After periods of decline and unsuccessful reforms, Alexander VII abolished the order in 1656.

history

The origins of the order are in the dark. The order made an attempt in the 16th century to classify the origins in ancient Jerusalem . However, this is doubted. The order operated a hospital for the Holy Spirit in Acre during the Crusader period , which may also be the origin of the order. Reliable evidence for the existence of the order does not exist until 1159, when Pope Alexander III. on the run from persecution by Frederick I found shelter at the houses of the order several times. When peace had returned, the Pope took the opportunity in 1169 to confirm the order and the rule .

Ruins of the hospital near Nenagh in Ireland, founded around 1200

Very early there was a connection to Ireland , where a hospital with Augustinian canons regular was founded in Dublin around 1180. It remains unclear whether this was associated with the Italian Congregation from the beginning; it is assumed, however, that this was the case no later than 1216 for the then 15 hospitals in Ireland. The Irish houses were all abolished by the Reformation in the 16th century at the latest . In England, too, three houses connected with the Italians were founded; however, the majority of Augustinian hospitals were founded in the Netherlands based on the Order of the Holy Cross . The order spread rapidly in Italy, as the subsequent popes also significantly promoted it. In 1228 at least 55 hospitals in Italy belonged to the order, and in the heyday the number of 208 houses was reached. Four religious provinces were established in Italy. In addition to the parent company in Bologna, these were Milan (Santa Maria, later Santa Croce), Naples (Santa Maria delle Vergini) and Venice (Santa Maria di Crosechieri). In the course of the 12th and 13th centuries, foundations were also made in Cyprus , Greece and Crete .

Compared to other regular canons, the rules regarding meals and fasting were very strict . The habit was gray and there was always an iron cross to be carried in one hand. The Council of Mantua in 1459 introduced a blue habit and silver crosses for the order. This was confirmed in the General Chapter of 1462. The three crosses on Golgotha served as an emblem .

At this point the order was already in decline. In Italy in the 15th century there were only 50 hospitals of the Order, with Verpfründungen and Kommendationen had to fight. Attempts at reform by Popes Pius II , Innocent VIII and Pius V were unsuccessful. In 1656 Alexander VII saw no more potential for reforms and abolished the order and with it the houses that remained in Italy.

literature

  • R. Neville Hadcock: The Order of the Holy Cross in Ireland . Presented to Aubrey Gwynn, SJ In: JA Watt, JB Morrall, FX Martin (Eds.): Medieval Studies . Dublin 1961, p. 44-53 .
  • Aubrey Gwynn , R. Neville Hadcock: Medieval Religious Houses Ireland . Longman, London 1970, ISBN 0-582-11229-X , pp. 208-216 .
  • David Knowles , R. Neville Hadcock: Medieval Religious Houses England and Wales . 2nd Edition. Longman, London 1971, ISBN 0-582-11230-3 , pp. 208-211 .
  • Kaspar Elm : Lords of the Cross . In: Lexicon of the Middle Ages (LexMA). Volume 5, Artemis & Winkler, Munich / Zurich 1991, ISBN 3-7608-8905-0 , Sp. 1500–1502.
  • Georg Schwaiger : Lords of the Cross . In: Georg Schwaiger (Ed.): Monasticism, orders, monasteries . CH Beck, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-406-37314-3 , p. 305-306 .

Web links

Commons : Fratres Cruciferi  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Entry in the Lexicon of the Middle Ages by K. Elm.
  2. ↑ a b Entry in the lexicon Mönchtum, Orden, Klöster by G. Schwaiger.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h Hadcock, p. 45.
  4. ^ Hadcock, p. 44.
  5. ↑ Knowles, p. 208.
  6. ^ David Kelly: The Augustinians in Dublin . In: Dublin Historical Record . Vol. 58, No. 2 , 2005, p. 166-175 .
  7. ^ Hadcock, p. 50.
  8. ↑ Knowles, p. 208.
  9. ↑ Gwynn, p. 210.
  10. ↑ Knowles, p. 209.