Franciscan Prophets and the Inquisition (1226–1326)

C Anderson

doi:10.3390/rel9040108

Abstract

This paper examines how Franciscan apologetics and polemics over the status of St. Francis and the Rule of 1223 created a climate of inquisitorial suspicion over prophecy and prophetic claims.

Highlights

This paper examines how Franciscan apologetics and polemics over the status of St
The idea that claims to prophecy presented an open invitation for inquisitorial investigation and condemnation in the Middle Ages seems obvious
Robert Lerner has argued that this tradition is why very few people claimed the gift of prophecy and instead relied on the idea of an inspired reading of scripture to avoid charges of heresy

Summary

Franciscan Hagiography 1226–1263

In the spring of 1228, Pope Gregory IX commissioned Thomas of Celano to write the first life of Francis. Celano included stories of Francis appearing when friars were preaching in order to open up the “door of eloquence” or to open their minds to scripture.21 His suggestion that the prophetic mantle had in some sense been passed on to some of Francis’ companions inspired the Spirituals as did Francis’ final prophecy: “Live in the fear of God and remain in him always, for a great test will come upon you and tribulation is drawing near! Bonaventure argued the angel of the sixth seal was an appropriate symbol for Francis because he was sealed in the form of the cross by the stigmata.44 He had employed the same strategy of appealing to miracles at the height of the initial outbreak of the Mendicant Controversy in 1255, preaching: “Saint Paul exhorted Timothy to remain steadfast in what he had learned because he knew and was certain through signs and miracles that the teaching he had learned was for salvation.” In other words, the way to distinguish between the false prophets of Timothy 3:1–9 and true disciples was by the miracles associated with their teaching. Six Days, in a way that encouraged resistance to attacks on poverty and that explicitly taught that prophecy is infallible

Prophecy in the Collations on the Six Days

Peter Olivi and the Franciscan Spirituals

From Poverty to Prophecy

Conclusions