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| 6. History of the Franciscan Movement (2)
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The Franciscans in the Universities
2.21. By the middle of the 13th century, the Franciscan Order had become one of
the most learned institutions in the world. By this time the office of
"lector" was one of the established offices in the Order. Whole convents were
dedicated to be study houses for the friars, especially in the university
cities of Europe.
2.22. In England the friars had arrived in 1224. By 1229 they already had
their own school in Oxford. In Paris the friars had arrived in 1219. By 1229
they had an independent school of their own. In both places they soon came
into contact with the secular masters of the universities, who saw in the
mendicant Dominicans and Franciscans a threat to their own advancement. The
mendicants, in fact, possessed a kind of "universitas" of their own, with
proper lectors and students, lectures, disputations. The Friars Preachers and
Friars Minor soon acquired chairs in the university, when some of the secular
masters, such as John of St. Giles and Alexander of Hales became, respectively,
a Dominican and a Franciscan. In 1250 Pope Innocent IV ordered the university
of Paris to give the "licentia docendi" upon qualified friars, who could become
regent masters. There were various instances of refusal to obey on the part of
the secular masters, who were dismayed at the way the Dominicans and
Franciscans were attracting students to their schools. Giovanni da Parma had
tried to calm the situation in 1254. But the question of the Joachimite
tendencies in the Franciscan Order was a blow to his efforts, especially after
Gerard from Borgo San Donnino published his "Liber introductorius". William of
Saint Amour attacked the mendicants, and was answered by both Thomas Aquinas
and Bonaventure. Gerard of Abbeville did the same in 1269, to be answered by
Bonaventure with the "Apologia pauperum", and by John Peckham with the
"Tractatus pauperis" (1269-1270). Nicholas of Lisieux renewed the controversy
in 1271, to be answered by Peckham. These secular masters refuted voluntary
poverty as being a dangerous choice, contrary to what Christ and the apostles
taught. They attacked the mendicants, saying that they did not possess goods,
but made use of them just the same.
2.23. Haymo of Faversham had joined the Franciscan Order in the early years of
its presence in Paris. When Alexander of Hales became a Franciscan in 1235 he
took with him a number of students, among whom Jean de la Rochelle, Eudes
Rigaud, William of Melitona and Bonaventure. These eventually succeeded him as
masters. The friars were at St. Denis in 1228, but in 1231 they moved in the
university quarters and built the Grand Couvent des Cordeliers.
2.24.The Franciscan masters of Paris gained important positions in the Church
and Order. John Peckham became archbishop of Canterbury and Bonaventure,
Matteo d'Aquasparta, Arlotto da Prato and Giovanni da Murrovalle, became
Minister Generals, Pierre Jean Olieu was one of the leaders of the
Spirituals.
2.25. In Oxford the Franciscan school progressed with the personal interest of
Alberto da Pisa, Minister Provincial of England, and with the learned
experience of Robert Grossatesta, future bishop of Lincoln, who presided over
the Franciscan school from 1229 to 1235 and left his rich library to the
friars. Among the famous Franciscan masters of Oxford we mention Adam Marsh,
Thomas of York, John Peckham, Richard of Middletown, William of Ockham, Roger
Bacon. In Cambridge the friars had arrived in 1225, and there started a school
in 1230.
2.26. Anthony of Padua taught theology to the friars at the university of
Bologna. Haymo of Faversham and Giovanni da Parma were also lectors at this
student house, which was always independent of the university, which did not
possess a faculty of theology. Other scholars were in the university of Padua
in 1222.
2.27. In Köln also the Franciscans had a student house, in which John Duns
Scotus taught for some time before his death on 8 November 1308. John was born
in Scotland in 1266 and joined the Franciscans in Dumfries. He studied in
Oxford, and was ordained on 17 March 1291 by the bishop Oliver Sutton in
Northampton. He went to Paris to continue his studies in 1293-1297. He
lectured in Oxford, Paris and Cambridge. While in Paris he failed to sign a
"libellus" against Pope Boniface VIII in favour of the French king. Thus he
had to leave the university, but returned in 1304 upon recommendation of
Gonsalvus of Spain, Minister General, who had been his master. In 1308 he was
transferred to Köln, where he died. His cult as blessed was confirmed "ab
immemorabile" by John Paul II on 6 July 1991. Scotus is known for his doctrine
regarding the universal predestination of Christ and the Immaculate Conception
of the Virgin Mary.
© copyright FIOR-Malta
Text by Fr. Noel Muscat ofm
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