Elias of Cortona
Encyclopedia
Elias of Cortona was born, it is said, at Bevilia near Assisi
, ca. 1180; he died at Cortona
, 22 April 1253. He was among the first to join St. Francis of Assisi in his newly founded Order of Friars Minor.
Chosen by St. Francis of Assisi to administer the in his name, he was elected Vicar General
of the Order at the Chapter of Pentecost in 1221. He was chosen by Francis despite the fact that he was a lay member of the Order (lay Brother
). It fell to him to announce the death of St. Francis in 1226 to the worldwide Order. Elias served in this position until the Chapter of 1227, the first after the founder's death, when he was replaced by Friar John Parenti, Minister Provincial of Spain
, who was elected the first Minister General. A great patron of the Franciscans and their official Protector, Cardinal
Ugolino had shortly before been elected as Pope, and taken the name of Gregory IX
. The new Pope immediately declared his intention to build a splendid church to house the body of the Little Poor Man he had known and venerated. The task for this was entrusted to Brother Elias.
Though Elias had tried for the office of Minister General at the General Chapter of 1230, it was only at the Chapter of 1232 that he was elected. Thus he became, after the founder, the second Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor. Almost immediately, his succession was a point of controversy and created a split within the Order. Among his supporters was St. Clare of Assisi, considered the cofounder of the Order. Some of his fiercest critics were the first companions of Saint Francis, such as the simple Brother Giles and Brother Leo
, St. Francis' secretary and companion, who both opposed what they saw as an abandonment of St. Francis' beloved commitment to corporate poverty
under Elias' initiative. An example of this was the magnificence of the new Basilica of St. Francis and Sacro Convento
Elias was designing as the holy founder's resting place.
During his administration, Elias worked strenuously to promote the growth of the Order. He dispatched friars to new lands. He authorized the building of large monastic-style residences in the cities, which were to serve as centers of study. This was a departure from the wandering tradition of the Order, with its small and scattered residences or hermitages. This development was to ahve two consequences. Firstly, it introduced large groups of the growing number of clergy in the Order. This became a source of friction with the local clergy of the cities, as the faithful sought the spiritual services of the friars in preference to their own parish
churches. Secondly, there grew a growing distinction between the friars who lived in established communities (convents, thus termed the Conventuals) as opposed to the "Spirituals" who strove to follow Francis' original lifestyle.
About 1238, Pope Gregory sent Elias as an ambassador to the excommunicated
Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II
; apparently, as a result, Elias became a supporter of the Emperor. A General Chapter of the Order was held in Rome
in 1239. From Friar Thomas of Eccleston
's account of this Chapter, it appears that one of the chief spokesmen against Elias was Friar Haymo of Faversham
. Elias was deposed from the office of Minister General by the Chapter.
After the deposition of Elias, Albert of Pisa
, Minister Provincial of England, was elected as Minister General, and Haymo succeeded him as the Minister of the English Province
. Albert, however died during the first year of his Generalate, and Haymo was then elected to that office in 1240.
As a consequence of his behaviour, Elias himself received excommunication from Pope Gregory, declared in 1240, in consequence of which he was expelled from the Order. In that same year, Elias definitively embraced the Emperor in his strife with Rome and joined the Emperor's army, riding on a magnificent charger at the siege of Faenza
and at that of Ravenna
.
Attribution to him of some alchemistic
manuscripts is often questioned.
He was reconciled with both the Holy See
and the Order before his death.
Assisi
- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
, ca. 1180; he died at Cortona
Cortona
Cortona is a town and comune in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy. It is the main cultural and artistic center of the Val di Chiana after Arezzo.-History:...
, 22 April 1253. He was among the first to join St. Francis of Assisi in his newly founded Order of Friars Minor.
Chosen by St. Francis of Assisi to administer the in his name, he was elected Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Order at the Chapter of Pentecost in 1221. He was chosen by Francis despite the fact that he was a lay member of the Order (lay Brother
Lay brother
In the most common usage, lay brothers are those members of Catholic religious orders, particularly of monastic orders, occupied primarily with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary, in contrast to the choir monks of the same monastery who are devoted mainly to the...
). It fell to him to announce the death of St. Francis in 1226 to the worldwide Order. Elias served in this position until the Chapter of 1227, the first after the founder's death, when he was replaced by Friar John Parenti, Minister Provincial of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, who was elected the first Minister General. A great patron of the Franciscans and their official Protector, Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Ugolino had shortly before been elected as Pope, and taken the name of Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX
Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was pope from March 19, 1227 to August 22, 1241.The successor of Pope Honorius III , he fully inherited the traditions of Pope Gregory VII and of his uncle Pope Innocent III , and zealously continued their policy of Papal supremacy.-Early life:Ugolino was...
. The new Pope immediately declared his intention to build a splendid church to house the body of the Little Poor Man he had known and venerated. The task for this was entrusted to Brother Elias.
Though Elias had tried for the office of Minister General at the General Chapter of 1230, it was only at the Chapter of 1232 that he was elected. Thus he became, after the founder, the second Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor. Almost immediately, his succession was a point of controversy and created a split within the Order. Among his supporters was St. Clare of Assisi, considered the cofounder of the Order. Some of his fiercest critics were the first companions of Saint Francis, such as the simple Brother Giles and Brother Leo
Brother Leo
Brother Leo was the favorite disciple, secretary and confessor of St Francis of Assisi.The dates of his birth and of his becoming a Franciscan are not known; but he was one of the small group of most trusted companions of, the saint during his last years...
, St. Francis' secretary and companion, who both opposed what they saw as an abandonment of St. Francis' beloved commitment to corporate poverty
Corporate poverty
Corporate poverty is the practice of refusing to own property, either individually or corporately. This practice of Middle Ages religious communities developed based on Christian religious beliefs. Practical considerations generally allow for some exceptions....
under Elias' initiative. An example of this was the magnificence of the new Basilica of St. Francis and Sacro Convento
Sacro Convento
The Sacro Convento is a Franciscan friary in Assisi, Umbria, Italy. The friary is connected as part of three buildings to the upper and lower church of the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi, where the friars custody with great reverence the body of Saint Francis. St...
Elias was designing as the holy founder's resting place.
During his administration, Elias worked strenuously to promote the growth of the Order. He dispatched friars to new lands. He authorized the building of large monastic-style residences in the cities, which were to serve as centers of study. This was a departure from the wandering tradition of the Order, with its small and scattered residences or hermitages. This development was to ahve two consequences. Firstly, it introduced large groups of the growing number of clergy in the Order. This became a source of friction with the local clergy of the cities, as the faithful sought the spiritual services of the friars in preference to their own parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
churches. Secondly, there grew a growing distinction between the friars who lived in established communities (convents, thus termed the Conventuals) as opposed to the "Spirituals" who strove to follow Francis' original lifestyle.
About 1238, Pope Gregory sent Elias as an ambassador to the excommunicated
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Frederick II
Frederick II
Frederick II may refer to:* Frederick II, Duke of Swabia * Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor , king 1211/12–1250, emperor from 1220* Frederick II of Austria , Duke of Austria 1230–1246* Frederick III of Sicily...
; apparently, as a result, Elias became a supporter of the Emperor. A General Chapter of the Order was held in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1239. From Friar Thomas of Eccleston
Thomas of Eccleston
Thomas of Eccleston was a thirteenth century English Franciscan chronicler. He is known for De Adventu Fratrum Minorum in Angliam. It runs from 1224, when Franciscan friars first came to England, under Agnellus of Pisa, to about 1258...
's account of this Chapter, it appears that one of the chief spokesmen against Elias was Friar Haymo of Faversham
Haymo of Faversham
Haymo of Faversham was an English Franciscan and schoolman, born at Faversham, Kent and died at Anagni, Italy, circa 1243. Following the custom in the Middle Ages to designate the more celebrated among the doctors by certain epithets, he is called Inter Aristotelicos Aristotelicissimus...
. Elias was deposed from the office of Minister General by the Chapter.
After the deposition of Elias, Albert of Pisa
Albert of Pisa
Albert of Pisa was an Italian Franciscan. He became the third Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor in 1239.He had been the successor to Agnellus of Pisa, as the second Franciscan Provincial in England. He had also been Provincial in Germany and Hungary.-External links:*...
, Minister Provincial of England, was elected as Minister General, and Haymo succeeded him as the Minister of the English Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
. Albert, however died during the first year of his Generalate, and Haymo was then elected to that office in 1240.
As a consequence of his behaviour, Elias himself received excommunication from Pope Gregory, declared in 1240, in consequence of which he was expelled from the Order. In that same year, Elias definitively embraced the Emperor in his strife with Rome and joined the Emperor's army, riding on a magnificent charger at the siege of Faenza
Siege of Faenza
The Siege of Faenza occurred in 1239. Frederick II laid siege to the Guelph-controlled town of Faenza and successfully captured it....
and at that of Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
.
Attribution to him of some alchemistic
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
manuscripts is often questioned.
He was reconciled with both the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and the Order before his death.
External links
- «Elias of Cortona; Elias Bonusbaro; Elias Bonibarone», New Catholic Dictionary, 1910