Catholic orders of monks. Monastic orders of the Middle Ages

Organized into congregations and brotherhoods occupies important positions. Currently there are about 140 monastic orders, whose activities are led by the Vatican Congregation for Sanctified Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The most influential monastic orders are the Dominicans, Franciscans and Jesuits. Each of them has its own specifics and its own history of development.

Benedictines

Founder of the Benedictine monastery - Benedict of Nursia(480-547) became the founder of the first monastic rule. He founded a monastery in Monte in 530 Cassino, in which he established strict rules. This charter became the basis and example for the monks of other monasteries. The main rule was community life away from the bustle of the world. Monasteries were built in remote places, away from the influence of the world. Initially, there was no central organization; each monastery was independent. Monasteries became centers of education and training. The Benedictines were engaged in missionary activities in the Slavic lands and the Baltic states. Currently, the Benedictine Order unites over 10 thousand monks and 20 thousand nuns.

Monastic orders appeared in 910, after the abbot About from the monastery Cluny undertook a reform of the monastic organization. He proposed to unite many monasteries performing common tasks into orders, which should submit to the central government. The purpose of such a unification was a return to strict observance of the rules, the deprivation of monasteries of autonomy and subordination to the pope, bypassing bishops, and the independence of the church from secular power.

Carmelites

Founder - Berthold of Calabria, leader of the crusaders. The order was founded in 1155 after the victorious Crusade. It got its name from its location - at the foot of the mountain Carmel in Palestine. After the Crusaders were defeated, in the 13th century. The order moved to Western Europe. In the 16th century The Carmelite Order split into several movements. A women's order arose in Spain Barefoot Carmelites, and then male. The peculiarities of the order include a reclusive lifestyle and living on alms. Carmelite monks are mainly engaged in missionary work, raising and educating children and youth.

Carthusians

The monastery was founded in 1084 in the province Chartreuse(lat. - Cartusia). It was officially approved in 1176. There is a female branch of the order, which was formed in 1234. A special feature of the monastery is the presence of large land property. The main source of wealth is the production and sale of Chartreuse liqueur.

Cistercians

First appeared in 1098 in a desert area Sieve (Cito). Since the 14th century There are nunnery monasteries. In 1115 the order was reformed Bernard of Clairvaux and received the name Bernardine. The monks of the order actively participated in, supported the pope in his struggle with the secular authorities.

Franciscans

The monastery organized Francis of Assisi in 1207-1209 in Italy near Assisi. Francis of Assisi spoke out against the acquisitiveness of the papal hierarchs, against the distribution of positions by the pope to his relatives, and against simony (the buying and selling of church positions). He preached the benevolence of poverty, the renunciation of all property, sympathy for the poor, and a cheerful, poetic attitude toward nature. His mysticism was permeated with love for people. These ideas have become very popular and a short time received recognition in other European countries. Francis of Assisi created "Order of Friars Minor" - religious and moral community. Minorites- “the least of all people” - lived not in monasteries, but in the world, traveled, preached in the language of the common people, and were engaged in charity.

The renunciation of property aroused suspicion among the pope. At first, Francis of Assisi was forbidden to preach, then in 1210 he was allowed, but demanded to abandon the call to poverty. Francis did not comply. After his death, the order split. Extreme followers of Francis fratinelli(brothers) were declared heretics, many were burned. The remaining moderate followers became the pope's support. In 1525, the Franciscans separated capuchins(pointed hoods) to counteract. Since 1619, the Capuchins became an independent order.

Dominicans

The order was founded in 1216 by a Spaniard Dominic de Guzman. The purpose of the order was to fight heresy Albigensians, which spread to France, Germany and Italy. The Albigensians opposed the Catholic Church, which hindered the development of cities. A crusade was declared against the Albigensians, which ended in the defeat of the heretics. The Dominicans also fought the heresy of the Cathars and other movements opposed to the Catholic Church, showing particular cruelty and uncompromisingness.

Dominicans take a vow of poverty, abstinence and obedience, and they are forbidden to eat. The requirement of poverty applies only to individuals, not to congregations. The emblem of the order is a dog with a lit torch in its mouth. They call themselves “dogs of the Lord” (lat. - dominicanes). In 1232 they were given leadership of the Inquisition. They become censors of Catholic orthodoxy. In their activities, the Dominicans used torture, executions, and prisons. They abandoned physical labor in favor of teaching and scientific work. Prominent Catholic theologians emerged from the ranks of the order, including Thomas Aquinas, as well as several popes.

Knight brotherhoods

Spiritual knightly orders began to emerge in the territory of Palestine, conquered during the first Crusade, to protect the conquered lands. The knights took three monastic vows: chastity, poverty and obedience. Unlike ordinary monks, members of the orders had to fight for the faith with weapons in their hands. They obeyed only the pope and the order authorities - the chapter and the grand masters.

Hospitallers

Around 1070 a hospice house was built in Jerusalem ( hospitalis) for wounded and sick pilgrims. The house was given the name of St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria. Soon the monks caring for the wounded began to take part in the fighting themselves. In 1113, the pope approved the order's charter, according to which the Hospitallers, or Johannites, were called upon to fight the infidels. After the conquest of Palestine by the Muslims in 1309, the Johannites took possession of the island of Rhodes, and then, when the Ottomans captured it in 1522, they moved to the island of Malta, after which the order received the name Maltese. The distinctive feature of the order was a red cloak with a white cross.

Templars or Templars

The Order of the Templars or Templars arose at the beginning of the 12th century. It was named for the location of his residence near King Solomon's Temple. The distinctive feature of the order was a white cloak with a red cross. The Order has accumulated significant cash. After the fall of Jerusalem, the order moved to Cyprus, then to France. King Philip IV the Fair, seeking to seize the wealth of the order, accused the Templars of Manichaeism (a synthesis of Zoroastrianism and Christianity). In 1310, the knights were burned, the property passed to the king, and the order was abolished.

Warband

In the 12th century In 1190, German crusaders created a military monastic order in Palestine, based on the hospital of the Holy Virgin Mary - the Teutonic Order - after the name of the German tribe. At the beginning of the 13th century. he was transferred to the Baltic states, where he launched military activities in Prussia. The Order carried out a policy of feudal-Catholic expansion in the Baltic states and the northwestern Russian principalities. The difference between the Teutons was a white cloak with a black cross.

Jesuits

The name comes from Lat. SocietasJesu- "Society of Jesus" The order was formed in 1534, approved by the pope in 1540. The founder was a Spanish Basque, a nobleman, a former brave officer, crippled in battle, Ignatius of Loyola(1491-1556). The purpose of the order is to fight the Reformation, spread Catholicism, and unquestioning submission to the pope. The Jesuits are characterized by a strictly hierarchical structure, headed by a general subordinate to the pope. The Order is engaged in worldwide missionary activities.

The history of religion tells of spiritual quests different nations in centuries. Faith has always been a person’s companion, giving meaning to his life and motivating him not only for achievements in the internal sphere, but also for worldly victories. People, as you know, are social creatures, and therefore often strive to find like-minded people and create an association in which they could jointly move towards the intended goal. An example of such a community is monastic orders, which included brothers of the same faith, united in their understanding of how to put the precepts of their mentors into practice.

Egyptian hermits

Monasticism did not originate in Europe; it originated in the vast expanses of the Egyptian deserts. Here, back in the 4th century, hermits appeared, striving to get closer to spiritual ideals in a secluded distance from the world with its passions and vanity. Not finding a place for themselves among people, they went into the desert, lived under open air or in the ruins of some buildings. They were often joined by followers. Together they worked, preached, and offered prayers.

Monks in the world were workers of different professions, and each brought something of their own to the community. In 328, Pachomius the Great, who was once a soldier, decided to organize the life of the brothers and founded a monastery, the activities of which were regulated by the charter. Soon similar associations began to appear in other places.

Light of knowledge

In 375, Basil the Great organized the first large monastic society. Since then, the history of religion has flowed in a slightly different direction: together the brothers not only prayed and comprehended spiritual laws, but also studied the world, comprehended nature, and the philosophical aspects of existence. Through the efforts of the monks, the wisdom and knowledge of humanity passed through the dark, without getting lost in the past.

Reading and improvement in the scientific field were also the duties of the novices of the monastery in Monte Cassino, founded by Benedict of Nursia, considered the father of monasticism in Western Europe.

Benedictines

The year 530 is considered the date when the first monastic order appeared. Benedict was famous for his asceticism, and a group of followers quickly formed around him. They were among the first Benedictines, as the monks were called in honor of their leader.

The life and activities of the brothers were conducted in accordance with the charter developed by Benedict of Nursia. Monks could not change their place of service, own any property and had to completely obey the abbot. The regulations prescribed prayers to be offered seven times a day, constant physical work, interspersed with hours of rest. The charter determined the time of meals and prayers, punishments for the guilty, necessary for reading the book.

Structure of the monastery

Subsequently, many monastic orders of the Middle Ages were built on the basis of the Benedictine Rule. The internal hierarchy was also preserved. The head was the abbot, chosen from among the monks and confirmed by the bishop. He became the lifelong representative of the monastery in the world, leading the brothers with the assistance of several assistants. Benedictines were expected to submit completely and humbly to the abbot.

The inhabitants of the monastery were divided into groups of ten people, headed by deans. The abbot and the prior (assistant) monitored compliance with the charter, but important decisions were adopted after all the brothers consulted together.

Education

The Benedictines became not only an assistant to the Church in converting new peoples to Christianity. In fact, it is thanks to them that today we know about the contents of many ancient manuscripts and manuscripts. The monks were engaged in rewriting books and preserving monuments of philosophical thought of the past.

Education was compulsory from the age of seven. Subjects included music, astronomy, arithmetic, rhetoric and grammar. The Benedictines saved Europe from the harmful influence of barbarian culture. Huge libraries of monasteries, deep architectural traditions, and knowledge in the field of agriculture helped maintain civilization at a decent level.

Decline and rebirth

During the reign of Charlemagne there was a period when the monastic order of the Benedictines experienced better times. The Emperor introduced tithes in favor of the Church, demanded that monasteries provide a certain number of soldiers, and gave vast territories with peasants to the power of bishops. The monasteries began to become richer and became a tasty morsel for everyone eager to increase their own well-being.

Representatives of the worldly authorities were given the opportunity to found spiritual communities. The bishops transmitted the will of the emperor, becoming more and more immersed in worldly affairs. The abbots of the new monasteries only formally dealt with spiritual issues, enjoying the fruits of donations and trade. The process of secularization gave rise to a movement for the revival of spiritual values, which resulted in the formation of new monastic orders. The center of unification at the beginning of the 10th century was the monastery in Cluny.

Clunians and Cistercians

Abbot Bernon received an estate in Upper Burgundy as a gift from the Duke of Aquitaine. Here, in Cluny, a new monastery was founded, free from secular power and vassal relations. The monastic orders of the Middle Ages experienced a new rise. The Clunians prayed for all the laity, lived according to a charter developed on the basis of the provisions of the Benedictines, but more strict in matters of behavior and daily routine.

In the 11th century, the monastic order of the Cistercians appeared, which made it a rule to follow the rules, which frightened off many followers with its rigidity. The number of monks increased greatly due to the energy and charm of one of the leaders of the order, Bernard of Clairvaux.

Great multitude

In the XI-XIII centuries, new monastic orders of the Catholic Church appeared in large numbers. Each of them marked something in history. The Camaldoules were famous for their strict rules: they did not wear shoes, encouraged self-flagellation, and did not eat meat at all, even if they were sick. The Carthusians, who also respected strict rules, were known as hospitable hosts who considered charity the most important part of his ministry. One of the main sources of income for them was the sale of Chartreuse liqueur, the recipe of which was developed by the Carthusians themselves.

Women also made their contribution to monastic orders in the Middle Ages. At the head of the monasteries, including men's, of the Fontevrault brotherhood were abbesses. They were considered the vicars of the Virgin Mary. One of the distinctive points of their charter was the vow of silence. The Beguines, an order consisting only of women, on the contrary, did not have a charter. The abbess was chosen from among the followers, and all activities were directed towards charity. Beguines could leave the order and get married.

Knightly and monastic orders

During the Crusades, associations of a new kind began to appear. The conquest of Palestinian lands was accompanied by a call to liberate Christian shrines from the hands of Muslims. IN eastern lands was sent a large number of pilgrims. They had to be guarded in enemy territory. This was the reason for the emergence of spiritual knightly orders.

Members of the new associations, on the one hand, took three vows of monastic life: poverty, obedience and abstinence. On the other hand, they wore armor, always had a sword with them, and, if necessary, took part in military campaigns.

The knightly monastic orders had a triple structure: it included chaplains (priests), brother warriors and brother ministers. The head of the order - the grandmaster - was elected for a life term, his candidacy was approved by those who had supreme power over the association. The chapter, together with the priors, periodically assembled a chapter (a general gathering where important decisions were made and the laws of the order were approved).

The spiritual and monastic associations included the Templars, the Ionites (Hospitaliers), the Teutonic All of them were participants historical events, the importance of which is difficult to overestimate. Crusades with their assistance, they significantly influenced the development of Europe and the whole world. The sacred liberation missions got their name thanks to the crosses that were sewn onto the robes of the knights. Each monastic order used its own color and shape to convey the symbol and thus differed in appearance from the others.

Decline of authority

At the beginning of the 13th century, the Church was forced to fight a huge number of heresies that arose. The clergy lost their former authority, propagandists spoke of the need to reform or even abolish church system, as an unnecessary layer between man and God, they condemned the enormous wealth concentrated in the hands of servants. In response, the Inquisition appeared, designed to restore the people's respect for the Church. However, a more beneficial role in this activity was played by the mendicant monastic orders, which set prerequisite service complete renunciation of property.

Francis of Assisi

In 1207, His head, Francis of Assisi, began to take shape; he saw the essence of his activity in preaching and renunciation. He was against the founding of churches and monasteries, and met with his followers once a year at an appointed place. The rest of the time the monks preached to the people. However, in 1219, a Franciscan monastery was built at the insistence of the Pope.

Francis of Assisi was famous for his kindness, his ability to serve easily and with complete dedication. He was loved for his poetic talent. Canonized just two years after his death, he gained a large following and revived respect for the Catholic Church. In different centuries, branches were formed from the Franciscan Order: the Capuchin Order, the Tertians, the Minimas, and the Observants.

Dominic de Guzman

The Church also relied on monastic associations in the fight against heresy. One of the foundations of the Inquisition was the Dominican Order, founded in 1205. Its founder was Dominic de Guzman, an irreconcilable fighter against heretics who revered asceticism and poverty.

The Dominican Order chose the training of preachers as one of its main goals. high level. In order to organize suitable conditions for training, the initially strict rules requiring the brothers to live in poverty and constantly wander around the cities were even relaxed. At the same time, the Dominicans were not obliged to work physically: thus, they devoted all their time to education and prayer.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the Church was again experiencing a crisis. The clergy's commitment to luxury and vices undermined authority. The successes of the Reformation forced the clergy to look for new ways to return to their former veneration. This is how the Order of Theatines was formed, and then the Society of Jesus. Monastic associations sought to return to the ideals of the medieval orders, but time took its toll. Although many orders still exist today, little remains of their former greatness.

BY HISTORY

"monastic orders"

Vanidovskaya Kristina K1

The oldest monasteries arose in Buddhism in the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. in India. At first these were communities (sanghas) of wandering hermits, who gathered in communities and accepted everyone, with the exception of slaves, debtors and royal servants. Gradually, the nature of the communities changed: initially, the obligatory principle of poverty became a function, and from a refuge from the bustle of the world, housing became an ideological support of the existing system.

Christ. Initially, settlements of hermits arose in Mexico (in the 3rd and 4th centuries in Egypt, where Anthony the Great was especially active).

Led by a Catholic. M. stood as abbots (or abbots), in the Orthodox - abbesses (or abbess). In economic In relation to M. they represented households. self-sufficient organisms.

With the development of feudolism, the character of M. changed, stratification occurred within M., the monks began to be divided into a number of categories - according to their functions, social status and connections, and moral authority.

In Catholic M. physical. the work of monks since the 10th century. was banned from the 11th century. most hard work in agriculture and cattle breeding were transferred to special workers (converses) and to the serf peasantry exploited by M.

On monastic lands, the practice of precaria became widespread. Korolev. the authorities contributed to the strengthening of catalism. M., presenting them with the administration, taxation, court. Independence.

A large number of M. imagined large farms with developed agriculture and crafts. Located for sale. ways, plural M. began to be drawn into the commodity market early. relations carried on trade in salt, wine, bread, etc., the camp became the center of trade and money-grabbing transactions, a kind of banks of the Middle Ages.

Strengthening the Catholic M. in the 11th-13th centuries. It was largely associated with the Cluny reform, the supporters of which demanded, first of all, the restoration of the harsh charter of Benedict of Nuria.

Based on Catholic. Monastic orders arose in M., and a number of M. united in congresses. With education in the 12-13th centuries. (under the conditions of the Crusades) spiritual knightly orders arose new type Catholic M., intended to support the crusaders, under M. they set up hospitals for the wounded, points for the exchange and ransom of prisoners, shelters for pilgrims, etc. Creation of the so-called mendicant orders b 1st half. 13th century, during the period of social aggravation. struggle in connection with the growth of commodity money. relations, led to the emergence of Catholicism. M. are closely connected with the city, among the most important is their struggle against the people-heretic. movements. Monks heading from these M. as missionaries often created different countries new, “daughters” of M., which often became military strongholds. conquests and colonization. M. were a stronghold of the papacy in its struggle for watering. dominance in Europe.

If in the earlier Middle Ages, when the monopoly on education belonged to the church, M. contributed to the spread of literacy, book production, and the arts. crafts, then with the growth of secular culture and the liberation of science from theological. shackles, they become ch. centers of struggle against scientific thoughts and advanced ideas.

The Catholics experienced a strong shock. M. in the era of the Reformation, accompanied by the liquidation in the territories where Protestanism spread, of monasticism as a special institution, the closure of M. and the seculization of their replacement. possessions.

The new rise of the monastic movement was associated with the Counterfermatism, new M. from the 2nd half. 16th century. set as their chief. the task of preparing the church. personnel to fight Protestants. M., primarily the M. of the Jesuits, served as a weapon of clerucatism in the fight against progressive forces. The bourgeois dealt a big blow to M. revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries. However, due to the growth of roar. bourgeois labor and democratic movement. Restoravill reaction in a number of countries, many previously abolished by M.S. 19th centuries the number of M. began to grow, and their reaction. activities have become widespread. In the 20th century nek-cat. Protestant churches, which had previously resolutely rejected M., allowed their appearance.

Franciscan Order.

Our Order is a male monastic community, which at the beginning of the 13th century. founded by St. Francis of Assisi.

In general, the Franciscans are a huge spiritual family of monks, nuns and lay people who have built their lives on the spirituality of St. Francis. Nowadays, there are more than a million such people on earth, so the Franciscan family is considered the largest association within the Catholic Church. It is significant that communities living according to Franciscan spirituality also exist in the Orthodox and Protestant Churches (Anglican, Lutheran).

St. Francis is considered the founder of three Orders, which are part of the same charism, co-owners of the same heritage, and have the same goal. Being in close relationship, complementing each other, they move along the same path. Moreover, each of them has its own, autonomous history.

The First Order is male: Francis, having renounced worldly goods, attracted young people with him, his friends, who followed him and called themselves Friars Minor.

The Second Order is female: a girl of noble birth named Clara decided to devote her life to God, following the example of Francis; from his hands she accepted the monastic robe, and subsequently founded a community of sisters. After the name of the founder, the nuns of the Second Order are called Clarisses.

The Third Order is the Franciscan Order of Laity. Its members remain in the world, and the Order offers them a form of apostolic life adapted to their situation.

The Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Conventual is one of the branches of the First Order. There are three branches in total:

Brothers Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum, abbreviated OFM), also called Observants (observation - strict adherence to the provisions of the Charter);

Brothers Minor Conventual (Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium, abbreviated OFMConv.) - that is, “brothers of the community”: a convention is a monastic house, a community of monks of one monastery);

The Lesser Capuchin Brothers (Ordo Fratrum Minorum Capucinorum, abbreviated OFMCap.), got their name from the Italian word "capuccio" - hood.

The emergence of these branches was caused different interpretation the ideals of Francis and various shapes their implementation, and has its own rich history.

Our Order currently numbers about four and a half thousand brothers working on all continents. We wear a gray or black habit (monastic robe) with a white rope belt; we are called "Franciscans", as well as "Minorites" (in Germany, Austria, Hungary), "Cordilleras" (in France and Switzerland) or "Grey Brothers" (in England).

Dominican Order

fief of a mendicant monastic order founded in 1216 by Dominic Guzman. The “uniform” clothing of the Dominicans was a black cloak with a hood. The main goal of the order was the fight against heresies. In order to polemicize with heretics, Dominicans received serious theological education. Each monastery had a theological school, and in Bologna, Montpellier, Cologne and Oxford the Dominicans created their own higher schools. Dominicans occupied all theological departments in Western universities. Europe. Many famous theologians of the Middle Ages emerged from their midst (for example, Thomas Aquinas). In 1232, the Inquisition was transferred to the Dominicans, which sharply increased the role of the order in the Catholic Church. The Dominicans became official censors of orthodoxy and received a powerful weapon in the fight against heretics and opponents of the papacy. One of the important activities of the Dominicans was missionary work - they even reached Mongolia and China.

The head of the order was an elected general. The General Chapter of the Dominicans met annually (then every two years) (alternately in Bologna and Paris). The Dominican monasteries were united into provinces headed by provincials.

In 1219, the female Dominican order was created. Only women from feudal families could join it. Dominic also created a third order, the “Knighthood of Christ,” which consisted of secular people who observed monastic vows.

Order of the Cistercians.

fief of a monastic order, which took its name from the area (Cistercium - Sieve), where their first monastery was founded in 1098. The Cistercians used the Rule of Benedict of Nursia, but they carried it out very strictly. They ate only coarse vegetarian food, and restored the mandatory one-year probation(novitiate), did not accept children into the monasteries (deviating in this from Benedictine practice), avoided luxury in the decoration of monasteries, lived from their own labor, without having peasants dependent on them.

The severity of life of the inhabitants of the first Cistercian monastery scared many people away from them, but the turning point came when Bernard of Clairvaux joined the order. His activities brought enormous popularity to the Cistercian order; in 1150 there were already 350 Cistercian monasteries, and in 1500 there were 738 monasteries. and 650 wives. monasteries.

The Cistercians usually established their monasteries on undeveloped lands. This required heavy physical training. labor. The order's land holdings grew rapidly due to donations from the nobility. The order introduced a division of monks into two categories: full brothers and “secular brothers” (converse). The main occupation of the former was prayers, the latter – physical activity. work, so that it does not distract the spiritual elite from religions. classes. The “secular brothers” came from peasants; they, as a rule, were illiterate (they learned prayers by heart). These people also went through the novitiate and took traditional monastic vows, but did not have the right to vote in the order. Thanks to their work, the Cistercian order soon became one of the richest. The wealth of the order also grew as a result of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Istercians in trade operations and the supply of raw materials for manufactories.

In its structure, the Cistercian order was federal with significant autonomy for the monasteries. The five first (at the time of foundation) monasteries were considered the main ones. The rest were grouped around them into five associations, the abbot - the head of such an association - controlled the life of the monasteries subordinate to him. Every year a general chapter of all the abbots met, where the most important problems of the order were discussed and decisions binding on all Istercians were adopted. Women Cistercian monasteries had an elitist character - they accepted women only from the families of feudal lords.

Monastic orders

Outside the hierarchical structure of the Church are the so-called institutions of consecrated life. Clergy and laity who have taken vows of chastity, poverty and obedience (or other sacred bonds), dedicating themselves to God and serving the people of God, form these institutions - monastic orders, congregations, and societies of apostolic life. Often they report not to the diocesan bishops in whose territory they operate, but directly to the pope.

The uniqueness of Catholicism lies in its monastic orders, of which today there are about 140. St. Benedict, and the basis of the life of most orders is the Rule of St. Benedict, but modern orders have own rules, common to which is the principle of unconditional subordination to the centralized order power. In the middle of the 5th century. St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, initiated the practice of living in monastic associations by founding a kind of monastic community in his home. This is how Augustinian and Benedictine monasticism appeared and the division of monasticism into orders arose. This practice distinguishes Catholicism from Orthodoxy, which knows no such division. Subsequently, the monasticism of the Benedictine Rite was fragmented, and in the 11th–12th centuries. new orders appear - Cistercians, Carthusians, Carmelites, Premonstratensians, Trinitarians. The Crusades gave rise to spiritual knightly orders. In the 13th century. A new type of mendicant monastic orders emerges - Dominican and Franciscan. Mendicant orders, in addition to the three vows common to all, take a vow of poverty (Franciscans, Dominicans, Bernardines, Capuchins, etc.), which does not allow them to own income-generating property. Order of Friars Minor ( Fratres minores), to which the Franciscans and Capuchins belong, today has about 25 thousand members. By tradition, they combine the preaching of love and mercy with charitable work in organizing hospitals and shelters. The female order of the Clarissas has about 11 thousand nuns. The mendicant order of the Dominicans, or Friars Preachers, which was originally an “order of scholars,” has about 7 thousand monks and 6 thousand nuns. At one time, they were given control over the activities of the Inquisition, and they combined scientific studies with inquisitorial duties. Now they continue to work scientific research in Theology and Religious Education. The Augustinian Order and its branch, the Order of Recollects, number about 4 thousand monks and 6 thousand Augustinian sisters.

Orders are also divided into contemplative (Benedictines) and active in the world (Lazarists, etc.). The rules of contemplative orders are more strict. The main thing for these monks is prayer, and work is considered necessary only to maintain life. The most severe asceticism is observed by Carthusian and Trappist monks. The number of monks in these orders is declining: there are about 1,400 Cistercians left, about 3 thousand Trappists, and only about 400 Carthusians.

Nowadays the most influential is the Jesuit Order, with about 25 thousand members. The whole world is divided by the Jesuits into 77 provinces, where they actively pursue the policy of the highest church leadership, exerting, in turn, enormous influence on all aspects of the Church's activities. The center of concern of the Jesuit Order today, as in former times, is Catholic (and not only) education. At the beginning of the 21st century. The Jesuits led 177 Catholic universities in many countries and 500 schools with 1.5 million students. The influence of the Jesuit Order is exercised mainly through the Catholic press, as well as radio and television, which are almost completely controlled by it. More than a thousand titles of magazines and newspapers (including the theoretical organ of the Vatican, the journal Civilta Cattolica) are published by the Jesuits in fifty languages ​​of the world. IN Russian Federation The order is registered by the Ministry of Justice and has been operating since October 1992 as the Independent Russian Region of the Society of Jesus.

In the middle of the 20th century. a new monastic order appeared - founded by Mother Teresa in Calcutta in 1948, the congregation of the Sisters of Charity, or the Order of Merciful Christian Love, the Order of selfless service to the poorest and most disadvantaged. Mother Teresa of Calcutta(1910–1997) established schools, hospitals and orphanages in 77 countries. In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded Nobel Prize"For activities to help suffering humanity."

Catholic monasticism is organized into orders and congregations. They include the “black” (“regular” clergy) as opposed to the “white” or “lay” clergy. They are engaged in preaching, teaching, missionary work, and charity. Basically, orders and congregations are headed by generals subordinate to the pope. The general of the Jesuit order is elected for life and approved by the pope. All monastic associations are led by the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. At the beginning of the 21st century. there were about 214 thousand monks (of which about 149 thousand priests) and about 908 thousand nuns.

Among the institutions of consecrated life, a special place is occupied by the “personal prelature” of the Pope, “Opus Dei” (lat. Opus Dei- God's work). Opus Dei was founded by a Spanish priest. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer(1902–1975) in 1928 and declared its goal to be “the awakening in all social groups of the consciousness of the vocation to holiness and apostolate.” In fact, he was creating a movement capable of organizing society in accordance with the principles of the papal encyclicals on social issues. To do this, Opus Dei members had to infiltrate higher authorities power and achieve influence in world politics and economics. The creation of this structure was a reaction of right-wing Catholic circles in Spain to the growth of republican influences and the radicalization of society. After the establishment of the Spanish Republic in 1931, far-right Catholic elements coalesced around Opus Dei. The victory of the counter-revolution helped Opus Dei spread throughout Spain. Later, Franco's fascist regime relied on politicians and technocrats from Opus Dei and, thanks to their connections and influence in industrial and financial circles, achieved certain successes in the economy and government. The Vatican initially viewed this organization with suspicion as a new heresy and even a Catholic variety of Freemasonry. However, in 1942, Pius XII approved Opus Dei. After World War II, Escrivá de Balaguer moved the organization's leadership center to Rome. Its expansion begins first in Europe (including Eastern Europe), and then on other continents. In 1947, de Balaguer became the personal prelate of Pope Pius XII with the title of monsignor. In 1950, Opus Dei received the status of a secular church organization, subordinate to the Congregation for Orders. However, the leadership of the Congregation treated it with distrust (as did the diocesan bishops) due to the secrecy of its structure and methods of operation. Popes John XXIII and Paul VI also did not favor Opus Dei.

Opus Dei consists of three groups. "Numerarii", or full members, live in celibacy and take other monastic vows. Among them, a group of 72 people is part of a narrow circle of leaders led by the father-chairman. "Supranumeraries", or "supernumeraries", are not bound by secret vows and are simply trusted employees. Secular Catholics are included in Opus Dei through a bilateral agreement. More than 70% of secular members have families. The Father Chairman of Opus Dei has unlimited power. Iron discipline and strict subordination to superiors reign here. Membership in Opus Dei is kept secret even from loved ones.

The “Catholic Freemasons,” as members of Opus Dei are often called, found themselves in great honor by Pope John Paul II. In 1982, this organization was given the rank of “personal prelature,” subordinate directly to the Pope: this meant that it was removed from the jurisdiction of the diocesan leadership. In 2002, at the initiative of John Paul II, who recognized the “heroic” nature of de Balaguer’s virtues, he was canonized.

Now Opus Dei is one of the most numerous and influential organizations of priests and laity. It includes 85 thousand members on all continents. Opus Dei carries out its tasks with the help of its own clergy - almost two thousand “included” priests, as well as special groups of secular Catholics. Opus Dei professors and teachers work in more than 400 universities. Members of Opus Dei are included in the governments of many countries, holding high positions there, and in the management of funds mass media. However, their names are known only to the leaders of the “personal prelature” at the Vatican.

Catholic monasticism is now going through difficult times, because strict medieval monastic rules contradict the modern way of life. However, it is precisely because of their “otherness” that they bring dynamism to the life of the Church, as they try to combine asceticism with social service and practice new types of modern Catholic religiosity.