Apostolic Union of Secular Priests

The German Bartholomiten ( Bartholomäer ) were in Swabia as " Institute of the community living in a secular priest " in 1640 by Bartholomew Holzhauser ( 1613-1658 ): Founded in which the attraction and formation of good preacher (Latin Institutum clericorum saecularium in commune viventium ) and pastors in Roman Catholic seminaries and the mutual support of the members to the task made ​​.

History

The Bartholomiten, as they called themselves after their founder Bartholomew Holzhauser were particularly widespread in southern Germany, Bavaria and Austria, also in Poznan and Spain found themselves members. Initially, the community consisted of the Youth Institute, the Institute of the clergy and the Hospital for serving stent agreed pastor. Strangely for this priestly community is the fraternal residential and community property, women are not allowed in the rectory hold. The members put on a simple loyalty and obedience vow and commit to a simple ascetic training, the catechetical - homiletic training should be formative.

Pope Innocent XI. 1680 confirmed the priestly community. By the end of the 18th century they had then obtained only in some Bavarian and Swabian dioceses. The under Pope Pius IX. and Leo XIII. attempts made to establish priest cooperatives modeled after the Bartholomiten were unsuccessful. The president of the community was directly under the Pope, but could take orders only with the consent of the bishops.