Humiliati

The Humiliati (Latin humilis, low, lowly ) were followers of a medieval Christian poverty and penitential movement in northern Italy. Originally founded as a community of lay people, this increased from 1201 to the rank of the Order.

History

Made the community of Humiliati in the 12th century by Lombard nobles after their return from their captivity in Germany. As founder applies the Milanese nobleman John of Meda.

The Humiliati lived on collaborative work in craft cooperatives. Purpose of their union was driving a god in their minds, just simple and humble life in imitation of Christ. The guide as were the Gospels of the Bible. They held as a lay from sermons and dedicated themselves to the fight against heretics. Its members were allowed to marry, but refused to swear oaths.

To conflict with the Catholic Church, there was particular because of the exercise of the sermon, which was only allowed clerics in the Church. The Humiliati were therefore by Pope Lucius III. In his 1184 written decretal Ad Abolendam sentenced together with other Christian lay movements (including the Waldensians, Cathars ) and topped with excommunication. Henceforth the Humiliati were considered heretics. After negotiations with the Church under Pope Innocent III in 1201 was their church reintegration. In return for the recognition (approval ) of their union, which thus received the rank of the Order, the Humiliati had to accept them as required by the church bylaws, which limited the right of preaching by lay solid. Many Humiliati then turned from their community, and came over to the Waldenses. Nevertheless, the Humiliati experienced in the first decades of the 13th century a remarkable flowering, especially in the Milan area.

In the 14th century has been separated the male from the female branch of the order, both branches adopted the Benedictine Rule. As in the 16th century, the Order should be reformed and to the competent Cardinal Borromeo an assassination attempt was carried by the priest La Farina, picked Pope Pius V in 1571 the male religious on. The female Humiliati, which are named after its benefactor, the Milanese Clara Blassoni also Blassonische nuns exist in Italy today.