Franciscan
the followers of ST.
FRANCIS (q. v.). Hearing accidentally in 1208, in a church the words of the Saviour (Matt. x:9, 10), he considered that the essence of the Gospel was absolute poverty, and founded an order on this basis, which ultimately became one of the two great fraternities of mendicant friars. To manifest his humility he would not allow his followers to be called brethren (in Lat. fratres), but only little brothers, a designation which they still retain. Pope Innocent III., in 1210, and a council of Lateran, in 1215, approved of his rules for the government of his order, which enjoined poverty, chastity, and obedience, and in 1223 Pope Honorius III. issued a bull in his favor. He died in Assisi, in 1226, and in 1230 was canonized by Pope Gregory IX., the anniversary of his death, Oct. 4, being fixed as his festival. In 1224, Franciscans went over to England.
From 1228 till 1259 they contended with the Dominicans about precedency. At the suppression of the monasteries in England under Henry VIII., 1536-1538, the Franciscans had 66 abbeys or other religious houses. Their dress was a loose garment of gray color, reaching to their ankles, and a gray cowl, covered when they went into the streets, with a cloak. They were called Grayfriars. The order, in the course of its history, split into various branches.