Joachimites
Encyclopedia
Joachimites, also known as Joachites were a millenarian
group that arose from the Franciscans in the thirteenth century. They based their ideas on the works of Joachim of Flora (or Joachim of Fiore
, both names are used at points). However they went further than he ever did in rejection of the Church of their own age.
. The second age was of the Son and therefore the world of Christianity. The third and final age would be that of the Holy Spirit. In this new age an "Eternal Gospel" would be revealed "fulfilling" and replacing the organized church. After that society would be realigned on an egalitarian and utopian monastic base. The first age is said to have been of forty two generations. The second age would also be of 42
generations. Joachim seemed to suggest the Christian era would end in 1260 with the coming of the Anti-Christ. After that his utopia
n age would arrive.
Initially this did not cause condemnation, efforts recently have even been made toward his canonization, as what was meant was disputed. Several readers seem to have felt his utopian age would literally be heaven or it would in least be the age after the Second Coming
. This idea came from it being after the Anti-Christ and tribulations. To state the Church would be unnecessary then was acceptable.
. Further, his admirers came to believe the beginning of this New Age would be ushered in by the coming of a virtuous Pope from the Franciscan order. They considered Celestine V to be this Pope. His resignation, and subsequent death in the dungeons of the next Pope, was considered a sign of the coming of the Anti-Christ. Around this time, or somewhat before, they further decided Joachim's own writings were the Eternal Gospel or the road to it.
As for themselves, the movements moving toward a more this-worldly approach caused some influence. It was one of the first movements to be heavily geared toward the future as being made perfectible through human action. This action was largely to lead toward a great supernatural event, but had a great deal of real world notions of progress. This was also generally unacceptable at this time, as utopian revelations were deemed to be foolishness or even heresy
.
or the Ranters are often believed to have accepted elements of Joachimite thought. The Brethren of the Free Spirit's view of history has a noticeable resemblance. However they declared a new age to have already occurred, or occurring, whereas the Joachimites tended to place it in a future after the Catholic Church withered away. English confusion of the Beghards
with practices of "Free Spirit" type groups is sometimes said to have been the origin of the old British legal term "bugger."
Another sect inspired by his theories was the Dulcinian
heresy.
Others indicate parallels between the Joachimites and later millenarian forms of Christianity. It is fairly common for millenarian or messianic Christian movements to link themselves to leading to a new age of the Holy Spirit. Groups as diverse as the Shakers
, Mita Congregation
, and the Holy Spirit Movement
indicated a new age of the Holy Spirit was in some sense dawning. Others relate the Joachimites idea to any group that believes in the "New Age."
There are less direct ideological linkages to the Protestant Reformation
and less historically confirmed ones to Marxism
. The Joachimites, and not Joachim himself, were condemned by the Church after Celestine V. Other rhetoric they used would be mirrored by a few of the early leaders of the Reformation.The Joachimites' idea of being a new revelation which superseded Christianity would not be adopted by any significant figure in the Reformation. Their idea that the hierarchical, authoritarian structure of the Church would collapse, to lead toward a leaderless egalitarian communal state is seen by some as an indirect influence, or at least a precursor, to Marx's idea of perfect communist democracy arising from the dictatorship of the proletariat, a concept which the twentieth century popes have rejected.
Millenarianism
Millenarianism is the belief by a religious, social, or political group or movement in a coming major transformation of society, after which all things will be changed, based on a one-thousand-year cycle. The term is more generically used to refer to any belief centered around 1000 year intervals...
group that arose from the Franciscans in the thirteenth century. They based their ideas on the works of Joachim of Flora (or Joachim of Fiore
Joachim of Fiore
Joachim of Fiore, also known as Joachim of Flora and in Italian Gioacchino da Fiore , was the founder of the monastic order of San Giovanni in Fiore . He was a mystic, a theologian and an esoterist...
, both names are used at points). However they went further than he ever did in rejection of the Church of their own age.
Inspiration of Joachim
Joachim's works seem to divide history in three ages. The first age was of the Father. The age of the Father was the age of the Old CovenantOld Covenant
The Old Covenant was the name of the agreement which effected the union of Iceland and Norway. It is also known as Gissurarsáttmáli, named after Gissur Þorvaldsson, the Icelandic chieftain who worked to promote it. The name "Old Covenant", however, is probably due to historical confusion...
. The second age was of the Son and therefore the world of Christianity. The third and final age would be that of the Holy Spirit. In this new age an "Eternal Gospel" would be revealed "fulfilling" and replacing the organized church. After that society would be realigned on an egalitarian and utopian monastic base. The first age is said to have been of forty two generations. The second age would also be of 42
42 (number)
42 is the natural number immediately following 41 and directly preceding 43. The number has received considerable attention in popular culture as a result of its central appearance in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and...
generations. Joachim seemed to suggest the Christian era would end in 1260 with the coming of the Anti-Christ. After that his utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...
n age would arrive.
Initially this did not cause condemnation, efforts recently have even been made toward his canonization, as what was meant was disputed. Several readers seem to have felt his utopian age would literally be heaven or it would in least be the age after the Second Coming
Second Coming
In Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
. This idea came from it being after the Anti-Christ and tribulations. To state the Church would be unnecessary then was acceptable.
Controversy
In 1215 some of his ideas were condemned in the Fourth Council of the LateranFourth Council of the Lateran
The Fourth Council of the Lateran was convoked by Pope Innocent III with the papal bull of April 19, 1213, and the Council gathered at Rome's Lateran Palace beginning November 11, 1215. Due to the great length of time between the Council's convocation and meeting, many bishops had the opportunity...
. Further, his admirers came to believe the beginning of this New Age would be ushered in by the coming of a virtuous Pope from the Franciscan order. They considered Celestine V to be this Pope. His resignation, and subsequent death in the dungeons of the next Pope, was considered a sign of the coming of the Anti-Christ. Around this time, or somewhat before, they further decided Joachim's own writings were the Eternal Gospel or the road to it.
As for themselves, the movements moving toward a more this-worldly approach caused some influence. It was one of the first movements to be heavily geared toward the future as being made perfectible through human action. This action was largely to lead toward a great supernatural event, but had a great deal of real world notions of progress. This was also generally unacceptable at this time, as utopian revelations were deemed to be foolishness or even heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
.
Influences
The Joachimites believed this new age would be egalitarian and essentially monastic. Later offshoots of Joachimites thought went a good deal further. The Brethren of the Free SpiritBrethren of the Free Spirit
The Brothers, or Brethren of the Free Spirit, was a lay Christian movement which flourished in northern Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries. Antinomian and individualist in outlook, it came into conflict with the Catholic Church and was declared heretical by Pope Clement V at the Council of...
or the Ranters are often believed to have accepted elements of Joachimite thought. The Brethren of the Free Spirit's view of history has a noticeable resemblance. However they declared a new age to have already occurred, or occurring, whereas the Joachimites tended to place it in a future after the Catholic Church withered away. English confusion of the Beghards
Beghards
Beghards and Beguines were Roman Catholic lay religious communities active in the 13th and 14th centuries, living in a loose semi-monastic community but without formal vows...
with practices of "Free Spirit" type groups is sometimes said to have been the origin of the old British legal term "bugger."
Another sect inspired by his theories was the Dulcinian
Dulcinian
The Dulcinian movement was a religious sect of the Late Middle Ages, originating within the Apostolic Brethren. The Dulcinians, or Dulcinites, and Apostolics were inspired by Franciscan ideals and influenced by the Joachimites, but were considered heretical by the Catholic Church. Their name...
heresy.
Others indicate parallels between the Joachimites and later millenarian forms of Christianity. It is fairly common for millenarian or messianic Christian movements to link themselves to leading to a new age of the Holy Spirit. Groups as diverse as the Shakers
Shakers
The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers, is a religious sect originally thought to be a development of the Religious Society of Friends...
, Mita Congregation
Mita Congregation
The Mita Congregation is a Christian congregation based in Puerto Rico. The congregation has chapters in the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico El Salvador, Spain, and in the Dominican Republic...
, and the Holy Spirit Movement
Holy Spirit Movement
The Holy Spirit Movement was the Ugandan rebel group led by Alice Auma, a spirit-medium who claimed to receive direction from the spirit Lakwena. Alice, an ethnic Acholi, was purportedly directed to form the HSM by Lakwena in August 1986...
indicated a new age of the Holy Spirit was in some sense dawning. Others relate the Joachimites idea to any group that believes in the "New Age."
There are less direct ideological linkages to the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
and less historically confirmed ones to Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. The Joachimites, and not Joachim himself, were condemned by the Church after Celestine V. Other rhetoric they used would be mirrored by a few of the early leaders of the Reformation.The Joachimites' idea of being a new revelation which superseded Christianity would not be adopted by any significant figure in the Reformation. Their idea that the hierarchical, authoritarian structure of the Church would collapse, to lead toward a leaderless egalitarian communal state is seen by some as an indirect influence, or at least a precursor, to Marx's idea of perfect communist democracy arising from the dictatorship of the proletariat, a concept which the twentieth century popes have rejected.