Zelanti
Encyclopedia
In Roman Catholicism, the expression zelanti has been applied to conservative members of the clergy and their lay supporters since the thirteenth century. Its specific connotations have shifted with each reapplication of the label. The Latinate term applies to those who show zeal
.
In its original thirteenth-century application the zelanti were those members of the Franciscan Order who opposed any changes or relaxation to the Rule formulated by St. Francis of Assisi
in 1221 and 1223. In consequence of St. Francis's severe requirements concerning the practice of poverty, his followers divided into two branches, the Zelanti, or Spirituals, and the Relaxati, known later as the Conventuals
. The origin of the Fraticelli
and the cause of their growth within and without the Franciscan Order must be sought in the history of the zelanti or "Spirituals".
In the eighteenth century the zelanti were the supporters of the Jesuits in the long controversy that led the suppression of the Jesuits
in 1767-73. At the Papal conclave, 1774-1775 the College of Cardinals
was generally divided into two blocs: curial, pro-Jesuit zelanti and political, temporizing faction, anti-Jesuit. Among the zelanti were the Italian curial cardinals who opposed secular influences on the Church. The second one included crown-cardinals of the Catholic courts. These two blocs were in no way homogenous. Zelanti were divided into moderate and radical factions.
During the papacy of Pius VII the zelanti were more radically reactionary than the politicani and wanted a highly centralised Church and vehement opposition to the secularising reforms that had resulted in France from the Revolution, which liberals were intent on spreading to the Papal States
. The politicani, though not liberal, were much more moderate and favoured a conciliatory approach to dealing with the problems new ideologies and the incipient Industrial Revolution
were creating in the early nineteenth century. The zelanti and the moderates featured in the Papal conclave, 1823
and the Papal conclave, 1829
.
Zeal
Zeal may refer to:* Zeal, Zeal * Diligence, the theological virtue opposite to acedia.* Zealotry, excessive ideological zeal* Zeal , an internet directory* Kingdom of Zeal, a kingdom in the Chrono Trigger video game...
.
In its original thirteenth-century application the zelanti were those members of the Franciscan Order who opposed any changes or relaxation to the Rule formulated by St. Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
in 1221 and 1223. In consequence of St. Francis's severe requirements concerning the practice of poverty, his followers divided into two branches, the Zelanti, or Spirituals, and the Relaxati, known later as the Conventuals
Conventual Franciscans
The Order of Friars Minor Conventual , commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Catholic Friars founded by Francis of Assisi in 1209.-History:...
. The origin of the Fraticelli
Fraticelli
The Fraticelli, sometimes confusingly called Fratricelli, were medieval Roman Catholic groups that could trace their origins to the Franciscans, but which came into being as a separate entity. The Fraticelli were declared heretical by the Church in 1296 by Boniface VIII...
and the cause of their growth within and without the Franciscan Order must be sought in the history of the zelanti or "Spirituals".
In the eighteenth century the zelanti were the supporters of the Jesuits in the long controversy that led the suppression of the Jesuits
Suppression of the Jesuits
The Suppression of the Jesuits in the Portuguese Empire, France, the Two Sicilies, Parma and the Spanish Empire by 1767 was a result of a series of political moves rather than a theological controversy. By the brief Dominus ac Redemptor Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus...
in 1767-73. At the Papal conclave, 1774-1775 the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
was generally divided into two blocs: curial, pro-Jesuit zelanti and political, temporizing faction, anti-Jesuit. Among the zelanti were the Italian curial cardinals who opposed secular influences on the Church. The second one included crown-cardinals of the Catholic courts. These two blocs were in no way homogenous. Zelanti were divided into moderate and radical factions.
During the papacy of Pius VII the zelanti were more radically reactionary than the politicani and wanted a highly centralised Church and vehement opposition to the secularising reforms that had resulted in France from the Revolution, which liberals were intent on spreading to the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
. The politicani, though not liberal, were much more moderate and favoured a conciliatory approach to dealing with the problems new ideologies and the incipient Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
were creating in the early nineteenth century. The zelanti and the moderates featured in the Papal conclave, 1823
Papal conclave, 1823
Following the death of Pope Pius VII on August 20, 1823, a papal conclave was held to determine his successor.Pius VII had reigned as Pope for what was then considered a very long pontificate...
and the Papal conclave, 1829
Papal conclave, 1829
The papal conclave held after the death of Pope Leo XII on February 10, 1829 to elect his successor began on February 24, 1829.It took a long time to make a decision because of conflict between secular governments about who should be elected...
.