Piety and charity in late medieval Florence : religious confraternities from the middle of the thirteenth century to the late fifteenth century
Devotional and charitable confraternities were a characteristic feature of late medieval Florence. The popularity of the former, and particularly the laudesi and flagellants, stemmed from the fact that they enabled the layman to participate in areas of worship which had been previously the exclusive dcanain of the clergy. The laudesi specialised in singing lauds which during the fifteenth century came to be perfomed by professional singers and musicians. This helped the companies to maintain their devotion, but at the same tine removed the necessity for members to attend daily services. Moreover the'laudesi societies' acceptance of bequests meant that some became as concerned to provide services for the dead as for the living. In contrast flagellant canpanies retained their vitality by emphasizing a strict penitential devotion and refusing to become involved in the administration of property. ) The most important charitable cccpany was Or S. Michele, which was founded in the late thirteenth century to supervise the cult of the miraculous Madonna and to distribute the public's oblations to the poor. During the Black Death the conpany inherited a large fortune which changed the character of many of its activities.
Henderson, John Sebastian
Devotional and charitable confraternities ; Late medieval Florence ; San Michele
Piety and charity in late medieval Florence : religious confraternities from the middle of the thirteenth century to the late fifteenth century. Devotional and charitable confraternities were a characteristic feature of late medieval Florence. The popularity of the former, and particularly the laudesi and flagellants, stemmed from the fact that they enabled the layman to participate in areas of worship which had been previously the exclusive dcanain of the clergy. The laudesi specialised in singing lauds which during the fifteenth century came to be perfomed by professional singers and musicians. This helped the companies to maintain their devotion, but at the same tine removed the necessity for members to attend daily services. Moreover the'laudesi societies' acceptance of bequests meant that some became as concerned to provide services for the dead as for the living. In contrast flagellant canpanies retained their vitality by emphasizing a strict penitential devotion and refusing to become involved in the administration of property. ) The most important charitable cccpany was Or S. Michele, which was founded in the late thirteenth century to supervise the cult of the miraculous Madonna and to distribute the public's oblations to the poor. During the Black Death the conpany inherited a large fortune which changed the character of many of its activities.
piety charity late_medieval religious middle thirteenth_century devotional charitable characteristic_feature late_medieval popularity former particularly stem fact enable layman participate area worship previously exclusive clergy specialise sing come professional musician help company maintain devotion remove necessity member attend daily service moreover the society acceptance bequest mean become concerned provide service dead living contrast retain vitality emphasize strict penitential devotion refuse become involved administration property important charitable found supervise cult miraculous distribute public poor black death inherit large fortune change character many activity