Folia Theologica 4. (1993)

Tibor Somlyói Tóth: The forms of religious mentality in the Anjou age

142

T. SOMLYÓI TÓTH

authenticity of the relics. Doubts have been raised regarding the authenticity of the relics because three fingers were missing from on of the hands of the holy body. In 1382 Louis requested that the Venetian Republic pledge in writing the identity of St Paul considering the missing three fingers.37

Louis I flattering concern towards the Paulines is so much evident that this created a „fashion”. In place of the old monachist orders now it is the order of mendicant friars, the Augustines, so frequently mistaken for the order of St Paul Hermit as well as the order of Louis I father-confessor: the Paulines are favoured also by those around the House of the Anjou. The influence of the Franciscans is strongest in the first four decades of the century but never really ceases; by the end of the century it becomes prevalent again parallel with the spreading of „observencia”. The Augus- tinian Hermits must have been „in fashion” most likely in the 40-s; in the time of Louis undoubtedly the Paulines enjoyed priority. It is characteristic that one person may donate to several orders. Erik Fiigedi pointed at the development (linked with urbanization) of the orders, even the hermit orders, favoured by the court and the aristocrats. Even thougn, besides the King and the bishops, the founders came out from among the aristocrats and the landed nobility, soon developed the link between the monasteries and the bourgeoisie, and between the Paulines and the middle class of the market-towns?8

There had been examples when a nobleman — at a mature age — had become a monk; even more often confrater, or presented himself together with his family into the prayer-community of a monastery. As early as in the XIIIth century Búzád bán joined the dominicans, followed in the XIVth century by Maurice of the tribe of Csák. In 1378 Gotthard of Ludány became a francis- can, himself the owner of six villages39, and his last year the King Louis I was also an ordinary member of the spiritual community of the Paulines. More frequent was the case when a baron or a landed nobleman could only be confrater of the order; Nicholas Szécsi Croatian bán, of the francios- cans; in 1339 a number of noble families asked to join the Minorites of

37 G. WENZEL, A turini békekötés (okmányai). MTT XL, 1862,104.

38 G. FÜGEDI, Koldulórendek és városfejlődés Magyarországon, in: Századok, 1972, 75-76.

39 G. WENZEL, MTT XV., 95.; Ö. KÁRFFY, A Csicsery-család levéltára 1214-1453; TT 1901, 41.; J. KARÁCSONYI, Szent Ferenc rendjének története a Magyarországon 1711-ig, I-IL, Budapest, 1923,1., 30.