The Franciscan Order was officially authorized On November the 29th 1223 - This Week in Christian History for the week of November the 24th through the 30th 2013

Francis of Assisi, who is recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church, was born in either 1181 or1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. When he was young he dreamed of becoming a knight and winning battles, or perhaps of becoming a poet. During a foray as a squire he had a mysterious dream and left to go back home. This helped to distance him from his father, who had invested a lot in his equipment.

He would eventually leave his rich lifestyle and try and help those in need and restore old churches that were in disrepair. He was inspired by the scriptures that speak of Jesus sending out the disciples without any money to preach the Gospel. He began to get followers, although he was only trying to be a better Christian.

Eventually the new order of monks became officially recognized through publication of Regula Bullata by Pope Honorius III. This formally authorized the Regula Prima, as the rule for the organization and administration of the Franciscan order.

Francis didn’t believe in property as all of our possessions are ultimately God’s. While other order’s practiced individual poverty, the Franciscan order was the first that also didn’t have community property. Francis was also instrumental in starting a sister organization of woman called the Poor Clares.

After Francis’ death disputes arose about what direction the order should take, especially about the lack of community property. Eventually the order split into three main groups, although there are other groups, some even outside the Catholic Church. Some have even tried to follow Francis’ ideals outside of a religious institution, and these people are known as the Third Order of Francis. The Franciscan order grew in popularity and is still an important order today.

The life of Francis of Assisi is detailed in my new book Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

Constantine defeats Maxentius-This Week in Christian History for the week of October 27nd-November 2nd, 2013

 

Constantine was born to a Roman solder who would work his way up through the ranks to become governor of a province, then Caesar, which was the deputy director of the western empire, then Augustus, the senior western emperor. The scheme of appointing four emperors was to try and prevent civil war and to make the position more based on merit than lineage; however Constantine was understood to be in line for his father’s position once he died or retired.

Constantine went to the court at Rome, but would almost be considered a hostage there. Constantine did undertake several military campaigns successfully. Both of the Augustus’ retired at the same time, and both Constantine and the other son who was expected to take the other position of Caesar were snubbed in favor of other candidates.

Constantine’s father requested that Constantine come to aid him conquer Brittan. His father died and he became Caesar. A series of civil wars followed that Constantine managed to stay out of. The four pronged approach to rule was failing, and it was becoming obvious that there would only be one ruler of Maxentitus was the last opposing ruler, he held on to Italy and Rome itself and attacked Constantine’s forces. Constantine conquered city by city until he was at Rome’s door. Maxenitus was expecting a long siege, but Constantine avoided Rome and conquered the lands around it. Maxenitus drew his army out to face Constantine on an open plain. Constantine claimed to have a vision of the cross, and had the sign painted on his army’s shields. On the 29^th of October 312 Maxenitus’ army was routed, and Constantine became the ruler of all of Rome.

Constantine declared Christianity to be legal and forbade all actions against it. He donated a lot of money to the church and organized the Council of Nicaea. His patronage of Christianity has had mixed effects since there was a paganizing of Christian ideas and holidays as a result of his patronage.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.

Bio of Ignatius Loyola who was BornThis Week in Christian History for the week of October 20-26th 2013

Ignatius Loyola was born a wealthy family in the Basque region of Spain. He joined the army and fought many duels, including one with a Moor that denied the divinity of Jesus, who he ended up killing. He successfully endured battles with no injury. It was when he was defending the fortress of Pamplona that things changed. The French had cannons, they did not. Ignatius argued that they should not surrender until they could withstand no more, anything else would disgrace them, this was not popular with the other troops. He was wounded when his legs were hit by a cannonball.

After the battle Ignatius was sent to one of his families castles to recover. While recovering he would spend a lot of time reading, but there were not many books on knights errant that he enjoyed since he was a boy. He only had religious texts to read. He experienced a profound religious conversion, gave away his riches, and undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He formulated “The Spiritual Exercises” which is still used today.

Upon reaching Jerusalem he was told to go home by the Franciscans there, one reason was because of his lack of education. He went to Paris University. It was there that he form what would be known as The Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.
For more information on the Jesuits, read my blog The Jesuits were formed

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.

 

Would You Do What They Did? Great Christian Leaders From Our Past.

 

 

 

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.

Bio of Saint Jerome who died on the 30th of September 430-This Week in Christian History for the week of September 29- October 5

Jerome was born Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus around 347 in Stridon. He went to Rome to pursue philosophy, but was alienated by the Hedonistic culture there. He would sometimes engage in the wanton behavior, but was always repentant afterwards. He wandered around the crypts of the martyrs and apostles and began to see their tombs as a picture of Hell.

He moved to Trier with his friend Bonosus and he started his theological studies. He travelled and became friends with many Christians. He became ill and two of his friends died. He was strongly affected by this and so he exclusively wrote on Christian topics. He went into the desert to live the life of a hermit and to study and write. He became associated with influential people, but was not popular in Rome because he did not hold back criticism of the clergy and forbade mourning of the dead in excess.

He was ordained a bishop and travelled through a few sees. It was during this time that he started on his greatest work, the Vulgate version of the Bible. It was written in the vulgar, or common form, of Latin. He was advised by many of his friends not to focus on the Hebrew and Greek texts, since the Septuagint was considered the best form of the Bible at the time. Jerome also wrote many commentaries on the Bible. He was also an accomplished historian who has written and also copied many important works. He died in the area around Bethlehem on September the 30^th, 430.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

Thank you for reading.

It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

Bio of Augustine of Hippo - This Week in Christian History for the week of August 25-31

Augustine of Hippo was born in Thagaste Africa as a Roman citizen on November 13, 354. At age 11 he went to school and became familiar with philosophy and other Latin literature. His mother raised him a Christian, but he became a Manichaeist, a popular religion at the time. Augustine moved to Carthage to continue his education. He sought relationships with women and it was at this time he said his prayer, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.”

He began an affair with a woman in Carthage and was with her for 13 years, and had a son with her. Augustine began to teach at Carthage, but was disturbed by the behavior of the students there and moved to Rome. After being disappointment by the students there he secured a position as a professor of rhetoric at the imperial court. He began to drift towards Christianity, and his mother arraigned a marriage for him, although the girl was only 11 at the time. He broke off the engagement before the girl became of age.

Augustine heard a childlike voice which told him to read a passage from Romans and became saved. He and his son were baptized and he moved back to his family estate in Africa. His mother passed away on the trip and his son joined her soon after. Augustine sold all of the estate and gave the money to the poor. He kept the house where he started a monastery for a group of friends.

Augustine became a priest and then a bishop. He spent all of his time trying to convert the people of Hippo, especially those who had adopted the Manichaeism.  Augustine died on August 25th 430 during a siege of Hippo by the Vandals. The Vandals would eventually burn the town, except for Augustine’s cathedral and library.

Augustine is most remembered for his books, which were important in shaping Western philosophy. His “City of God” and “Confessions” are still popular today. His views on original sin and just war shaped views for centuries. Even Protestants view him as being theologically important due to his teachings on grace and salvation.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.