Religious Orders

FRANCISCANS

They comprise three orders: the first order (founded in 1209) or Ordo Fratrum Minorum, made up of the Franciscans proper (O.F.M.), the Conventuals (O.F.M. Conv.) and the Capuchins (O.F.M. Cap.); the second order (founded in 1212 by I St. Clare) made up of the Poor Clares and Conceptionists; and the third order (founded in 1221), Franciscan tertiaries (seculars of both sexes). ); the second order (founded in 1212 by I St. Clare) formed by the Poor Clares and the Conceptionists; and the third order (founded in 1221), Franciscan tertiaries (seculars of both sexes), the religious tertiaries regular and the religious tertiaries of various congregations. At the beginning of the 13th century, 1213 and 1215, Saint Francis of Assisi entered Hispania with the intention of going to Africa, a journey from which he desisted in order to end up as a pilgrim to Compostela. Tradition has it that when he passed through Pamplona he pacified the neighbourhood struggles (see SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSIS). With the first convent foundations, the order was divided into provinces. The province of Aragon included that kingdom and that of Navarre. Each province was subdivided into demarcations called custodies and convents. It is known that at the end of the 14th century the province of Aragon, which included Navarre, had seven custodies and 37 convents, and that of Castile, 8 custodies and 44 convents. The Franciscans soon distinguished themselves as confessors to kings and doctors of theology, as well as in the foundation of asylums, hospitals, schools, preaching, missions, etc. The discovery of America provoked a missionary awakening in the evangelisation of the Indians. Other missions were established in Japan, China and the Philippines. The dogma of the Immaculate Conception had strong defenders, among whom Tomás Francés de Urrutigoiti, born in Saragossa but of Basque origin, stands out. Some outstanding Franciscans are Diego de Estella, Angeles Sorazu, mystics; Juan de Rada who intervened in the famous controversy of auxiliis. In the ecclesiastical hierarchy, Gregorio María Aguirre, cardinal and primate of Spain, stands out.