Greyfriars and Blackfriars
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the religious orders of the Dominicans and the Franciscans, known as the Blackfriars and Greyfriars. “Just as it is better to light up others than to shine alone, it is better to share the fruits of one’s contemplation with others than to contemplate in solitude”. Thus St Thomas Aquinas described his vocation, not only as a teacher, but also as a Dominican friar and philosopher at the University of Paris. In the 13th century, the religious orders of the Dominicans and the Franciscans were a great force for change in Catholic Europe. They thrived in the emerging towns and cities of the High Middle Ages, leading crusades and changing the way the Church dealt with heretics. They were the evangelists who transformed the Church’s preaching of the Christian message to the people. On top of all this, these two orders were also responsible for reconciling Classical and Christian philosophy; their studies of Aristotle paved the way for the Renaissance. They also managed to change the curriculum at the universities of Paris and Oxford. But the Blackfriars and the Greyfriars did not come from the great monasteries of the time; they started out as itinerant preachers surviving upon the charity of the faithful. So how did these two orders come to dominate the spiritual and academic life of the 13th century, and how did they manage to accumulate such huge wealth while professing allegiance to lives of poverty? With Henrietta Leyser, medieval historian and Fellow of St Peter’s College, Oxford; Alexander Murray, medieval historian and Emeritus Fellow of University College, Oxford; Anthony Kenny, philosopher and former Master of Balliol College, Oxford.
Guests
- Henrietta Leyser
5 episodes
Fellow of St Peter's College, Oxford - Alexander Murray
2 episodes
Emeritus Fellow of University College, Oxford - Anthony Kenny
4 episodes
philosopher and former Master of Balliol College, Oxford
Related episodes
-
The Jesuits
18 Jan, 2007 270 History of Christianity -
The Knights Templar
6 Oct, 2022 940 History of Europe -
The Medieval University
17 Mar, 2011 370 Education -
Catharism
17 Jan, 2002 270 History of Christianity -
George Fox and the Quakers
5 Apr, 2012 270 History of Christianity -
St Thomas Aquinas
17 Sep, 2009 180 Ancient, medieval, and Eastern philosophy -
The Dissolution of the Monasteries
27 Mar, 2008 940 History of Europe -
The 12th Century Renaissance
20 Oct, 2016 900 History -
The Lindisfarne Gospels
20 Feb, 2003 270 History of Christianity -
Arianism
15 Apr, 2021 270 History of Christianity -
The Oxford Movement
13 Apr, 2006 270 History of Christianity -
The Royal Society
23 Mar, 2006 500 Science -
Baltic Crusades
24 Nov, 2016 940 History of Europe -
Medieval Pilgrimage
18 Feb, 2021 200 Religion -
St Hilda
5 Apr, 2007 270 History of Christianity -
Hildegard of Bingen
26 Jun, 2014 780 Music -
The Druids
20 Sep, 2012 290 Other religions -
Third Crusade
29 Nov, 2001 940 History of Europe -
Alcuin
30 Jan, 2020 270 History of Christianity -
The Spanish Inquisition
22 Jun, 2006 940 History of Europe
Programme ID: p003k9dz
Episode page: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p003k9dz
Auto-category: 270 (Christian church history)