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Elias and Clare: An Enigmatic Relationship
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Elias And Clare: An Enigmatic Relationship Michael Cusato O.F.M.* Introduction Prior to the publication of his more weighty monograph on St. Clare in 1989,1 the young Italian historian, Marco Bartoli, had published a stimulating article in 1980 in which he took as his theme the reactions of Clare to the momentous changes within the Franciscan Order, beginning with the issuance of the bull Quo elongati on 28 September 1230 and running up to the moment of her death in August 1253.2 Bartoli ends his article by placing the reader at the deathbed of Clare, around whom are gathered several of the Companions of Francis: namely Leo, Angelo, Juniper and Giles. One of the most provocative aspects of Bartoli's presentation is his attempt to show that, after 1230, i t was not just the Companions but also St. Clare herself, who * The author would like to thank Prof. Mary Meany and Bro. John Mahon, O.F.M. for their helpful suggestions on an earlier draft of this presentation. 1 M. Bartoli, Chiara d'Assisi, [Bibliotheca Seraphico-Capuccina, 37], (Rome: 1989). 2 ID, "Gregorio IX, Chiara d'Assisi e le prime dispute all'interno del movimento francescano," Rendiconti dell'Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. Classe di scienze morali, storiche e filologiche, ser. 8a, 35 (1980), 97-108. constituted the core of a gathering opposition to the recent changes in the Order: particularly from Clare's perspective, changes promoted by Pope Gregory IX in the relationship of the friars to the Poor Ladies of San Damiano. Furthermore and most strikingly, Bartoli places Bro. Elias in this same camp of opposition with the Companions and Clare. Now, to its credit, Bartoli's thesis does place Elias in a new, more positive light and thus links up with recent attempts to rehabilitate the ill-fated friar from the opprobrium he has, in my view, unjustly suffered.3 This grouping together of Elias, Clare and Companions in contradistinction to the rest of the community is based on two elements. First, as a lay brother, Elias would have shared with most of the Companions and perhaps even Clare herself a growing alarm at the changes resulting from the clericalization of the Order and its deeper involvement in the pastoral ministry of the Church during the 1230's: a development which, by definition, was marginalizing the lay element in the Franciscan movement. Second, the association of Elias with Clare and the opposition wing of the Order is also related to Clare's apparent fondness and trust of Elias, evidenced in her oft-quoted praise of him in her letter to 3 Among the recent, more sympathetic treatments of Elias, one can cite: L. Fonzo, "Élie d'Assise," in DHGE, XV, cc. 167-83; P. DALLARI, Frate Elia architetto della Basilica d'Assisi e di Cortona, (Milan: 1970); ID, Il dramma di Frate Elia, (Milan: 1974); G. Barone, "Frate Elia," Bulletino dell'Istituto Storico Italiano per il Medio Evo, 85 (1974), 89-144; D. BERG, "Elias von Cortona. Studien zu Leben und Werk des zweiten Generalministers im Franziskanerorden," Wissenschaft und Weisheit, 41 (1978), 102-26; and G. Odoardi, "S. Francesco e la sua Basilica. Frate Elia e Gregorio IX nella traslazione del 1230," Miscellanea francescana, 82 (1982), 116-37. [3.239.96.229] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 09:05 GMT) Agnes of Prague:4 a fact which seems to indicate that the two shared, at least to some extent, a common vision of Franciscan evangelical life. Bartoli's argument would seem to turn on the fact that, if Clare esteemed both Elias and the Companions, then there must also have been some commonality between Elias and the Companions. My intention is to explore this intriguing triad of Clare, Elias and Companions by examining its most neglected component: the relationship of Clare and Elias. But my focus is also much broader: to use this relationship as a springboard to a wider examination of the life of the Friars Minor and Sisters in the first decades of their existence. The Second Letter of Clare to Agnes of Prague (1235-37) Anyone who explores the relationship of Clare to Elias, is immediately confronted with two problems: (1) a lack of sources on the matter and (2) the fact that in her writings, Clare rarely gives voice to her personal sentiments. Indeed, there is only one document wherein she betrays any hint of her personal feelings towards Elias: her second letter to Agnes of Prague, dated most probably...