Wood Carving - Oak - Franciscan Religious - 18th century

Solid oak carving representing a Franciscan religious and his prayer book.
The first Franciscans led an itinerant life, with the mission of announcing the Good News.

Period : XVIIIth century
Dimensions : Height : 39cm  
Dimensions of the base : Width : 10,5cm x Length : 10,5cm

The Franciscans are not monks, but religious from a group called the Mendicant Orders. 

They are not a contemplative Order, although there is a strong emphasis on prayer, life with God and even hermitage. 
Nor are they purely active. They are an evangelical mixture of the two typical forms of religious life, contemplative and active.

They call each other brother, even though many are also priests. Francis wants his brothers to have the same rights and duties. 

They are headed by a provincial who is called a minister, and a superior who is called a guardian. These words mean someone who serves them and takes care of them. 

They live in houses called convent (meaning gathering, because the word monastery is improper and is reserved for the houses of the Poor Clares).

Throughout the centuries and countries, the Franciscan Order has lived particular values with poverty, simplicity, humility, justice, peace and joy, wonder at God, people and all creation, etc.