Observant movement

Observant movement. The Observant reform emerged among the mendicant friars in Gaelic areas between 1390 and 1433. It stressed strict observance of the rules and constitutions of the various orders and was part of a wider reaction to the laxity of discipline known as Conventualism. Among the Franciscans dispute centred on the observance of the vow of poverty which eventually led to the triple division of the order in 1517 and 1528. The reformers were accommodated by establishing a hierarchy of reformed superiors nominally subordinate to the unreformed Conventual authorities of the various orders. This system had a political attraction for the Gaelic friars who, by adopting the reform, could legitimately withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Anglo‐Irish Conventual superiors who had governed them since the 13th century. This may explain why the Observance was initially more successful in Gaelic than in Anglo‐Irish areas but should not be overstated: many of the older friaries in the Pale adopted the reform in the 16th century and it is clear that the Observants were highly regarded by all sections of contemporary Irish society.

The Augustinian Observants established their first foundation at Banada (Co. Sligo) in 1423 and the reform numbered eight houses in 1517. The Dominican Observance may have been established in Drogheda by 1390 but Portumna (1414) and Longford (1420) were founded for the reformers. Later developments are obscure but a distinct Observant congregation had emerged by 1503 which was confirmed in 1518 and 1529.

A reform group is discernible among the Franciscans by 1417 and reformed houses were established at Quin (1433) and Muckross (c.1448), but the movement proper began in 1460 with the institution of Nehemìas O'Donoghue as first Observant vicar provincial. Between 1460 and 1540 ten houses were founded for the Observants and 28 of the existing Conventual houses accepted the reform. Closely associated with these were the Franciscan Regular Tertiaries who founded 49 houses between 1426 and 1540.

There is slight evidence for a Carmelite reform group in the mid‐15th century.

With notable exceptions like the Augustinian Richard Nangle, first Anglican bishop of Clonfert, the Observants proved hostile to the Reformation and provided an important link between the medieval church and Counter‐Reformation Catholicism.

Bibliography

Martin, F. X. , ‘Irish Friars and the Observant Movement’, in Proceedings of the Irish Catholic Historical Committee (1960)

Colmán N. Ó Clabaigh