Anthony teaches the Friars … Bologna is in turmoil.
He returned to live in the same way as when he was in Coimbra. He was surrounded by an atmosphere of studies, contemplation and prayer. Immediately, the day after his arrival, he started the meetings with the Friars of the various houses. Friar Elijah and Friar Stacia wished to form one group studies with good preparation on theological disputes so that they were not inferior to the Dominican Friars.
Friar Stacia was full of vivacity and energy. He had dedicated himself with all his enthusiasm to the realization of the house for the Friars who had to study. This appointment made all the other appointments become second in line. He welcomed Anthony with maximum benevolence. He was proud of having acquired a preacher so extraordinary. He also realised that Anthony owned a great theological science.
Friar Peter tried to convince Anthony to change his habit which was old, with a new one, of softer cloth. However, being that only an invitation, Anthony didn’t accept. The old habit was washed and mended. He accepted just that the old hard sandals, that hurt his feet, would be replaced by other lighter ones.
He worked quite a lot. In order to prepare himself for the lessons he had to consult various necessary works. The people were coming to him with many problems and questions.
Despite all his occupations he had time for contemplation. Between the meditations, it came back a thought that troubled him. In the long and tenacious prayers on Montesanpaolo, he had been able to defeat that thought and all the internal rebellion. He had been able to renounce what he was and to serve humbly Jesus away from his science and doctrines. Since then, he had been able to be like any other Friar dedicated uniquely to the immediate action.
He remembered the walk from Sicily to Assisi. The nights passed under the open sky, most of the time not sleeping, the heavy physical work that represented the payment of the food received… The feet which were bleeding in the heavy sandals, the rough habit which irritated his skin; at times the hunger and the cold… He had won all this and he had let himself be dragged in the joy that pervaded him. He had understood what was the life of a Friar minor. He liked it. He had silenced all his regrets for his past life…
Here he didn’t have to worry about his daily meal. He wasn’t getting tired for wondering around all day. He was looked after. He had his own cell. He was surrounded by silence. In the library the books were waiting for him.
Yet he was not happy… On the contrary, it awakened in him the nostalgias of the days of his wandering, of work, of his contact with people, the most simple, the most needy…
Busy in the job of teaching, by the studies and by his thoughts, he didn’t realise what was happening in the city in which he lived.. He didn’t notice the upsetting cases that troubled Bologna rich and famous for the abundance of illustrious teachers and by the largest community of students that it had.
The students that sojourned here were not a calm elements. There were two big groups, the citramontani and ultramontani. These two groups were then sub-divided in small groups. It had been calculated that in Bologna studied thirteen nations. Between these nations burst incessant quarrels that changed themselves into brawls. So the Polish would fight against the Germans, the French against the British, the Provenzal against the Spanish.
The atmosphere of storm between the youth affected even the city or the citizens conflicts contributed to the students` arguments. In the rich bolognese middle class dominated two big merchant families, which had been rivals for a long time. Each family had cousins, friends and allies. The supporters of the adversaries dressed according to a determined manner: the ones wore yellow-black pants, the other red pants. And between the two clans reigned a relentless hostility. If the students were fighting between one another, the bourgeois would involve in the struggle the entire city. The emporiums were burnt, the deposits and the houses which belonged to the one or the other family. In the clashes there were some who had been killed.
Hopelessly the bishop called for harmony. Hopelessly he summoned the representative principal of both families to the cathedral so that they would swear peace in front of the altar. They were swearing, but that peace was lasting only for a couple of days. The passions were taking again the upper hand on the oaths. Someone was offending someone else. Someone was hurting someone else. In defense of the assailer would marshal immediately the entire clan.
This atmosphere didn’t favour the tranquillity of the studies. The conflicts that always exploded were dragging in their orbit professors, students and of their supporters.
These would come in contrast with the disciples of another famous professor. The professors would retaliate with their students sharply with words, quarrels and brawls. Even the religious would let themselves involve in such fights.
Anthony didn’t see all this. He didn’t even know that his listeners were fighting at the first occasion with the listeners of a certain professor of the order of the preachers. The rivalry between the two orders became more and more emphasized.
Chapter 24
Busy in the job of teaching, by the studies and by his thoughts, he didn’t realise what was happening in the city in which he lived.. He didn’t notice the upsetting cases that troubled Bologna rich and famous for the abundance of illustrious teachers and by the largest community of students that it had.
The students that sojourned here were not a calm elements. There were two big groups, the citramontani and ultramontani. These two groups were then sub-divided in small groups. It had been calculated that in Bologna studied thirteen nations. Between these nations burst incessant quarrels that changed themselves into brawls. So the Polish would fight against the Germans, the French against the British, the Provenzal against the Spanish.
Chapter 24
He returned to live in the same way as when he was in Coimbra. He was surrounded by an atmosphere of studies, contemplation and prayer. Immediately, the day after his arrival, he started the meetings with the Friars of the various houses. Friar Elijah and Friar Stacia wished to form one group studies with good preparation on theological disputes so that they were not inferior to the Dominican Friars.
Friar Stacia was full of vivacity and energy. He had dedicated himself with all his enthusiasm to the realization of the house for the Friars who had to study. This appointment made all the other appointments become second in line. He welcomed Anthony with maximum benevolence. He was proud of having acquired a preacher so extraordinary. He also realised that Anthony owned a great theological science.
Friar Peter tried to convince Anthony to change his habit which was old, with a new one, of softer cloth. However, being that only an invitation, Anthony didn’t accept. The old habit was washed and mended. He accepted just that the old hard sandals, that hurt his feet, would be replaced by other lighter ones.
He worked quite a lot. In order to prepare himself for the lessons he had to consult various necessary works. The people were coming to him with many problems and questions.
Despite all his occupations he had time for contemplation. Between the meditations, it came back a thought that troubled him. In the long and tenacious prayers on Montesanpaolo, he had been able to defeat that thought and all the internal rebellion. He had been able to renounce what he was and to serve humbly Jesus away from his science and doctrines. Since then, he had been able to be like any other Friar dedicated uniquely to the immediate action.
He remembered the walk from Sicily to Assisi. The nights passed under the open sky, most of the time not sleeping, the heavy physical work that represented the payment of the food received… The feet which were bleeding in the heavy sandals, the rough habit which irritated his skin; at times the hunger and the cold… He had won all this and he had let himself be dragged in the joy that pervaded him. He had understood what was the life of a Friar minor. He liked it. He had silenced all his regrets for his past life…
Here he didn’t have to worry about his daily meal. He wasn’t getting tired for wondering around all day. He was looked after. He had his own cell. He was surrounded by silence. In the library the books were waiting for him.
Yet he was not happy… On the contrary, it awakened in him the nostalgias of the days of his wandering, of work, of his contact with people, the most simple, the most needy…
The atmosphere of storm between the youth affected even the city or the citizens conflicts contributed to the students` arguments. In the rich bolognese middle class dominated two big merchant families, which had been rivals for a long time. Each family had cousins, friends and allies. The supporters of the adversaries dressed according to a determined manner: the ones wore yellow-black pants, the other red pants. And between the two clans reigned a relentless hostility. If the students were fighting between one another, the bourgeois would involve in the struggle the entire city. The emporiums were burnt, the deposits and the houses which belonged to the one or the other family. In the clashes there were some who had been killed.
Hopelessly the bishop called for harmony. Hopelessly he summoned the representative principal of both families to the cathedral so that they would swear peace in front of the altar. They were swearing, but that peace was lasting only for a couple of days. The passions were taking again the upper hand on the oaths. Someone was offending someone else. Someone was hurting someone else. In defense of the assailer would marshal immediately the entire clan.
This atmosphere didn’t favour the tranquillity of the studies. The conflicts that always exploded were dragging in their orbit professors, students and of their supporters.
These would come in contrast with the disciples of another famous professor. The professors would retaliate with their students sharply with words, quarrels and brawls. Even the religious would let themselves involve in such fights.
Anthony didn’t see all this. He didn’t even know that his listeners were fighting at the first occasion with the listeners of a certain professor of the order of the preachers. The rivalry between the two orders became more and more emphasized.