This museum in Sint-Truiden (Saint Trond) is dedicated to the life of St Francis of Assisi, the three religious orders he founded and the history of the Friars Minor in Flanders. As the number of Franciscan monasteries in Flanders is currently diminishing, it also acts as a repository to the heritage of the order in this region.
The amazing St Francis (1182-1226) continues to inspire until today. He was canonised in 1228, less than 2 years after his death and quickly became one of the most revered Christian Saints.
The Franciscan orders were an instant success throughout Europe, and Flanders was no exception. Already in the 13th century, there were 17 Franciscan monasteries in the region. The success of St Francis and his followers can be understood in the context of the early 13th century. Around 1200, the medieval world was in turmoil. There were chronic abuses in the church, innovations in agricultural techniques, enormous population growth, the rise of powerful cities and growing awareness of the citizenry. In addition, there was constant warfare between cities, between the emperor and Pope as well as the various crusades to the Holy Land. No wonder that peace became the highest good (cf the Franciscan greeting ‘Peace and all good’).
St Francis provided an answer to the religious needs of society. The order not only grew in numbers, but equally in prestige. Franciscan monks became the confessors to kings and princes and often acted as mediators in conflicts.
St Francis’ spiritual leadership was (and is) based on detachment, renouncing all worldly goods. Members of the Franciscan order took a vow of poverty and could not own anything. This rule extended to the order as well. The prohibition of ownership became problematic as the order started to receive many donations and developed its own income streams. This was resolved in 1230 by a Papal ruling that all donations to the Franciscan order automatically became property of the Apostolic Chair.
The conflicting needs of the spiritual life of the individual with the organisational need of the order continued to haunt St Francis. While undisputed as spiritual leader, he could not provide the practical leadership that a large and growing movement needed, but which tended to dilute the spiritual. This was reflected in the several rules that he wrote, as well as in his testament.
He wrote his initial rule in 1209 around the ideals of poverty, brotherhood, peace and humility. As the order developed, the spiritual rule proved inadequate to organise monastic life. Therefore, in 1223, a new rule was written which was much more prescriptive. Near the end of his life, St Francis wrote a spiritual testament, in which he reminds his brothers of the spiritual dimension, and which he explicitly prohibits future Franciscans to interpret.
The museum is open all year round. Considering its content and collection, it probably merits a few more visitors. The museum team is extremely welcoming. Unfortunately, all museum exhibits are in Dutch, so make sure to have a Dutch-speaking guide, or arrange for a tour.
You can combine your visit with following sites in Sint-Truiden:
- Abbey tower & crypt
- Church of St Gangulfus
- Beguinage and Church
- Festraets’ studio
