Seraphic Order 1Franciscans at the discovery and early parishes
Seraphic Order
Original title: Ordem Seráfica
Account of the Franciscan (Seraphic) Order in Madeira, which according to tradition celebrated the first Mass at Machico on the discovery and served the earliest chapels before the secular clergy of the Order of Christ took over, later founding several convents.
1Franciscans at the discovery and early parishes
An old chronicle of this Order states that it was the Order which spiritually discovered this archipelago, because some of its members, who accompanied the discoverers, began to perform religious duties on the very day of the first landing at Machico. There they set up an improvised altar and celebrated the holy sacrifice of the Mass, which is said to have taken place on the feast of the Visitation of Our Lady to St Elizabeth of Portugal, which the Catholic Church celebrates on the second of July. There is no reason to dispute this statement, since it is certain that in the earliest days of the settlement and colonisation of this island it was the Franciscan friars who exercised all the functions of their ministry here. In the chapels of St Catherine, St Paul, São Sebastião (St Sebastian) and Conceição de Cima (Upper Conception) they carried out all the parochial religious services, certainly until the time when the priests sent by the Order of Christ (Ordem de Cristo), to which the archipelago belonged in spiritual matters, took charge of those same services.
Nuno Cão came to this island on the orders of the Order of Christ in the last quarter of the 15th century, invested with powers to superintend all religious services. Earlier still, around the middle of the same century, the Order had sent Father João Garcia to take charge of the parish (freguesia) of Machico and its captaincy. Even before these men, as stated in the article Order of Christ, other secular clergy had been sent to this archipelago to perform religious and, in particular, parochial duties.
2Hermits and first communities
The Franciscans nevertheless remained on this island, and their numbers became considerable, for we read in an old Seraphic chronicle ‘that so many friars came from Spain, Castilians, Galicians and Biscayans, that they could well fill the whole island with convents.’ These religious were drawn by the solitude of the place and the isolation in which they could live here. They sought out spots far from the centres of population and gave themselves up to the hermit’s life, like the ancient cenobites in the deserts of Egypt. It seems, however, that their stay on this island was not long.
The Seraphic Order remained here in Madeira, forming regular communities and founding several convents. Around 1430 Friar Rogério came to this island, and he seems to have established the first regular Franciscan community. The first nucleus of that community was probably formed beside the chapel of São João da Ribeira (St John the Baptist). One of the religious hanged himself there, and it seems that the remaining brethren abandoned the place.
Around 1476 a number of Franciscans led by Friar Rodrigo da Arruda arrived in Funchal and reorganised the community of São João, as set out at greater length in the article Convent of São Francisco (vol. I, p. 312), to which we refer the reader.
Several convents of this order were founded, for both friars and nuns, of which we have already given an account on pp. 306–314 of the 1st volume of this work.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 05-
Zarco made the first landing on Madeira at Machico on the feast of the Visitation, where accompanying Franciscans reportedly celebrated the first Mass; next day he reached Porto do Seixo.
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Frei Rogério arrived and apparently formed the first regular Franciscan community on Madeira.
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The parish of Machico was created, with Frei João Garcia sent as its first vicar.
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Frei Nuno Cão came to Madeira on behalf of the Order of Christ to superintend religious services.
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Franciscans under Frei Rodrigo de Arruda reached Funchal, a papal brief authorised the community, and the friars moved from São João into the convent of São Francisco.
Place
Places mentioned · 09
Abroad
- Chapel of St Catherine
Funchal. Early chapel where Franciscans performed parish service.
The Capela de Santa Catarina in Funchal was founded about 1425 by Constança Rodrigues de Almeida, wife of João Gonçalves Zarco, beside his first wooden house. It is regarded as the first church on Madeira, with the date 1425 on its portal, and had an adjoining almshouse for poor women. The Convento de São Francisco was built opposite it.
- Chapel of St John of the Stream
Funchal. Probable site of the first Franciscan community.
The Capela de São João da Ribeira is an ancient chapel in Funchal on the right bank of the São João stream. It was the site of the Franciscan friars' first lodging and hermitage, and probably of the first Franciscan community.
- Chapel of St Paul
Funchal. Early chapel served by Franciscans.
A chapel in Funchal built by Zargo near his stone house, from which the parish of São Pedro originated and which was its first seat. The first hospital was built beside it, about 1469. It gives its name to the square, lane and locality of São Paulo.
- Chapel of St Sebastian
Ponta do Sol. Early chapel served by Franciscans.
The Capela de São Sebastião is an old chapel in Funchal, conjectured by some to have been the first seat of Funchal's parish around 1430. It was served early by Franciscans, and the Jesuits' first lodging and classes adjoined it. A chapel of the same name in Vila belonging to the municipal council is also recorded.
- Egypt
Deserts of the ancient cenobites, compared to the friars' hermit life.
Egipto (Egypt) is recorded as the country Afonso de Albuquerque planned to invade. Its deserts of the ancient cenobites are compared to the friars' hermit life, and the ancient Egyptians are cited as early consumers of taro.
- Funchal
Where Frei Rodrigo da Arruda's friars arrived around 1476.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Machico
Site of the first landing, where Franciscans are said to have celebrated the first Mass.
The parish of Machico was the landing place of the discoverers Zargo and Tristão Vaz and the seat of the captaincy of Machico; the parish was founded c. 1450. The Elucidário covers its clergy and stipends, chapels, historical events, mineral springs, localities, population and notable natives.
- Spain
Origin of many hermit friars who came to Madeira.
Spain appears as the intended destination of the donatary Simão Gonçalves da Câmara's aborted self-exile, and as the country from which Madeira was asked to send 1,000 soldiers during Castilian rule. It was the origin of many hermit friars who came to Madeira, and the country where the failed 1866 revolution took place.
- Upper chapel of the Immaculate Conception
Funchal. Early chapel served by Franciscans.
Zarco's early chapel in Funchal, served by Franciscans. The church of Nossa Senhora do Calhau was distinguished from it as Conceição de Baixo.
People
People mentioned · 04-
Cleric sent by the Order of Christ in the late 15th century to superintend all religious services in Madeira.
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Priest sent by the Order of Christ in the mid-15th century to direct the parish and captaincy of Machico.
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Franciscan who led friars to Funchal around 1476 and reorganised the community of São João.
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Franciscan friar who came around 1430 and apparently formed the first regular Franciscan community in Madeira.