FromConversion toCommunity 89
conjunction with the monthly Mass and dinner. The priest engaged for Mass
could have preached, but until late in the 1200 s the preacher was commonly
a gifted member of the society. He spoke at the meeting that followed Mass.
We know that one lay penitent held the official position ofvir religiosusfor his
Florentine confraternity in the 1220 s.^129 He preached after Mass but before
the dinner. Lay preaching focused on practical issues, the group’s way of life,
and exhortation to works of charity and devotion. Albertano of Brescia, the
famous lay theologian, served in the same function, even if he never held the
formal title. Albertano delivered his ‘‘First Brescian Sermon’’ to the lawyer’s
confraternity that met in the Franciscan church of San Giorgio at Brescia.
He preached on the association’s rule, the business of the meeting, and cor-
porate devotional activities like purchasing oil for the votive lamps. He al-
luded to the common meal that would follow.^130 Such preaching required
little theological sophistication, although Albertano, for one, had no lack of
that. Lay preaching declined as the penitents came under supervision of the
mendicant orders in the late 1200 s. Members of the Franciscan and Domini-
can ‘‘third orders’’ had to listen to sermons by their clerically appointed
spiritual directors instead of hiring a preacher of their own choice or giving
sermons to each other. Lay preaching pretty much died out after 1300 , but
the flagellant confraternities, independent as always, refused to capitulate to
any clerical monopoly. They shopped around, inviting preachers from the
Augustinians, Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and secular clergy.^131
Penitents atPrayer
Penitents adapted their individual daily prayers to the liturgical Office of
the Church. After rising early, Umiliana dei Cerchi went to hear Matins.
Afterward, she returned to her cell (a room in the family palazzo) and prayed
by herself until dawn. On fast days, she extended her prayers until None,
but otherwise she took a light meal at sunup and went to serve the indigent,
whether at the local hospital or in their homes. In the evening, she returned
home for prayer and sleep. A good penitent, she was never idle.^132 Many
groups encouraged daily Mass.^133 But the more common devotion, practiced
as well by Umiliana, was the Divine Office at a local church. The ‘‘Memori-
ale’’ specified recitation of this Office as the personal daily prayer of those
who were literate, that is, able to read, if not understand, Latin. Those who
- ‘‘Memoriale,’’ 21 , Meersseman,Dossier, 103. The Florentine Archivio di Stato document is pub-
lished in Meersseman,Dossier, 181 – 83 ; on lay preaching, see ibid., 15. - Summarized in Powell,Albertanus, 92. Meersseman,Ordo, 3 : 1279 – 89 , outlines five other sermons.
For Albertano resources, see Angus Graham,Albertano of Brescia: Resource Site, 15 January 2000 http://
freespace.virgin.net/angus.graham/Albertano.htm(accessed 25 October 2003 ). - Piacenza flagellant statutes of 1317 , in Piacenza, Biblioteca Comunale,msPallestrelli 323 , fols.
20 r–v. - Vito of Cortona,Vita [B. Humilianae], 2. 10 ,p. 388.
- E.g., Milan, Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense,msAC.viii. 2 , fols. 8 r–v( 1332 Pavia flagellants).