1. What are the Four Mendicant Orders of the Church?

Why they are called

mendicant order?

The Four Mendicant Orders of the Church are the Dominicans, Franciscans,
Augustinians, and Carmelites. They are called this because the word “mendicant” is a
Latin word meaning “to beg” which reflects their role of adopting lifestyle of poverty,
enouncing property, and traveling the world to preach especially to the poor. Their
survival is dependent upon the good will of their listeners (Labbat and Appleyard, 2004).

2. Did the Mendicant Orders live-up the gospel values?

Yes the live up the gospel values because taking a vow of poverty shows
courage, compassion, service, responsibility and other values taught in the Gospels
since they basically offer their lives in order to serve other people especially those in
need.

3. How did they (Mendicant Orders) endeavor to continue the social mission
endowed by Christ to the Church?

They continue the social mission endowed by Christ to the Church by preaching
and evangelization of the poor and to do that they adopt their way of life, travel around
the world, and live in some urban areas. They abandoned their property including land,
buildings, and other wealth. Their maxim was “non sibi soli vivere sed et aliis proficere”
which means “not to live for themselves only, but to serve others”. The orders proved
that it was possible to live evangelical poverty, the truth of the Gospel as such, without
being separated from the Church. In their mission of spreading the Gospel they believed
that to be a mirror reflecting divine love, one must first live what one proclaims.

References:

Labatt, A., & Appleyard, C. (2004, October). Mendicant Orders in the Medieval World. Retrieved
September 20, 2020, from The Met website:
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mend/hd_mend.htm
(2010, January 13). The Mendicant Orders | BENEDICT XVI. Retrieved September 25, 2020,
from Vatican.va website:
http://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2010/documents/hf_ben-
xvi_aud_20100113.html