Rozwój przestrzeni liturgicznej kościołów franciszkańskich od XIII do XVIII wieku
Authors: Drąg Marcin 
Published: November 2020

Development of liturgical space in Franciscan churches between 13thand 18th centuries The aim of this writing is to show changes which took place in sacral space of Fran-ciscan temples. At first Friars Minor Conventual were occupying small, abandoned churches. There they found their space for prayer. However, the first generation of Marcin Drąg OFMConv98 the followers of St. Francis did not possess their own sacral area. Instead, they were only its users.Letters of the order’s founder are clearly defining sensitivity connected with cult which all members of the order should possess. Therefore emerges a need of sacral space’s arrangement just in the first decades of the order. Thanks to papal privileges and a demand for ceremonial celebration of liturgy, Franciscan churches are equipped with choirs, lecterns and all paraments needed. This fact is affirmed by Ordinationes(the Franciscan liturgical statutes).The 1260 Narbonne constitutions defined a plan for sacral space of Franciscan churches. It was based on order’s spirituality. The crucified Saviour is put in the middle of this plan. His sacrifice is being re-lived in the mystery of the Holly Mass. Virgin Mary and Saint John the Apostle are participating in this sacrifice as represent-atives of the Church, while Saint Francis and Saint Anthony are representing people redempted with Christ’s blood. By following Jesus, they have received a prize of His eternal companion in heavenly glory.Simultaneously with arrangement of God’s service in conventual churches, friars are becoming more open to fraternity, which determine later arrangements in space of Franciscan churches. Many churches has become places of relics worship and important shrines, with Assisi and Padua among others. Spirituality of the Order and devotion of people have led to creation of side chapels and altars which were spon-sored by benefactors, who received Holly Masses, celebrated for them, and pastoral care in exchange.The 1632 constitutions of Pope Urban the 8th together with order’s etiquette from 1759 are re-affirming the original message of Franciscan temples. It is based on mys-teries of salvation which are represented by the crucified Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary and Franciscan Saints who with their lives example have shown a way to glory. The idea of Franciscan devotion is represented in dedicated altars and ceremonial processions.In modern age, churches of Friars Minor Conventual were constantly influenced by changes of Renaissance (15th century) and Baroque (from 18th century), which composition was totally different from Gothic. However, despite some architectural changes, the Franciscan idea of devotion, which was included in the plan of churches, has remained the same.The analysis of sacral space in Franciscan churches which has been conducted in this article heads to a conclusion of constant development of Franciscan churches interiors. The changes which took place during 13th and 18th centuries were dictated by evolution of order’s spirituality and needs of believers.