Fat Friar (was ghosts, magicians and babies was Re: Questions

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 119336


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Potioncat:
> My curiosity was how did he mangage to train for both.  I thought 
> boys went to the monestary very young to prepare.  Or is a fiar a 
> different sort of religious figure?  I know a fiar isn't a priest, 
> but I don't know the difference.
> 

Friars are generally accepted as being members one of the mendicant
orders (Franciscans, Augustians, Dominicans, Carmelites) who although
associated with monastries and abbeys, usually went out into the world
to preach and minister to the population at large. Monks usually lived 
apart in pretty much closed communities. Priests were the religious 
responsible for particular parishes.

Way back then being able to claim 'benefit of clergy' i.e. be considered a
religious had definite attractions. It had monetary advantages, tax reliefs
and if you committed crimes you were tried by separate courts (cause of
much anger to the public as they were considered very lenient and one
of the causes of the split between Henry II and Thomas a Beckett). And
to claim benefit of clergy all that was necessary was to  be able to recite
a verse from the bible in latin. You didn't even have to know what it
meant. So monks, friars and priests could be of *very* variable quality.

But I like to think that the Hufflepuff Friar is a nod to the Augustinian
Friar Bacon - Roger Bacon (about 1290 - 1340) a famous experimental 
scientist, philosopher and alchemist, who is given credit for the introduction
of gunpowder to England and even speculated about flying machines long
before Da Vinci. According to legend he owned a brazen head with which 
it was possible to foretell the future. He was also known as Doctor Mirabilis.

An all-round interesting bloke.

Kneasy