Final answer:
The followers of St. Francis of Assisi, called mendicants, practiced a lifestyle of begging for alms, representing a broader trend of religious asceticism and piety during the medieval period. They were part of a shift in Christian devotion that included the creation of monastic communities and inspired changes in the arts to reflect Christ's humanity and suffering.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mendicant Orders and Religious Devotion
The followers of St. Francis of Assisi were known as mendicants, which indicates that they practiced a lifestyle of begging for alms as part of their religious devotion. This tradition of mendicant orders emerged during a time when various forms of Christian asceticism were gaining prominence, including monasticism and hermitages, as part of a broader spectrum of religious lives aiming to imitate the poverty and humility of Christ.
Ascetic lifestyles involved various practices, such as self-denial and retreat from society, which were considered expressions of piety and devotion. Monasteries played a significant role in this movement, fostering communities of monks who lived together in prayer and work. The Cluniac reform also emerged to address the influence of secular aristocracy in church matters, further emphasizing the importance of spiritual purity and independence.
The ethos of St. Francis and his followers influenced many areas of medieval life. In art, there was a shift towards depicting the suffering of Christ, known as the Christus patiens, reflecting the devotional trends inspired by religious figures like St. Francis who emphasized Christ's humanity.
The movement also had socio-political implications, often assisting those in poverty, which echoed the broader societal concerns of the time when many lived in harsh conditions, relying on charity such as bread lines and soup kitchens.