Franciscan Church, Lucerne

Lucerne's Franciscan Church was built between 1270 and 1280 in simple gothic style. It has always been in contrast and opposition to the noble Benedicte Hof Church. The mendicant Franciscan friars, taking their vow of poverty a little more serious than the Benedictines, were the spiritual guides of the common citizens in the town.

While the Benedictines were landowners and allied to the counts of Habsburg, the craftsmen took sides with the peasants around Lake Lucerne and joined their 1291 confederacy in 1351. They used to meet in the Franciscan monastery and were proud to display banners used in the battles against Habsburg in Franciscan church, where you can still see them.

St. Franciscus of Assisi himself and franciscan spirituality appear to belong to the unworldly wing of the Catholic Church from a general historical point of view and therefore have gained some interest among the religious members of the 1980's European peace movement. So you might not necessarily expect an expression of belligerent spirit in a Franciscan Church.

Nevertheless we can see here, once more, that the citizens and their political preferences have considerable influence on the church.