Beghards were Roman Catholic religious communities of men active in the 13th and 14th century, living like in an open convent but wthout formal vows, so techncialy not clergy.

The Beghards were a religious associations of men in Europe,to the Beguines. They resembled Franciscan monks. Their head was one Dulcinus. Their origin is not known, however they appeared at Louvain in 1220 and soon spread into Germany, France and Italy. They survived into the 15th century. The Beghards were condemned by the Council of Vienne (1311), allegedly for teaching that those who gain perfection in this life cannot commit sin and therefore cannot be blamed for any act. This idea was foreshadowed in the Albigensian teachings. The Beghards were also influenced by the pantheism of a mystical sect, the Brethren of the Free Spirit, which flourished about Cologne.

Their similarly organized female counterpart were the Beguines.

See also

• Nicholas of Basel.

Sources and References

• CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Beguines, Beghards

Heretics