Christian Era and Military Orders in Nursing History
Christian Era and Nursing
T3. Christian Era.
Christianity brought significant changes to life, behavior, care for the sick, and approaches to disease. The Christian approach, derived from the Gospel of St. Matthew, emphasized charity. Medieval texts focused on charitable acts as a means for individuals to save their souls. Charity translated into traditional works of mercy, prioritizing care for the sick and those in need, providing essentials like bed, food, clothing, and prayer. Thus, charity became a fundamental obligation within Christianity.
The poor and sick held a prominent place in Christian precepts of charity. These approaches explain why care addressed patients through charitable means, often involving volunteers. Early hospitals and nursing were based within the church. Kings, nobles, and the wealthy demonstrated similar attitudes, founding houses for the poor and sick.
The history of the infirmary became intertwined with the advent of Christianity. Christ’s doctrine of love and brotherhood transformed society and led to the development of nursing. “Organized nursing” emerged as a direct consequence of these teachings, introducing the concept of pure altruism. The original inspiration for Christians caring for the sick was rooted in the teachings of Christ. The major outcomes of Christianity included a clear humanitarian approach to caring for the sick and poor, and the development of organized nursing services.
Military Nursing Orders
T4. Military Nursing Orders.
Wars and diseases increased the need for hospitals along trade routes. This led to the development of nursing within military orders, including cavalry and mendicant orders. New hospitals were founded, and several great saints dedicated their lives to nursing.
Military nursing orders emerged from the Crusades to the Holy Land, combining the attributes of cavalry and religion, militarism, and charity in service to others. Large hospitals were built, and the Knights cared for the sick. However, the accumulation of wealth and land eventually led to their decline.
These orders were divided into three classes: gentlemen (carrying weapons, protecting pilgrims and crusaders, and tending to the sick), priests (attending to religious needs), and serving brothers (catering to travelers and the sick). Three of these nursing orders became particularly famous:
Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Founded 1050)
Founded in 1575, its hospital was located in La Valetta, Malta. The eight points of the cross symbolized eight virtues: spiritual enjoyment, living without malice, repenting of sins, humbling oneself before insults, loving justice, being merciful, being sincere and pure of heart, and suffering persecution with devotion.
Teutonic Knights
This Germanic order was created in 1191 and dissolved in the fourteenth century. They took the usual three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and followed the hospital policies of the Knights of St. John and the military structure of the Templars.
Knights of St. Lazarus
They were among the oldest hospital orders. Leprosy became their primary focus. At that time, the term “leprosy” encompassed syphilis and other skin diseases. Members of this order were not only warriors but also suffered from leprosy. They were structured into two categories: warriors and hospitable members. The order was suppressed in the 15th century.