BIZZOCHI AND BIZZOCHES. - Men and women
(also called Bizzoco, Bizzochero, Bizzocaro, Pinzocaro) who in the 13th and 14th centuries led a devout life
and wore the religious habit while remaining in the world; they be-longed generally to the Third Order of St. Francis
(cf. G. Boccaccio, Nov. 24th, 2). They appear widespread in
central Italy already in the 13th century and present much
analogy with the Beghini and Beghine (v.). Mixed with the
people, they at first exercised there, through their simple
and poor life, a salutary influence on morals (Vita di
Cola di Rienzo: «he wore honest garments like a bizzoco,
not these pompous ones»), they promoted piety and concord, devoted themselves to the care of the sick and practiced hospitality. In the 14th century they appear organized
into associations; sometimes they gathered into common life,
taking the vows of chastity and poverty, or else without
vows keeping their own possessions.
The name seems to come from Low Latin bizochus,
GVE DES LIVRES CENSUS
rez par la faculte de Theologie de
Paris, auecq la feconde &
troisfeline & Ace
cefion.
Item l'Edict faict par le Roy trefchree
ftien Henry deuxiefine de ce nom
fur lefdictz liures
censurez.
Rome apud Antonium Bladum.
M. D. XLIX.
(phot. Enc. Catt.)
BLADO - Frontispiece of the catalogue of books prohibited by the University of Paris, Rome, 1549. - Copy in the Vatican Library.
probably from the grey or "bizzo" colour (Latin bisius, French bis) in which they dressed; others derive the word from bisscia, others from the German Bisserchen, diminutive of Büsser, penitent.
The women formed small communities under the guidance of the Dominican, Franciscan and Augustinian friars, frequenting the churches of their Order, when they did not have one of their own; and they soon had monasteries of their own.
The men maintained for longer than the women a freer kind of life; they were included under the generic name of continentes. In many places they were called Fraticelli (v.). Various groups allowed themselves to be carried away into heterodox doctrines, especially regarding poverty and chastity, clamorously opposing the luxury of the higher clergy. These sided with the extremist Spirituals of the Franciscan Order, and were condemned first by John XXII in 1318 and later suppressed by the Inquisition.
The women's movement is identified outside Italy with that of the Beguines (v.).
Emidio da Ascoli