The Dominicans, The Third Order and a social order. Santafé de Bogotá. XVI-XIX centuries

Abstract

Since their arrival in New Granada, the dominicans promoted the so called “Third Order”, which brought a number of lay organizations such as fraternities, sororities and devouts groups. This article analyzes such organizations as key nodes of colonial society, through a symbiotic relationship with the colonial elite, which continued until the dawn of republican era. This link were favored by institutions such as chaplaincies and pious deeds. It allowed, among other things, the provision of many of the new members of the order and endowed convents of movable and immovable property and capital necessary for its functioning, in exchange for ensuring social order and provide prestige for this life and salvation for the other. This successful model was torn apart with the advent of the Enlightenment and will fall precipitously shortly after Independence.

Keywords

• Dominicans
• Dominican Third Order
• Fraternities
• Social Order
• Santafé de Bogota