Paupgres Catbolici (i. e. Poor Catholics) was the name of a Komish order which was formed in the 12th century, and confirmed by pope Innocent III. It consisted of Waldenses who had conformed to tlie dom- inant Church. Some ecclesiastics from the south of France, who had once been Waldensians, took the lead in tlie formation of this order, particularly a person named Durand de Osca. It maintained itself for some time in Catalonia. The design of this society is thus described by Neander : " The ecclesiastics and better ed- ucated were to busy themselves with preaching, expo- sition of the ]5ible, religious instruction, and coml)ating the sects; but all the laity who were not qualified to exhort the people and combat the sects should occupy houses by themselves, where they were to live in a pious and orderly manner. This spiritual society, so remodelled, should endeavor to bring about a reunion of all the Waldenses with the Church. As the Wal- denses deemed it unchristian to shed blood and to swear, and the presiding officers of the new spiritual society begged the i)ope that those who were disposed to join them should be released from all obligation of \;omplying with customs of this sort, the pope granted
at their request that all such as joined them should not be liable to be called upon for military service against Christians, nor to take oath in civU processes, adding, indeed, the important clause — so far as this rule could be observed in a healthful manner without injury or offence to others, and especially with the permission of the secular lords. In Italy and Spain also the zeal of these representatives of the Church tendency among the Waldenses seemed to meet with acceptance. The pope gladly lent a hand in promoting its more general spread, and he was inclined to grant to those who came over to it, when they had once become reconciled to the Church, various marks of favor. But he insisted on unconditional submission, and refused to enter into any conditional engagements." The principles of the Wal- denses were too firmly rooted to be seriously affected by the society of the Pauperes Catholici, and accord- ingly it is said to have died away.
Pauperes Christi (i. c. The Poor of Christ), a Roman Catholic order which arose in the 12th century, formed by a zealous ecclesiastic named Robert of Ar- briscelles, on whom pope Urban II had conferred the dignity of apostolic preacher. The society was com- posed of persons of both sexes, and of ecclesiastics and laymen, who wished to learn the way of spiritual liv- ing under the direction of the founder of the order.
Pauperes de Lombardia (i. e. Poor Men of Lombardtj) was a name applied in the 12th centurj' to the Widdenses in the north of Italy. It is derived from the province in which they were chiefly found at that time. See Waldenses.
Pauperism is the state of indigent persons re- quiring help, or, as it is technically called, "relief," or, as the Bible terms it, " charity." " The poor shall never cease out of the land" was said ages ago, when land was " free," and of a " chosen people," watched over by a " special providence," pasturing their flocks in fertile valleys, bright with the sunshine of a genial climate — a nature which needed no stimulus from "high-farming," but flung her wealth with prodigal hand into the lap of a commnnity whose primitive manners ignored fashion, and whose social life was unfevered by the lavish expenditure of a high civili- zation. As the possession of every natural advan- tage was no preventive to want, but "the poor" were there, so there and everywhere they will " never cease out of the land," because human nature is weak, self- contradictory, and therefore sinful ; because it is self- sufficient and indolent, and therefore ignorant and mis- calculating ; because it is proud and ambitious, and therefore liable to fall. Besides, in so far as poverty depends upon passion and error, the poor will increase pari passu with an artificial condition of society, for civilization intensifies the vices as well as the vir- tues of mankind. Therefore it is not amiss to call the poverty of the masses a product of modern civilization. It may be special!}' called the product of our progress in the industries, and of the employment of steam in- stead of simple manual labor. By these, our progres- sive steps, casualties and accidents have increased in this age at such a ratio among the working people that it must stand out as one of the most provoking causes of pauperism. Besides, the tremendous spread of the bad habits of intemperance [see Tempekaxce] has considerably lessened the resources of this stratum of so- ciety, and thereby provoked a vast increase in paupers.
Pauperism, tlien, is a subject of our day which re- quires the gravest consideration of the philanthropist, and forces itself upon the attention of the Church as well as of the State. Indeed, we believe that the sup- pression of pauperism is a task of Christian ethics, for although tlie solution of the problem is within the prov- ince of politics, it is nevertheless true that Christian ethics must provide the motive and pave the way. It mav, therefoie, be well to point out in this place the principle on which all poor-legislation should rest.