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When a Catholic confraternity has received the authority to aggregate to itself groups erected in other localities, it is called an archconfraternity.

An example is the Confraternity of the Rosary.

In France, in the eighth and ninth centuries, the laws of the Carlovingians mention confraternities and guilds.

But the first confraternity in the modern and proper sense of the word is said to have been founded at Paris by Bishop Odo (d.1208).

It was under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Confraternities could be important and wealthy institutions for the elite, as in for example, the Scuole Grandi of Venice.

The Purgatorial societies and orders of flagellants were other specialized medieval types.

The medieval French term puy designated a confraternity dedicated to artistic performance in music, song and poetry; the German meistersingers were similar, though typically imitating trade guilds in form.

From the latter century onwards, these pious associations have multiplied greatly.

The Archconfraternity of the Gonfalone was headquartered in the Church of Santa Lucia del Gonfalone.

Because of their white hooded robes, they were identified as the White Penitents.

They were established in 1264 at Rome.

St. Bonaventure, at that time Inquisitor-general of the Holy Office, prescribed the rules, and the white habit, with the name Recommendati B.

Even though the Catholic Church works in harmony with the confraternity, these rules are not religious vows, instead merely rules set up to govern the confraternal organization.

Some confraternities allow only men, while others allow only women or only youth.

While government can and did maintain programs to handle these needs, they were better managed by lay organizations or the neighbor helping neighbor theory.

The Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception is a renowned lay Marian apostolate in the Philippines known for administering the Grand Marian Procession parade on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The Catholic Encyclopedia.

Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908.

Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911.

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