Missionary orders adopted disguises to serve Christian merchants in Muslim lands

Evidence

To better serve their needs, the friars should be unobtrusive, not only avoiding provoking the Muslims but also abandoning their Franciscan habit and letting their beards and hair grow, the better to circulate unnoticed and cater to the spiritual needs of the Christian community. They could even accept cash donations if circumstances did not allow begging for food. … These Franciscans (and Dominicans) are a discreet presence in the cities of North Africa and the Near East, catering to the spiritual needs of Catholic merchants, mercenaries, adventurers, and captives. The strident provocation of those in search of martyrdom can only make their work more difficult. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1112

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the theme of disguise and passing in hostile territory — echoes the ‘invisible’ missionaries in Algeria in the broader colonial history literature. — connects to: American missionaries followed soldiers and merchants, driven by trade and manifest destiny. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of…, 213
• SEED: The contrast between discreet pastoral missionaries and martyrdom-seeking provocateurs splitting one religious order is a neat essay angle on how organizations manage conflicting internal strategies.