Senior TheologyBrief Look Back at Church History

September 2014

The Early ChurchPre Christian Rome

Law/Justice necessary for orderly society

Justice for each in the social order

Landowners, artisans, freed slaves, slaves, lowest

Not necessary to move between orders or aid other orders

Christianity introduces concept of Charity/caritas

The Early ChurchCharity/Caritas

All are equal—examples????

A radical idea

Church still incorporated some idea of law from Rome, especially when Christianity became legal

The Early ChurchChristianity becomes legal religion of all; takes

root and

Spreads during the Pax Romana

Basic organization: bishop of Rome, plus other bishops—from the Apostles; shepherd, sanctify & teach.

Assisted by priests & deacons

Bishop of Rome is most important—why?

The Early ChurchSpread of Christianity

Constantine’s Edict of Milan—he sees Christianity as unifying force for the Empire

Helps evangelization

Church adopts Roman methods of administration & Justinian Code of Law—a reform of civil law that reflected Christian values. Includes protection for women & children but still reflects customs of the time—repressive measures against non-Christians

The Early ChurchCollapse of Rome in 476.

Pope & bishops looked to as civic as well as religious leaders.

Gregory the Great (590-604)

Monasticism—strong force for Christianity’s growthSt. Antony of Egypt—father of monasticismSt. Benedict—father of western monasticism; Rule of

St. Benedict becomes model for future monasteriesMonasteries become centers of learning &

evangelization—stability in unstable times

The Early ChurchPatristic Age—Fathers of the Church—

Franks—Clovis, Pepin, then Charlemagne and

Holy Roman Empire: an alliance between Church and state

Rise of Islam—Muslim invasion, loss of the Eastern Church in Syria, Palestine, North Africa & Spain; isolates the Western Church

Beginnings of split between Pope, emperor & Patriarch of Constantinople

The Middle AgesEarly—The Dark Ages—breakup of Holy Roman

Empire; invasions by Norsemen & Vikings

Rise of Feudalism

Secular control over the Church with abuses like

Lay investiture, simony

Reforms under various popes to free papacy from secular control

The Middle AgesCouncils—seeking spiritual reform; clear definitions of

Catholic doctrine

Councils throughout all time periods

1054—Eastern Schism—result of centuries of differences between Western and Eastern Church—language, culture, theology, politics

Crusades—attempt to open Holy Land to Christian pilgrims

Mixed results—violence against the innocent but opened the West to trade, new ideas, end of feudalism

The Middle Ages Mendicant (begging) orders helped call the Church back

to Gospel Values & simplicity

Cathedrals & universities; scholastic theology—great thinkers—St. Thomas Aquinas

The Peace of God (spared women, clergy, children & peasants from attack) and the Truce of God (limited days to fight in a year—only 80; none Wed evening till Monday morning; religious holidays)

Just-War Theory—roots in St. Augustine & Thomas Aquinas

However, later popes try to exert idea of pope is sovereign over kings

Schism, Reform, RenewalProtestant Reformation

Eventually, reforms followed

The New WorldPost-Reformation Church—missionary activity to

the New World and the East

18th C—An age of revolutionEnlightenment—Rationalism—humans could achieve truth without

divine revelation

Revolution in America—not hostile to religion

Revolution in France—hostile to religion—stamped out Catholicism

The Modern Era 19th C—Liberalism

Right to vote, democracy, equality of all citizens But many liberals anti-religious, violent; hoped to destroy Church

Industrial Revolution

Marxist communism—must be a violent struggle to bring justice; religion stands in way of that struggle—an ‘opiate’

1891—Pope Leo XIII— Rerum Novarum—On the Condition of Workers Landmark social-justice encyclical Right to private property—capitalism is ok, with limits Workers’ rights to a fair wage & unionization But, state intervention to defend workers. Family & religion important to build just society

The Modern Era—an example

Marie-Eugenie Milleret/France, early 1800s; family not interested in religion, but passionate about ‘liberty and justice’

Fall of Napoleon; rise of industrialism

Early years, did not connect Catholicism (name only in France) to justice concerns

Distraught over plight of industrialized workers.

—”God willed to establish a social order where no man would have to suffer from the oppression of others”

Marie-Eugenie Milleret, cont.

Believed education a key to changing society—there was great neglect in education, especially among workers & women

—”God willed to establish a social order where no man would have to suffer from the oppression of others”

Founded an order of sisters—Religious of the Assumption—to teach and to perform works of mercy/charity

Compare Milleret’s approach to injustice & the approach of marxism.

The Church In Modern Times

A change from the past—castle & moat; above, in a sense, what happens in society.

The Church must be in the world, but not of the world

Go forth from Liturgy to bring the kingdom of God/His transforming love to all people!

Many persons of the Church of 19th C were distilling these ideas—Milleret as an example—but reaches a high point & beginning with Rerum Novarum—try to change social problems

Frederic Ozanam—founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a worldwide charity organization for the poor.

The Church TodayCatholic Social Teaching

To examine & interpret historical & current events in light of Gospel teachings of Jesus Christ with revelation of the Holy Spirit

CST must respond to the “signs of the times”

Rerum NovarumRadical! Creates a great stir!

Challenges society to become more like the Kingdom of God by

Criticizing capitalism & marxism and

Advocating for the dignity of workers

Influenced governments to protect workers’ rights

Rerum Novarum, cont.More importantly,

Sets the precedent for Church to speak out on social matters

Challenges Christians to look for the roots of social injustice—look for causes of problems like poverty

Change the way society is set up to eliminate the problems!

These two things cannot be separated: Individual moral choices affect society & society

affects individual moral choices

Review pages 47-50, papal and conciliar documents on

CST. Which one or ones interest you the most? Why?

Now review the pastoral letters of the U.S. bishops. Which one or ones interest you the most? Why?