The Church in the Medieval Times

The Role of the Church in Medieval Europe

Role of the Church

- “Age of Faith”- The Church was the center of

Medieval life- Every village and town had a

church- Large towns and cities had a

cathedral- Church bells were used to ring

out hours, call people to worship, and warn of danger

Community Activities

- Town meetings- Plays- Concerts- Religious services- Merchant shops- Markets- Festivals- Fairs

Offering Assistance

- Provided education for some

- Most likely those of higher social status

- Assisted the poor and sick- Church was a daily

presence for their entire life

Turning to the Church for Answers

- Looked to explain worldly events- Storms, disease, and famine

were thought to be punishments sent by God

- People prayed to keep away disasters

- The afterlife- Believed that salvation would

come to those who followed the church’s teachings

- Salvation: the saving of a person’s soul

The Christian Church Takes Shape

Christianity in Medieval Times

- One of the most important legacies of ancient Rome

- Christians are followers of Jesus- Jesus is believed to be killed

on a Roman cross- He is believed to be the son of

God, who sent him to Earth to save people from sins

- He is believed to have risen from the dead after his crucifixion

Christianity in Medieval Times

- Romans were originally persecuted for Christianity

- Persecuted is when others are forced to suffer for their beliefs

- Emperor Constantine declared freedom of religion in 313 C.E.

- By 395 C.E., Christianity was the recognized religion of the Roman Empire

- When Medieval Times began, all Christians belonged to Roman Catholic Church

- Today there are many branches of Christianity

- Church was a source of leadership and food distribution

Importance of Monasteries

- A monastery is a community of monks

- A monk is a man who has vowed to devote his life to prayer and service in a monastery

- Monasteries provided hospitality to refugees and travelers

- Monks copied and preserved old text

- Was able to keep learning alive

- Spread of monasteries helped convert people to Christian faith

Organization of Roman Catholic Church

Everyone in the clergy had a rank

Clergy: a body of people who perform the sacred functions of a church

- Pope: the bishop of Rome and supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church

- Cardinal: appointed by the Pope and counseled the Pope

- Archbishop: oversaw large, important areas called archdioceses

- Bishops: governed areas of dioceses from great cathedrals

- Priests: governed parishes, which were within dioceses

Economic Power of the Church

- Today, we have separation of church and state, but it wasn’t the case back then

- By 1050, it was the largest landholder in Europe

- A lot of land were gifts from monarchs and wealthy lords

- Some land was taken by force

- The church began taxes, or tithe- Each person expected to give 10% of

resources to help support the church

Political Power of the Church

- Latin was the only common language in Europe

- Church officials were often the only people who could read

- They kept records for monarchs and became advisors

- Their power would often bring conflict with the European monarchs

Sacraments and Salvation in the Middle Ages

The Christian Afterlife

- Most people believed in an afterlife- Souls living on past death

- Church taught that people gained salvation by following the church’s teachings and living a moral life

- If they didn’t follow the church’s beliefs, they would suffer in hell

- Hell was believed to be a real and terrifying place

- Fire and demons tortured souls

The Christian Salvation

- In order to gain salvation, people needed to receive the seven sacraments

- Sacraments were sacred rites that Christians believed brought them a special blessing from God

- Marked important occasions in a person’s life

Baptism

- Entry into church- Priest pours water over

his/her head to cleanse a person of sin

Confirmation

- Formal declaration of belief in God and the church

Eucharist

- A part of mass- The priest blesses

bread and wine and it becomes the body and blood of Christ

Matrimony

- A marriage blessed by the church

- Couple signs their name in a book of records

Holy Orders

- The procedure where a man becomes a priest

Penance

- Confessing your sins to a priest

- Receive God’s forgiveness in return

Extreme Unction

- A person in danger of death is blessed by a priest

- Also known as anointing of the sick

Pilgrimages

Pilgrimage

- A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy site

- Went to show devotion to God- Penance for sins- Hope for being cured of illness

- Required dedication- Difficult and dangerous- Traveled on foot- Robbers were constant threats

- Popular routes might have guides or special roads/hostels

Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

- Book of verse about pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury

- Knight- Miller- Cook- Prioress (head of nunnery/convent)

- Chaucer lived in England from 1342-1400