The Medieval ChurchNote Entry #33

• During the medieval era the Catholic Church was the most powerful influence in western Europe.

• It filled the role that the Roman Empire had held over social and political roles.

• The Church taught that everyone was a sinner and the only way to receive grace (forgiveness) was to take part in the sacraments (rituals) of the church.

• The rituals were• --baptism --penance• --Eucharist --confirmation• --matrimony --anointing the sick• --holy orders

• Most people had very little understanding of what went on at church

• Masses were said in Latin• Few people could read or

write• Priests were poorly

educated

The Catholic Church was divided into a hierarchy

•

Pope

Cardinals

Bishops/diocese

Priests/local parishes

“Secular Clergy”Monks & Nuns were the “regular clergy”.

The Benedictines• Formed in Italy in 520 AD

• Became the model for monks everywhere

• They set the standards for monks to live by: poverty, prayer, physical labor and chastity.

• Some orders also included silence.• Nuns followed the same rules.

• Monks and nuns often served as the only source of schools,hospitals and hotels.

• Friars also preached to the people• They lived by the same rules as the monks

but traveled around the country.

• Franciscans named after Francis of Assisi; respect nature

• Dominicans named after a Spanish monk; effective speakers; could deal well with heretics.

The Inquisition• In 1215 Pope Innocent III laid down the

rules for heresy• Def: the willful and persistent rejection of any

article of faith by a baptized member of the church

• In 1232 the Church set up a court to try heretics called the Inquisition. • It was supposed to convince those who

were labeled heretics to ask for forgiveness.

• Those who would not confess or ask forgiveness were often tortured.

Heretic’s fork

Inquisition chairBurning at the stake

Head crusher

• The Church has system of justice to guide people’s conduct

All medieval Christians expected to obey canon law—Church law

• Canon law governs marriages and religious practices

• Popes have power over political leaders through threat of

- excommunication—banishment from Church, denial of salvation

- interdiction—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services

• • Kings and emperors expected to obey pope’s commands

• Pope Gregory VII bans lay investiture—kings appointing Church officials

• Henry IV orders pope to resign; • Gregory VIII excommunicates Henry

• Henry goes to Canossa, Italy, to beg Gregory for forgiveness

• Gregory forgives Henry, but lay investiture

problem is not solved• Concordat of Worms

Compromise made in 1122 in Worms, Germany Pope appoints bishops, emperor can veto appointment