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The Medieval Church Monks and Papal Authority

The medieval church

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Page 1: The medieval church

The Medieval ChurchMonks and Papal Authority

Page 2: The medieval church

Church and KingsChurch Was granted favours

by Roman Emperors/Kings landexemption from taxes immunity in courtspositions in courts

In return church helped kings secure control of territory

Most influential organization in Europe

Kings Got a supply of

educated administrators from Church

In return kings would enforce laws that prohibited other religions

Page 3: The medieval church

MonasticismMost dynamic and significant institution in

the Early Middle AgesImpulse to withdraw from the world and

devote one’s self to GodRegarded as the most perfect form of the

Christian life“And every man that has forsaken home, or

brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive his reward a hundredfold, and obtain everlasting life.” Matt. 19:29

Page 4: The medieval church

MonasticismStarted with St. Anthony from

EgyptRetired to the desert to live the

ascetic life of a good hermitA colony of would-be ascetics

gathered around him to draw inspiration from his holiness

The colony lived together but did not communicate to one another

Soon other colonies grew in Egypt and other areas of the Roman Empire

St. Simeon Stylites lived atop a 60 ft pillar for 30 years!

Page 5: The medieval church

MonasticismSt. Benedict of Nurisa (c. 480-544)

added common senseChanged from severe fasting, hair

shirts, and lashingsBenedict was born into a rich

family and had keen psychological insightWell organized and learned from

experiencesFounded a number of monasteries

(Monte Cassino)Became a model monasteryFocused on comprehensive,

practical and compassionate rule

Page 6: The medieval church

Monasticism and Saints

Monasteries grew 400 -700 CE centres of education, literacy

and learningSaints

performs miracles as evidence of a special relationship with God

Must be canonized after deathSt. Augustine

wrote “Confessions” ideas of ethics, self knowledge, and

the role of free will Wrote treatise allowing violence

against heretics – the “just war”

Page 7: The medieval church

The Church takes ChargePeace of God: 989 CE

No stealing from churchNo assaulting clerics, women, peasants

Excommunication

Truce of God: 1027 CENo fighting Thursday to Monday, feast days, holy

daysNo killing ChristiansLed to justification for CrusadesTruce created a paradox: Peace & Truce of God

created to bring order and civility to society, yet this peace movement also contributed to idea of the righteousness of holy war.

Page 8: The medieval church

Church takes Charge, cont’dChurch Schism: 1054 CE

Pope and Patriarch excommunicate each otherRoman Catholic and Greek Orthodox split

War of Investitures: 1075 CEWho gets to appoint bishops? Pope or King?50 years of bloodshed

Concordat of Worms: 1112 CEKing appoint bishops and abbots as vassal

of empirePope then gives staff and ringKings gave up religious influence

Page 9: The medieval church

Church takes Charge, cont’dPope Innocent III

Believed in supreme power of the papacyEmperors and kings were servants of the

churchInvolved himself in disputes all over

EuropeFreely used his power of excommunicationPlaced kings in France and England were

placed under interdict (removing sacramental and burial privileges).

Other kings were overthrown and replaced by rulers of his choice

Innocent started the trend of using the faith of various kings to their people to their advantage