MED - The Church (Lesson)

The Church.

Within Europe at this time there is only one accepted religion - Catholicism. At the time, it is referred to simply as Christianity or the Church. Once the Protestant Reformation begins, it then becomes necessary to distinguish between the different types of Christianity thus it becomes Catholicism or Roman Catholicism.

What does this mean? Excommunication - In the Catholic Church one takes Communion in part to signify acceptance of the Church. If excommunicated, it technically means you are prohibited from taking part in Communion, but in this period it also signifies you are no longer a member of the Church. And since the Church is such a crucial part of everyone's lives, once shunned from the church you are shunned from society and lose any and all land or titles you might hold. Interdict - Interdict is threatened in serious cases - it means not only are you excommunicated, but so is everyone in your land. Often it is used as a tool to keep kings in line with Church decisions, hoping that the threat of interdict will cause the people of the kingdom to regulate the king's behavior. This most famously worked in the Lay Investiture Controversy. Some Terms to Know.

  • Monasteries: Religious communities typically in rural areas; home of monks. Nuns live in convents.
  • Pope Gregory I: expands church's religious power and also it's secular power. Church has an army, builds roads, helps poor and sick, negotiated peace treaties (Claimed Italy to England and Spain to Western Germany fall under his control).
  • Church structure: there are specific ranks of clergy: pope to cardinal to archbishop to bishop to priests and monks.
  • Canon law: Church law; Had its own courts. Excommunication and interdict.

 Some of the problems in the church:

  1. Priests were getting married - When Christianity began, there were no restrictions on priest marriage, later it was determined that a priest must devote himself to God, and celibacy exalted above all else. Some areas followed the new rules, some did not, it was not until the end of the Middle Ages where the Pope's power becomes fully consolidated that marriage is no longer an option for any priest.
  2. Lay investiture - The appointing of bishops by kings rather than the pope.
  3. Simony - The selling of church positions. Since laws dictated that the first son inherited all (title, land, money), wealthy families would often purchase a bishopric for their second sons in order to set them up for the future (place to live, power, and a percentage of the tithe money all go to the Bishop.)
  4. Indulgences - Indulgences are paid forgiveness for sin. In the Catholic faith you must confess your sins and potentially do good works in order to gain forgiveness. Later, indulgences were offered as a way to 1. raise money for the church, and 2. bypass the good works requirement. Many dislike these as it appeared as though the rich could simply buy their way into heaven. Later, indulgences will be a major issue as the Protestant Reformation gets underway.

 

 

Showdown in Canossa: The Lay Investiture Controversy.

Lay Investiture means secular (i.e. king) appointment of church positions (typically bishops.) Kings like Lay Investiture because it gives them greater control over their countries as it is assumed the bishops and church will be working in the best interest of the country not of Rome. Popes dislike Lay Investiture because it takes away from what they consider their natural duties and power.

Pope Gregory VII issues a letter to all the kings and queens of Europe declaring Lay Investiture to be invalid and orders all kings to stop. Henry IV (Holy Roman Emperor) refuses and appoints a bishop anyway. Gregory excommunicates Henry.

Excommunication means you are no longer allowed to take communion therefore no longer a member of the church. If you are not a member of the church you lose all claim to any lands or titles. This basically meant Henry lost his position as HRE (Holy Roman Emperor) and desperately needed to fix the problem. He petitions for an audience with Gregory.

Gregory would not see Henry and left for Canossa. Henry followed but was not let in the gates. Henry was forced to kneel in the snow for 3 days to show penance (that he wished to atone/make up for his actions). After three days, Gregory allowed Henry in and forgave him (restoring him to the church and title). End Result? The Pope has more power than the king as the Pope shows that you need his favor in order to continue your rule. From then on, popes begin to take a more active role in politics – meddling in the affairs of all countries.

Concordat of Worms: The church alone could grant a bishop his ring and staff. The emperor has veto power though.

 

 

 

 

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