THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH Chapter 7, Section 3

Church dominates Medieval life Middle Ages – churches most important goal was to convert Western Europe to Christianity (Catholicism) Pope Gregory I sends St. Augustine to convert Anglo-Saxons in England (597 C.E.) Missionaries then come back to European continent to spread faith among Germanic tribes Late Middle Ages – Western Europe becomes Christian Non-Christians viewed with suspicion

Role of the Parish Priest Christian rituals = everyday life Parish priest = only contact people often had with the church Priest Celebrates mass Administer sacraments Teach the church and explain the bible Guide moral issues Assistance to sick and needy Later days, some ran schools Participation in sacraments = road to salvation Village church – social center Daily life around Christian calendar Main events in a life happened at the church Tithes often supported church Increasing amounts were sent to Rome Some contained relics Some made pilgrimages to the relics to pray at them

Cathedrals and women Bishops ran the cathedrals – source of pride to the communities Women – bible taught as equals Society saw them as weak and easily led to sin (need male guidance) Church saw Mary, Mother of Jesus (modest, pure) as ideal Pray to God through her Church tried to protect women, yet often punished more harshly

Monasteries and Convents Some men and women withdrew from “worldly” life to devote life to spiritual goals Monasteries/convents Benedictine Rule – 530 C.E. – Benedict of Nursia (monk) organizes monastery in Monte Cassino (Central Italy) Three vows (monks and nuns) Obedience to abbot or abbess Poverty Chastity/purity Required time for study, work, and prayer Work – experiment with agriculture Boost economy of Middle Ages

Service and Scholarship Monasteries & Convents – SERVICE – provide basic health services Look after poor and sick Food and lodging to travelers, especially Christian pilgrims SCHOLARSHIP – pushed to keep learning alive for all Libraries – Greek and Roman works Monks & Nuns often copied the works as a form of labor Wrote and taught in Latin Taught classics to other Monks

Role for Women Many women entered convents Escape limits of society Educated women could write, work, compose music, read (Abbess Hildegard of Bingen) Later Middle Ages, church withdraws former rights of nuns Formerly preach Gospels Placed most convents under control of the Church Restricted the learning of women

Growth of Church Power Pope – eventually claimed papal supremacy (superiority) over all secular rulers (kings/emperors) Church – richest group Priests/bishops were often nobles Church held tracts of land Church controlled many artistic works from greatest artisans Church develops CANON LAW Governs aspects of life; rules for church and living Disobey and risk EXCOMMUNICATION Nobles who fought the church could see their entire town/region excommunicated (INTERDICT)

Corruption and Reform Some nobles would leave their fortunes to the church, causing monks/nuns to forgo vow of poverty Priests could marry – spent more time on family matters Priests and nuns often lived in luxury Reform – Abbott Berno (early 900’s) reintroduces Benedictine rules Refuses to allow nobles/lords to interfere in church business Reforms spread to the entire church 1073 C.E. – Pope Gregory VII limits secular influence in church Church only chooses bishops/cardinals, etc Outlaws SIMONY FRIARS – did not live “isolated” – traveled to evangelize First group – FRANCISCANS – formed by St. Francis of Assisi Preached to the poor combined with good works Poverty, humility, love of God Womens group – Poor Clares

Jews in Medieval Europe Jewish communities existed all through Europe (Middles Ages) Flourish in Spain (Muslims tolerant of Jews and Christians) Many held positions on courts (Muslim and Christian) Late 1000’s – Pressure on Jews increases Often blamed for things Christians could not understand Little interaction with Christians in the churches, causing separations Church grows in power, more restrictions placed on Jews Cant hold jobs/land Chrisitan leaders still sought their advice on financial items Many flee to Eastern Europe and thrive