The Medieval Church Chapter 7, Section 3

How did the Church play a vital role in medieval life? Essential Question How did the Church play a vital role in medieval life?

Learning Targets Students will understand the role the Church plays in the daily lives of medieval Christians. Students will understand how to describe monastic life according to Benedictine Rule. Students will understand how the Church gained secular power. Students will understand how monks contributed to the reform of the Church. Students will understand how Jews were treated in medieval Europe

Spread of Christianity in Europe

Church Dominates Life Most important achievement of the Church in the Middle Ages? Converting the diverse population of Western Europe to Christianity Pope Gregory I sent St. Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxons in England. Later missionaries went back to the continent to spread the faith among the Germanic Tribes.

Didn’t belong to a Church community??? You were viewed with suspicion!

Role of the Parish Priest Priests were only contact many had with the Church They guided people on issues of values and morality. Celebrated Mass & administered sacraments…believed to be vital for everlasting life with God Explained the Bible (written in Latin) Some ran schools

Church Taxes Church required Christians to pay a tithe A tithe is a tax payment to the Church Was equal to 1/10 of their income

Importance of the Village Church The church was a social center as well as a place of worship. Christian rituals and faith were part of the fabric of everyday life. Life revolved around the Christian calendar (Saint’s days, Easter, etc) Main events of life took place at Church (marriage, baptism, death)

The Rise of Cathedrals By 1100s communities built ornate, buttressed Cathedrals Source of pride for communities that built them Members contributed money, labor and skills to build

Church Attitudes toward Women Church doctrine taught women and men were equal in the eyes of God. But on earth women were viewed as weak and easily led to sin, and they needed to be led by men  The Church offered a view of the ideal woman as Mary. Modest and pure The Church tried to protect women Minimum age for women to marry Fined men who injured their wives

Monasteries & Convents Monastic Life A monk named Benedict began “Benedictine Rule” in 530 a.d. Began to be used by monasteries and convents across Europe Monks and nuns took 3 vows Obedience to the Abbott Poverty Chastity or purity

Church Power Grows In the centuries after the fall of Rome, the Church became the most powerful secular, or worldly, force in medieval Europe. Medieval popes began to claim papal supremacy, or authority over all secular rulers. The medieval Church developed its own body of laws, known as canon law, as well as its own courts. Anyone who disobeyed canon law faced a range of penalties. The Church also had absolute power in religious matters.

Corruption & Reform The success of the Church brought problems: As Church wealth and power grew, discipline weakened. Some clergy ignored their vows and lived in luxury. Some priests focused more on family than on Church duties.

Corruption & Reform A number of reform movements spread across Europe: Revived the Benedictine Rule, under which monks and nuns took vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity. Pope Gregory VII outlawed marriage for priests and prohibited simony, the selling of Church offices. Frances of Assisi set up the Franciscan order to teach poverty, humility, and love of God. Dominic set up the Dominican order to teach official Roman Catholic beliefs

St. Francis of Assisi Born in Italy around 1181 Renown for drinking and partying in his youth Became involved in battle between Assisi and Perugia in 1202 He was captured and held for ransom Began to see visions while in prison Heard the voice of God telling him to repair the Church He abandoned life of luxury and devoted his life to Christianity.

Jews in Medieval Europe Jewish communities existed across Europe. In hard times, Christians persecuted the Jews, blaming them for economic problems, illness, and disasters. Prejudice against Jews is called anti-Semitism. In response to growing persecution, thousands of Jews migrated from Western to Eastern Europe.