Medieval Heresy
Medieval Heresy How can we describe the heretical movements in western Europe during the Middle Ages? How can we accurately describe the Church’s methods of responding to heresy?
Medieval Heresy Heresy in Medieval Western Europe Regarded as serious sin, “spiritual infection” Viewed as treason against the state Responses: persuasion, repression
Medieval Heresy Cathars (Albigensians) World and matter: evil, created by evil god Old Testament vs. New Christ not truly human, but heavenly guide Salvation: liberation of spirit
Medieval Heresy Cathars Consisted of “perfect,” “believers” Severe asceticism for perfect Major rite: consolamentum Bishops, deacons Consolamentum
Medieval Heresy Peter Waldo (d. ca. 1218) Merchant of Lyon Inspired by gospel to life of poverty, preaching (1173) Attracted disciples Church would not sanction their preaching
Medieval Heresy The Waldensians (“Poor of Lyon”) Refused to submit excommunicated, expelled from Lyon Detested Roman Church, its corruption Maintained lives of strict poverty, preached Survived Middle Ages
Medieval Heresy Chiesa Valdese, Piazza Cavour, Rome
Medieval Heresy Pope Francis seeking forgiveness from Waldensians of Turin (June 2015)
Medieval Heresy Questions?
Medieval Heresy Medieval Inquisition Established 1231 Founding objectives Detect, combat heresy Convert the heretic Inquisitors Usually friars Traveled in pairs with aides, notaries
Medieval Heresy Inquisitio Summons delivered to suspects The inquest Summary of charges presented Witnessed summoned (identities not revealed) Suspect questioned regarding heretical beliefs, contact with heretics Goal: abjuration of heresy Torture used after 1252, with restrictions
Medieval Heresy Punishments Regular penances Wearing yellow cross Imprisonment Burning
Medieval Heresy Witchcraft Mixture of heresy, sorcery Hammer of Witches (1486) Inquisitors’ manual on witchcraft, demonology Misogynistic! Joan of Arc executed as a heretic-witch (1431) Hermann Stilke, Joan of Arc’s Death at the Stake (1843)
Medieval Heresy
Medieval Heresy The Spanish Inquisition Instituted 1478 by Ferdinand and Isabella Supervised first by Tomás Torquemada (1420-1498) Principal target: “crypto-Jews” among conversos Abolished 1834
Medieval Heresy
Medieval Heresy The Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) Cathars lived securely in Languedoc Unsuccessful preaching, murder of legate Innocent III called for crusade Cathars eliminated
Medieval Heresy Questions?
Medieval Heresy How can we describe the heretical movements in western Europe during the Middle Ages? How can we accurately describe the Church’s methods of responding to heresy?
Primary Source “The Laws concerning Mashiach” Who was the author? What kind of source? According to the document, who was Mashiach? What could be expected during the messianic era? What did the author have to say about Christianity? Why do the quotations in the footnotes matter historically?
Primary Source “The Crusaders in Mainz” What kind of source? Who was the author? What happened? How did the author view Christians and their religion? How did the author view his coreligionists and their response to the Christians?
Primary Source Stephen of Blois and Chartres Document Who was the author? What kind of source? When was it written? What did Stephen recount here? How did he view the crusaders and their mission? How did he describe the Muslims?