The Medieval Church

The Age of Faith Spiritual Revival Starting in the 900s, monasteries help bring about a spiritual revival Reformers help restore and expand Church power Coat of Arms of Cluny Abbey: "Gules two keys in saltire the wards upwards and outwards or overall a sword in pale argent". Founded in 910, this is the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny as it looked in 2004.

Church teachings All people are sinners Salvation dependent on the grace of God Grace received through the sacraments Baptism Penance Eucharist Confirmation Matrimony, anointing of the sick and holy orders

Church Masses said in Latin Poorly educated priests Illiterate worshippers Statues paintings and stained glass

Problems in the Church Some Church officials marry even though the Church objects Some officials practice simony—selling religious offices Kings use lay investiture to appoint bishops Reformers believe only the Church should appoint bishops

Reform and Church Organization Starting in the 1100s, popes reorganize the Church like a kingdom Pope’s advisors make Church laws; diplomats travel throughout Europe Church collects tithes; uses money to care for sick or poor “Peasants paying tithes” (17th century) school of Pieter Brueghel the Younger

Reform of Papacy Gregory VII convinced he was chosen by God to reform the church Henry IV of Germany used lay investiture to maintain power over nobles. Investiture Controversy settled by Concordat of Worms in 1122. compromise

organization Secular in the world pope, bishops and regular clergy Regular clergy lived in a rule apart from mainstream; monks and nuns

Benedict Monastery at Monte Cassino Bendictine rule Idleness is an enemy of the soul To labour is to pray Bendictine rule Do not own goods Obey laws of monastery

New Religious Orders Dominican and Franciscan orders form Friars in these orders vow poverty; travel and preach to the poor Some new orders for women are founded Portrait of a Carmelite friar, about 1610, by Peter Paul Rubens

New Religious Orders Cistercians Upset with lack of discipline amongst Benedictines… Simple diet Single robe No decorations Experto crede: aliquid amplius invenies in silvis, quam in libris. Ligna et lapides docebunt te, quod a magistris audire non possis. Believe me, you will find more lessons in the woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you what you cannot learn from masters. Bernard of Clairvaux

Monastics Provided schools Hospitals Food distribution centers Guest houses Taught carpentry and weaving

Church power Many clergy were nobles Clergy could not fight, so gave land to knights to fight for them Donations of land and money for pious or educational purposes

Reform 1059 political leaders can no longer select pope Pope elected by gathering of cardinals Pope, not lords or kings, appoint bishops and priests

Church Supreme Innocent III Church reached peak of power in 1200s Interdict: refusal of sacraments to a particular group of people

Reform (Innocent III) 1215 Council Heretics Albigensians condemned drunkenness, feasting, hawking and dancing Rules for stopping heresy Heretics Conversion Excommunication Albigensians Crushed by French knights

The Inquisition 1232 Court of the Inquisition Punishment ranged from imprisonment to execution

Friars Wandering preachers (friars) Depended on gifts of food and shelter Mendicants (religious beggars) Followed monastic rules but did not isolate themselves 1210 Francis of Assisi founded Franciscan Friars Trust in God, respect for nature 1215 Dominic founds Dominicans Well educated preachers to reply to heretics

Cathedrals—Cities of God Early Cathedrals Between 800- 1100, churches are built in Romanesque style Style includes thick walls and pillars, small windows, round arches

A New Style of Church Architecture Gothic style evolves around 1100; term from Germanic tribe, Goths Gothic style has large, tall windows for more light; pointed arches Churches have stained glass windows, many sculptures About 500 Gothic churches are built from 1170 to 1270

Gothic Architecture The master builders in France, where the Gothic style originated, developed techniques of structural engineering that were key to Gothic architecture: ribbed vaults that supported the roof’s weight flying buttresses that transferred weight to thick, exterior walls pointed arches that framed huge stained glass windows tall spires that seemed to be pointing to heaven

Traditional Church Floor Plan “Liturgical East” Source: (http://www.hope.evangelical-lutheran.ca/glossary.htm) a website explaining church architecture.

Typical “Chancel” Layout “Liturgical East” Notice that the “apse” is “fenced off” by a communion rail. Only the clergy attending the altar or table are allowed past this point. The sacrament is dispensed only through the clergy bringing it to the rail. Source: (http://www.hope.evangelical-lutheran.ca/glossary.htm) a website explaining church architecture.

A Medieval Monk’s Day

A Medieval Monastery: The Scriptorium

Illuminated Manuscripts

Fall of Rome Bishop of Rome Based authority on the tradition that Peter, the first bishop of Rome, had been chosen by Jesus to be the head of the church.

Romanesque Architectural Style Rounded Arches. Barrel vaults. Thick walls. Darker, simplistic interiors. Small windows, usually at the top of the wall.