Schism And Development

 Baptized Christians only; no Jews or Muslims  30 day period of grace for repentance; then 3 rd party accusations  More just with more due process than secular courts of the time  Torture used to get information not as punishment; no permanent harm or drawing of blood allowed  Secular rulers punished guilty as it was a secular crime  Spanish Inquisition executed less than 1 person per month during its existence

 Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew

 Language  Geography  Lack of communication  Politics  Authority  Theology (like the filioque clause in the Creed)  Egos and bad timing

 Filioque, Latin for "and the Son", was added in 589 to the Catholic Church’s Latin translation of the Nicene Creed to combat local Arianism. This creed, originally written in Greek and foundational to Christian belief since the 4th century, says that the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father". The Latin text speaks of the Holy Spirit as proceeding "from the Father and the Son".

 Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have recited the Nicene Creed jointly with Patriarchs Demetrius I and Bartholomew I in Greek without the Filioque clause  Eastern Catholics also may say it without the clause  Meaning that it really is not a big deal

 Mistakenly called the ‘Dark Ages’  Go from the ‘fall’ of Rome in the 400’s until the Renaissance about a 1000 years  Pretty long period to be called ‘Dark’  Theology, music, art, science, architecture – many of the things we take for granted now began or developed during this period  Good and bad things happened, just as they have since the Renaissance: war, plague, famine, injustice, poverty  We look to the saints of all times to help us understand how to live

 Monasticism provided stability  Provided spiritual and physical aid  Preserved and spread the Gospel and knowledge throughout the West  Provided centers for learning  Theology  Agriculture  Art  Music  Architecture  Books  Developed into many of today’s modern cities

May God the Father who made us bless us. May God the Son send his healing among us. May God the Holy Spirit move within us and Give us eyes to see with, ears to hear with, and hands that your work might be done. May we walk and preach the word of God to all. May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God’s grace to the Kingdom. Amen.