Dr. Ann T. Orlando 18 April

 Lay Responsibilities before Constantine  Lay Responsibilities after Constantine ◦ Christian Lay Roles in Society 2

 In early Church, wealthier Christians provided places to hold liturgies  Wealthier Christians supported poorer members of the Church ◦ Including some far beyond the immediate civic area (e.g., Paul’s collection for the saints in Jerusalem)  Key role of laity, as it was for those holding ecclesial offices, was as witness (martyrs) to the pagan world 3

4  Christians were not killed because they were practiced Christianity; killed because they refused to also practice Roman religion  Persecutions in 1 st and 2 nd C, with a few exceptions, were local and sporadic ◦ Jealousy of neighbors ◦ Persecutions increased during stressful times  Review Letters of Pliny and Trajan

5  Martyrs were (are) the heroes of the faith  Martyr from Greek word meaning witness  Did not have to die to be a martyr; any one who suffered for the faith was a martyr  Living martyrs (confessors) had the highest standing in the Church  Church equally honored women and men who were martyrs

 Christianity becomes the favored religion of the Emperors  Thus many seek to become Christians for social and political advantages  Many extraordinarily wealthy families become Christians 6

7  Who are heroes now that there are no longer martyrs?  How to deal with new members who may be joining Church because it is politically expedient?  What is relation between bishops and civil rulers? ◦ Evolves very differently in the East and West

 Extremely wealthy and powerful directly involved in Church ◦ Constantine assumes position of an Apostle  Some extremely wealthy abandon wealth and become monks ◦ Paulinus of Nola ◦ Melania the Younger  Most look for ways to be wealthy and adhere to call of Gospel ◦ Donations to Church ◦ Almsgiving 8

 Much of Brown’s Eye of the Needle focuses on the transfer of wealth to the Church in 4 th and 5 th C  With that transfer, Church assumes new responsibilities in society ◦ Judicial (bishops) ◦ Civic building maintenance ◦ Protection ◦ Social stability  Church becomes a partner with wealthy in society 9

 Donations ◦ Tithing (money) ◦ Land ◦ Almsgiving  Inheritance ◦ Used as a means to ensure prayers for dead patron ◦ Heirs sometimes appeal terms of patron’s will, but to an ecclesial court  Some clergy encouraged leaving all to Church or monastery (Salvian, for instance) ◦ Monastery preferred by many patrons because more easily ensure ◦ But often creates real hardships for family 10

 Work toward a just society ◦ By a life of Christian charity toward neighbor  Support family as basis of society ◦ Chastity within marriage for men as well as women ◦ Welcoming all children into family ◦ Ultimate ruler of family is God  Honorably perform civic roles (especially wealthy) ◦ Against corruption in office  Christian soldiers ◦ How to perform necessary acts of warfare as a Christian 11

 Written in last year(s) of his life ◦ Occasion maybe coming Vandal invasion  Need for Holy Fear in face of life’s difficulties ◦ Fear that leads to charity  Note concern about actions out of love of self, rather than love of God 12

 Boniface was a Christian general leading an army against the barbarian invasion ◦ Probably written  One of earliest examples of Christian support for military ◦ Aim of war should be peace ◦ War is part of our imperfect world  Boniface, though a soldier, should live as a Christian as he defends society 13

 Read Augustine, Sermon 348 found in Works of Augustine, Sermons (III/10), translated Edmund Hill, New York: New City Press, and  Augustine, Letter 189 “To Boniface” found in Works of Augustine, Letters 156 – 210 (II/3) translated by Roland Teske, New York: New City Press,  Brown, Through the Eye of the Needle, Chapter 21, 22  Compendium of Catholic Social Doctrine,  Write Short Paper: Benjamin 14