Catholicism Catholicism High Middle Ages Basic Belief Reform Movements Avignon Papacy Schism of the Church

A Brief History Jesus executed ca 30 CE New testament Books written ca CE Multiple ‘followers of Christ’ –Mancheist –Gnostics –Pauline, etc

Council of Nicea (325 CE) –Solve discrepancies over nature of Christ –Set date for Passover (Easter) –Nicean Creed created –First attempt to create consensus Constantine exiled any who did not follow Nicean Creed 1 st ‘Pope’ was Apostle Peter (ca 50 CE) 1 st Bishop of Rome was ‘Pope’ Marcellinus in 296 CE

In general, the ‘Katholikos’ or universal church was the official church, and all others are eliminated Primacy of Roman bishop as ‘Pope’ and leader surfaced some in 4 th century 440 CE Leo the Great (Pope Leo I) exerted papal authority as doctrine extensively Petrine Doctrine outlines supremacy of the Papacy

Patriarch (or Bishop, or Pope) of Rome argued with Patriarch (or Bishop) of Constantinople Eastern Orthodox (Greek Orthodox) and Roman Catholic split in 11 th century

Basic Belief The Ages of Faith EVERYONE possessed ‘devotion’ Varied in degree of devotion: –Salvation was real and true –Salvation was personal safety –Salvation was mere conformity

“People rarely thought of themselves as ‘having’ or ‘belonging to’ a religion” (Barzun, 2000, p 24) Everyone had a ‘soul’, but not ‘God’ “‘God’ and all that pertained to Him was simply what is” (Barzun, 2000, p 24) –Just as ‘physics’ just is today!

Ancient polytheistic and eastern mysticism still a part of Medieval Man’s minds Catholicism, however, was the dominate faith Catholic rituals and doctrine was focus Some Muslim (in Spain and Balkan Peninsula) Some Jewish (Spain mainly)

Roman Catholic Belief Pope is head of Church (Christendom) –Papacy, Papal –Vicar of Christ, Christ’s Vicar –Roman Pontiff, Pontifus Maximus Papal infallibility doctrine Power over emperors (Pope Gregory VII) Dictates all doctrine & Cannon Law

Seven Sacraments 1.Eucharist 2.Baptism 3.Penance/Reconciliation 4.Confirmation 5.Matrimony 6.Holy Orders 7.Anointing of the sick

Early Church Reform Papal involvement in political matters –Sometimes to the expense of clerical duties Frictions between Church and State –Taxation (lay rulers taxing clergy) –Lay Investiture

Decline of discipline among regular clergy Cluniac Reform –Monks in the Abbey of Cluny renewed dedication and discipline –Spread throughout Europe Reforming popes try to free Church from secular interference Pope Gregory VII clearly outline Papal authority

Avignon Papacy Struggle between Pope and French King over taxation King Philip IV ‘arrested’ Pope Boniface VIII Italian nobles quickly freed him Pope died Philip IV exert pressure on cardinals and a French Pope is chosen (Clement V)

Pope used excuse of ‘turbulence in the city of Rome’ to move to Avignon France A palace was built Popes reigned in Avignon for 72 years ( ) –134 new cardinals chosen in 72 years; 113 were French Pope Gregory XI moved back to Rome 1377 (Papacy loosing prestige)

Great Schism Pope Gregory XI died… Roman citizens feared a return to Avignon –Threatened cardinals –Must choose Italian/Roman as Pope; NOT French! Pope Urban VI elected under ‘duress’ (Italian)

French dissenting cardinals, 5 months later, declared Urban’s election null and void Clement VII declared ‘real’ pope (Frenchman) They returned to Avignon Euro nations divided loyalties Each pope excommunicated the other Catholics call the false pope the ‘antipope’

About 40 years later… Division strain finances and hurt prestige of Church further Each pope worked to increase ‘taxes’ Belief that ‘councils’ should balance papal authority arose Called ‘conciliarism’

Cardinals from both camps met on their own in 1409 They deposed both popes and elected a 3 rd : Alexander V Both popes refused to step down! Now we have 3 popes!!! HRE convened another council which met for 4 years ( ): Council of Constance

The 3 remaining popes either resigned or were disposed –More pressure on them than the 1409 council! Pope Martin V chosen as new pope (we are back to just one pope) Schism is over!!!

Other odds and ends Church corruptions: –Simony –Pluralism –Nepotism Many debates in universities and monasteries about the current state of Christendom

Adjustment to ‘popular religion’ resulting from the loss of Catholic prestige Many started to consider a ‘separation’ of church and state (restrict church to spiritual matters) Many people’s faith was shaken