The Medieval Church

The Roman Catholic Church grew in importance after Roman authority declined

It became the unifying force in western Europe

Impact of the Medieval Church

During the Medieval period, the Catholic Church proved to be very powerful

The Catholic Church became the center of life for nearly all Western Europeans

The primary job of the Church was spiritualThe Church became involved in politics and

social issues

Medieval Church

The Pope became the most powerful figure in Europe

Nearly all of Europe fell under the Pope’s controlAll the people were Catholic, giving the Pope

control over peasants, nobles, and kingsThe Church taught that all people were

sinners

Medieval Church

The Pope anointed the Holy Roman EmperorsMissionaries carried Christianity to the

Germanic tribesThe Church served the social, political, and

religious needs of the people

Growth during the Middle Ages

Medieval ChurchThe only way to

reach salvation was by gaining the Grace of God

To gain God’s grace, one had to participate in the sacraments

BaptismPenanceEucharistConfirmationMatrimonyAnointing of the sickHoly Orders

Most Europeans were very religious even though they truly did not understand Christianity

The Mass was said in Latin—a language that only the clergy understood

Many of the priests were uneducatedMost people learned about Christianity by

looking at religious paintings, statues, and stained glass

Medieval Church

There were 2 types of Catholic Clergy1.) Secular Clergy

Pope, Bishops, Priests2.) Regular Clergy

Monks and nuns

Medieval Church

520—St. Benedict created a monastery in Italy

He issued very strict rules for monks to followMonks could never marryMonks could not own propertyMonks had to be obedient

Medieval Church

St. Benedict

Influenced by the classical heritage of RomeInfluenced by Christian beliefs, and bythe customs of Germanic tribes

Foundations of early Medieval Society

Monastic LifeMonks were very simple peopleClothing was simple—a long, loose robe made

from dark, coarse materialAte 1 to 2 meals a dayMost monks had to take vows of silenceLived in monasteries

Medieval Church

Monastic LifeWomen also participated in a life devoted to

religionThese women were nunsNuns lived in conventsNuns are known for their gown and veil

Medieval Church

Monastic LifeMonks and nuns lived isolated from the rest

of the peopleYet, they played a large part in the peoples’

livesThe monks preserved classical Roman and

Greek texts by hand copying the works

Medieval Church

Monastic LifeMonasteries and convents provided schools

for the youngThey were hospitals for the sickThey were hotels for the travelersMonks and nuns taught the people new skills

in carpentry, farming, and weaving

Medieval Church

Roman authority declined while church authority grew

Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements

Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic Tribes

Influence of the Roman Catholic Church

Roman authority declined while church authority grew

Monasteries preserved Greco-Roman cultural achievements

Missionaries carried Christianity and Latin alphabet to Germanic Tribes

Influence of the Roman Catholic Church

Power of the ChurchThe Catholic Church was powerful both

spiritually and politicallyThe rich gave $ to the ChurchThe Church was becoming very corrupt from

the $ and power it hadChurch leader cared less about salvation and

more about $

Medieval Church

Church ReformPeople began to call for reform because

the Church was becoming too secularMonasteries led the reformA College of Cardinals would choose the

popes1073—the Pope outlawed the Practice of

Lay Investiture—when secular rulers appointed Church officials

Medieval Church

Church Reform1215: Pope Innocent III tried to reform the

clergyHe condemned drunkenness, feasting,

hawking, and dancing among the clergyInnocent III issued Church laws to stop

heresy—the denial of the Church’s teachingsHeretics could be killed or excommunicated

Medieval Church

Medieval ChurchChurch ReformInnocent also started

the Inquisition—a Church court designed to find, arrest, judge, and sentence heretics

The Inquisition punished heretics in several ways

1.)imprisonment2.)excommunication3.)taking of property4.)execution

Church ReformFriars—wandering preachers—also attempted

to make reforms in the ChurchThere were two groups of friars

FranciscansDominicans

Medieval Church