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The Church in the Medieval Times
The Role of the Church in Medieval Europe
Role of the Church
- “Age of Faith”- The Church was the center of
Medieval life- Every village and town had a
church- Large towns and cities had a
cathedral- Church bells were used to ring
out hours, call people to worship, and warn of danger
Community Activities
- Town meetings- Plays- Concerts- Religious services- Merchant shops- Markets- Festivals- Fairs
Offering Assistance
- Provided education for some
- Most likely those of higher social status
- Assisted the poor and sick- Church was a daily
presence for their entire life
Turning to the Church for Answers
- Looked to explain worldly events- Storms, disease, and famine
were thought to be punishments sent by God
- People prayed to keep away disasters
- The afterlife- Believed that salvation would
come to those who followed the church’s teachings
- Salvation: the saving of a person’s soul
The Christian Church Takes Shape
Christianity in Medieval Times
- One of the most important legacies of ancient Rome
- Christians are followers of Jesus- Jesus is believed to be killed
on a Roman cross- He is believed to be the son of
God, who sent him to Earth to save people from sins
- He is believed to have risen from the dead after his crucifixion
Christianity in Medieval Times
- Romans were originally persecuted for Christianity
- Persecuted is when others are forced to suffer for their beliefs
- Emperor Constantine declared freedom of religion in 313 C.E.
- By 395 C.E., Christianity was the recognized religion of the Roman Empire
- When Medieval Times began, all Christians belonged to Roman Catholic Church
- Today there are many branches of Christianity
- Church was a source of leadership and food distribution
Importance of Monasteries
- A monastery is a community of monks
- A monk is a man who has vowed to devote his life to prayer and service in a monastery
- Monasteries provided hospitality to refugees and travelers
- Monks copied and preserved old text
- Was able to keep learning alive
- Spread of monasteries helped convert people to Christian faith
Organization of Roman Catholic Church
Everyone in the clergy had a rank
Clergy: a body of people who perform the sacred functions of a church
- Pope: the bishop of Rome and supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church
- Cardinal: appointed by the Pope and counseled the Pope
- Archbishop: oversaw large, important areas called archdioceses
- Bishops: governed areas of dioceses from great cathedrals
- Priests: governed parishes, which were within dioceses
Economic Power of the Church
- Today, we have separation of church and state, but it wasn’t the case back then
- By 1050, it was the largest landholder in Europe
- A lot of land were gifts from monarchs and wealthy lords
- Some land was taken by force
- The church began taxes, or tithe- Each person expected to give 10% of
resources to help support the church
Political Power of the Church
- Latin was the only common language in Europe
- Church officials were often the only people who could read
- They kept records for monarchs and became advisors
- Their power would often bring conflict with the European monarchs
Sacraments and Salvation in the Middle Ages
The Christian Afterlife
- Most people believed in an afterlife- Souls living on past death
- Church taught that people gained salvation by following the church’s teachings and living a moral life
- If they didn’t follow the church’s beliefs, they would suffer in hell
- Hell was believed to be a real and terrifying place
- Fire and demons tortured souls
The Christian Salvation
- In order to gain salvation, people needed to receive the seven sacraments
- Sacraments were sacred rites that Christians believed brought them a special blessing from God
- Marked important occasions in a person’s life
Baptism
- Entry into church- Priest pours water over
his/her head to cleanse a person of sin
Confirmation
- Formal declaration of belief in God and the church
Eucharist
- A part of mass- The priest blesses
bread and wine and it becomes the body and blood of Christ
Matrimony
- A marriage blessed by the church
- Couple signs their name in a book of records
Holy Orders
- The procedure where a man becomes a priest
Penance
- Confessing your sins to a priest
- Receive God’s forgiveness in return
Extreme Unction
- A person in danger of death is blessed by a priest
- Also known as anointing of the sick
Pilgrimages
Pilgrimage
- A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy site
- Went to show devotion to God- Penance for sins- Hope for being cured of illness
- Required dedication- Difficult and dangerous- Traveled on foot- Robbers were constant threats
- Popular routes might have guides or special roads/hostels
Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
- Book of verse about pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury
- Knight- Miller- Cook- Prioress (head of nunnery/convent)
- Chaucer lived in England from 1342-1400