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The Medieval Church
“It is our task, with the aid of divine goodness, to defend the holy church
of Christ everywhere…and to strengthen it within through knowledge of the
Catholic faith.”
- Charlemagne
Section 3
Medieval Church
Start UpMake a list of groups/clubs/institutions you
are a member of-
• When Rome fell, the Church was the only
organized institution in Europe
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Sec 3
Chap 7
Medieval
Church
Catholic
• The great majority of
people in Europe
during the Middle
Ages were Catholic
• The Church
therefore became
the authority in
many secular
matters
• Secular means
worldly matters,
rather than spiritual
ones
Secular or Holy?
• The Church needed
money to support its
hierarchy.
• All Catholics were
required to give 10%
of their income to the
Church, this is called
tithing.
Church Hierarchy
• Pope: Head of the church. The pope is infallible in defining
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matters of faith and morals.
Cardinal: Appointed by the pope, they advise the pope
and, on his death, elect a new pope.
Archbishop: An archbishop is a bishop of a main or
metropolitan diocese, also called an archdiocese.
Bishop: A bishop, like a priest, is ordained to this station.
He is a teacher of church doctrine, a priest of sacred worship,
and a minister of church government.
Priest: An ordained minister who can administer most of the
sacraments, including the Eucharist, baptism, and marriage.
He can be with a particular religious order or committed to
serving a congregation.
Deacon: A transitional deacon is a seminarian studying for
the priesthood. A permanent deacon can be married and
assists a priest by performing some of the sacraments.
How to become Pope!
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF8I_r
9XT7A
Hierarchy
Can you come up with your own?
• With power came
Corruption &
Greed
Medieval Churches
Papal Supremacy
• Popes claimed
authority over all
secular rulers
(kings)
Priests
• Most Priests were
common people
that devoted
themselves to the
work of the Church
(God).
• Most of the
Bishops and other
members of the
clergy were nobles.
Monks & Nuns
• Monasteries were built
throughout Europe
• Men who worked in
these monasteries
were called monks
• Women who worked in
these monasteries
were called nuns
The Early Middle Ages
• The monasteries were the centers of learning
(schools), hospitals and shelters for the poor.
• In order to achieve
eternal life in heaven
Catholics must receive
the sacraments.
• Sacraments are
sacred rites of the
Church: for exampleBaptism.
• Sacraments could only
be performed by a
priest
Church Law
• The Church created
its own set of laws
called Canon Law.
• Anyone who broke
these laws were
excommunicated or
banished from the
Church
Excommunication
• Not only were you
banished from the
Church, you were
denied all the
sacraments and
thus would never
achieve heaven.
Interdict
• If a noble or vassal
was
excommunicated
all the people living
on his land were
excommunicated
too.
Jews
• Some Jews had migrated into Europe
after the destruction of Judea by the
Romans.
• Most settled in what is today known as
Germany
• They were the minority in Europe
Anti-Semitism
• The prejudice against Jews
• Many Christians blame the Jews for the
death of Christ.
– (remember the Jewish priests)