Download The Church fights to recover the Holy Land

The Church fights to recover the Holy Land
 Pilgrimage – a journey to a shrine or other holy place for spiritual and
devotional reasons
 The Holy Land became an extremely popular and sacred pilgrimage
site
 Muslims conquered the Holy Land, including the city of Jerusalem
(1000-1200AD)
 Christians became anxious.
 1095  Pope Urban II organized a crusade (crusade = “taking back
the cross”)
 The original purpose of the crusades was to save Christianity.
 Crusades lasted from 1097-1204
 Four major crusades  First was the one where they took back
control of Jerusalem, but the Muslims took it back in 1187 (remained
a Muslim territory until 1917)
 Crusades were not good for anyone (Christians or non-Christians),
and it deepened the division between east and west Catholics 
Questions:
1) What events caused fear amongst the Europeans?
2) Why did Pope Urban II initiate the Crusades?
The Church struggles with corruption
 During the Middle Ages, some bishops and abbots were living like
kings, concerned only with money and power
 Some secular leaders were “ordaining” bishops in their kingdoms 
lay investiture
 Pope Gregory VII (pope from 1073-1085): led the “Gregorian
reforms;” stopped lay investiture and simony (buying and selling
spiritual services or positions)
 Gregory excommunicated emperor Henry IV because he wouldn’t
reform
 Henry tricked Gregory into letting him back into the church and sent
him into exile
Questions:
1) What were some of Pope Gregory VII accomplishments?
2) Describe the conflict between Gregory VII and Henry IV.
Fearing heresy, the Church launches the Inquisition
 Christendom – cultural and political atmosphere that came into
existence during the period in Europe when nearly everyone was
Catholic
 The High Middle Ages was characterized by Christendom
 Pope Innocent III  high point of papal power
 Innocent called the 4th Lateran Council
o Catholics must receive Communion at least once a year
o Transubstantiation  changing of the bread and wine into
Body and Blood during Mass
 Because religion and society were so closely tied, any threat to
religion was a threat to society; state of fear and anxiety
 Church began fight against heresy: 1231 -- the Inquisition begins by
Pope Gregory IX
 Many “small” inquisitions over time; worst was Spanish Inquisition of
1497 – targeted Jew and Muslim converts
 Another dark period in Catholic history 
Questions:
1) Why did the Church and civil leaders of this time period feel so
strongly about the need to defend the Catholic faith?
2) Explain how the Inquisition started and how it got out of hand.
Friars witness to Christ
 people moving from farms to towns
 increase in poverty & social problems; loss of faith
 new form of religious life: friars (Latin meaning brother)
 friars did not live in monasteries like monks; they begged for their
needs & worked out in the world among the poor people
 friars believed in education & social justice
 two great orders that were formed: Dominicans & Franciscans
The Faith of the Church is shaken by the Black Death
 1300-1500AD - late Middle Ages
 disease, disorder, & great change
 massive plague: The Black Death
 started in Asia and ran through Europe; took 400 years to get back
to pre-plague populations
 social structures broke down even further; people lost faith even
more; there were looters, violence, and anger
 Countries throughout Europe were at war, had weak rulers, and
Muslim armies had conquered Constantinople, the Christian capital
at this time (1453), & Austria (eastern Europe)
 fear that Muslim armies would be to western Europe soon
Question:
1) Why did the Black Death cause many people to lose their faith?
The Church faces setbacks in the understanding of the Catholic faith
 because of all the deaths, the Gregorian reform was losing focus;
there was nobody to carry on the traditions, teach people about
them, or to write and study more about them
 lack of understanding of Eucharist, Mass, and even basic prayers
 Major problem because the Eucharist MUST be at the center of a
Catholic’s spiritual life
 Christendom weakens and papacy loses power
The church’s leadership suffers as a result of the Great Schism

Pope → the Bishop of Rome, Peter’s successor

1305: Pope Clement V elected pope, but stayed in Avignon, France

future popes stayed in Avignon

the pope was under control of the French king (a civil ruler)

1377: Pope Gregory XI moved papacy to Rome in 1377

Urban VI (Rome) vs. Clement VII (Avignon)

Clement VII = antipope

Great Schism of the West: lasted 40 years

in 1417, new pope finally elected: Pope Martin V
Question:
1) Why was the moving of papacy in 1305 a setback for the Church?
The Renaissance and humanism influence the life of the Church.

Renaissance - period between Middle Ages & Modern Age

Church → patron of the arts

humanism - emphasis on the importance of the person

in Catholicism, this means that everyone is made in God’s own image
and likeness

Christian humanists were interested in social justice (fighting
ignorance and corruption); some clergy members still were leading
luxurious lives

The humanists worked for a renewed clergy that would unite the
spirituality and faith of the Church

Throughout all the dark times, the Church remained constant and
survived
Questions:
1) How was the period of the Renaissance and humanism a good period for
the Church?
Abuses & scandals weaken the Church

people calling for change and reform

Martin Luther, an Augustinian priest, demanded change
The Church faces the Protestant Reformation

indulgence - remission of temporal punishment due to sins already
forgiven by God

some indulgences are good … when people say certain prayers, etc

at this time period, though, some clergy members began using
indulgences for personal gain

Pope Leo X vs. Martin Luther

Pope Leo -- it’s ok to get an indulgence for helping to support the
church financially

Martin Luther - no it’s not ok; people can’t “earn salvation”

Martin Luther posted 95 Theses on church door

Protestant Reformation begins

1520: Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther

Martin Luther’s new followers were called Lutherans, who are still
active today
A spirit of reform sweeps Europe.

Zwingli: rejected Real Presence & replaced Mass with a “Last
Supper” celebration

Anabaptists: rejected infant baptism; rejected all forms of civil and
religious government (Amish, Mennonites)

Calvinists: followers of John Calvin, rejected Real Presence;
predestination

Church of England: Henry VIII, wanted to divorce
The Church responds with the Counter-Reformation.

Council of Trent: 1545-1563

took 3 sessions under 3 different popes

focused on confronting the need for reform & disproving Protestant
beliefs

Roman Catechism published in 1566

Counter-Reformation
Question: What were some of the important teachings that the Church
decided upon at the Council of Trent?
I.
Christians of the High Middle Ages
a. The Church fights to recover the Holy Land
b. The Church struggles with corruption
c. Fearing heresy, the Church launches the Inquisition
d. Friars witness to Christ
II.
The Church in Crisis and Change
a. The faith of the Church is shaken by the Black Death
b. The Church faces setbacks in the understanding of the Catholic
faith.
c. The church’s leadership suffers as a result of the Great Schism
of the West
d. The Renaissance and humanism influence the life of the
Church.
III.
People of Reform and Renewal
a. Abuses and scandals weaken the Church.
b. The Church faces the Protestant Reformation
c. A spirit of reform sweeps Europe.
d. The Church responds with the Counter-Reformation.