Key Terms – The Medieval Church

1. Gregorian Reforms Simony Lay Investiture Ashkenazim Jews Anti-Semitism Key Terms – The Medieval Church • Sacraments • Holy Days • Tithe • Monasteries • Benedictine Rule • Papal Supremacy • Excommunication • Interdict • Clunaic Reforms

2. The Church • The Roman Catholic Church became a strong institution during the middle ages. • Many Christians believed that since the Church was the only place to offer salvation, it was the most important institution in the world. • Christians devoted their lives to the Church out of fear that if they did not attend Church or receive the sacraments, they would suffer eternal damnation.

3. The Church • Life for Christians revolved around the Holy Days → days that were celebrated as feast days for saints. • As a result of constant church attendance, the church would profit by charging tithes → payments equal to one tenth of one's income. • Christians had no choice but to go to church because it was the only place where they could receive the sacraments → sacred rites of the Church.

4. Opinions • Many believed that the sacraments were the only way to save one's soul, hence church attendance was mandatory. • The Church shaped the beliefs of many people. • Women were diminutized because of Christian beliefs → women committed original sin, hence they were beneath man and needed guidance • Some people believed that the Church had slowly grown corrupt due to some lay officials becoming church officials to charge tithes and make profits → when rulers or non-church officials create church offices for others, this is known as lay investiture. • Lay investiture led many to turn away from the Medieval Church and join other forms of worship.

5. Growth of Monasticism - Many people left the towns to go to monasteries → communities of men who devoted their lives to worship. - Many felt that the corruption of the Church had not affected the monasteries and hence chose to live their to lead their Christian lives. - Corruption would arrive at the monasteries leading to the need for reform.

6. The Benedictine Rule - Many monks broke monastic laws revolving around gambling and celibacy. - One abbot, decided to reform the monasteries and created rules for monks → these rules were known as the Benedictine Rule

7. The Benedictine Rule (cont.) Some rules were: 1. Monk must remain at monastery for life 2. Daily life should follow a strict schedule. 3. Seven hours a day should be devoted to manual labor. 4. Two hours should be reserved for reading Christian books. 5. Should eat one or two meals a day. - These rules were the means by which to reinforce the three vows of priesthood: poverty, chastity, and obedience.

8. The Growing Power of Popes - Popes used the growth of the Church as an institution as a means by which they could acquire more power for themselves. - Popes knew that since there were significantly more Christians that relied on the sacraments, they could use this to control rulers and their actions. - Popes used two major weapons to control rulers: • Excommunication → removal from the church of one individual and denial of the sacraments. • Interdict → removal from the church of a whole town or country

9. Clunaic Reforms - Abbot Berno of Cluny sought to extend the reforms brought about by the Benedictine Rule. - Lay investiture had filled monasteries and churches with nobles and lay people who were usually very corrupt. - Clunaic Reforms → revived the Benedictine Rule, removed nobles from monasteries and churches, invested new monks who were devoted to religion

10. Gregorian Reforms - Gregory VII in 1073, would extend the Clunaic and Benedictine Reforms to the Church. - Gregorian Reforms → prohibited the marriage of priests, outlawed simony → sale of church offices. • Ended lay investiture → investing of titles and church offices by non-church officials.

11. The Plight of the Jews - Jews began to move away from the Middle East and move towards Spain in search of a safe place to live. - Jews who lived in Western Europe were considered Ashkenazim Jews. - Jews were welcomed in tolerant Spain because of their banking knowledge and ability to help revive economies. - Persecution of Jews would increase, they would be blamed for numerous natural disasters and poor situations → this prejudice against Jews is known as anti-semitism

12. Results - Popes gained more power during this period and used it to send secular officials on wars (the Crusades) and to acquire more power for themselves. - The Church became an institution similar to that of any government that existed during the Middle Ages. - Control of the Church would become a major issue for many secular rulers as they attempted to invest more power in themselves.