Transcript Church Hierarchy

The Middle Ages
Church Hierarchy
Section 3
The Church Hierarchy
• The church had broad political powers
– Europe’s central government was weak, if exist at all
– Church filled the need for leadership
• One of the only institutions whose presence was felt
all throughout Europe
– Across all political and social levels
• Great economic force
– Leading landowners, Feudal lords
• Clergy members
– organized according to a strict hierarchy of rank
– Each rank had different responsibilities and powers
Church Hierarchy
Pope
Cardinals
Archbishops
Bishops
Parish Priests
Parish Priest
• The Parish
– smallest division within the church
• Parish Priest
– Directly serves the people in his parish
– Responsible for the moral and spiritual
well being
» Administered five of the seven sacraments
» Baptism, Holy communion, Penance,
Matrimony and Anointing of the sick and
dying
The Bishop
• Bishop
– Manages a group of parishes
• Called a Diocese
– Cathedral is the Bishops official
church
– The king or powerful nobles usually
controlled the selection of bishops
– Many were feudal lords or vassals
– Performs the other two sacraments
• Confirmation, taking of holy orders
Church Leadership
• Archbishop
– has all the powers and responsibilities of a bishop
– Has authority over the bishops of the archdiocese
• Cardinal - princes of the Church
• -appointed by the Pope
• College of Cardinals-advise the Pope and elect the Pope
• Can be an Archbishop
• Pope
– Supreme authority in the church
– Advised by the Curia
• Group of counselors drawn from the highest ranks of the clergy
• Most important and powerful members were Cardinals
• Advised the Pope on legal and spiritual matters
• In the 1100’s and on only cardinals elect the pope
Monasticism
• Medieval church had two types of clergy
• Secular Clergy
– Priests, bishops, and the Pope
– Secular meaning of the present world
• Regular Clergy
– Male Monks
– Lived in accordance with strict rules
– Female nuns also followed strict rules
• But not considered part of the clergy, only men
Monastic Lifestyles
• Monks and Nuns
– Believed they had to withdraw from the world and
its temptations
– Served God through fasting, prayer and self denial
• Eventually gave up on being hermits
– Formed religious communities
– Called Monasteries (Monks) and Convents (Nuns)
• Monasticism
– The way of life in convents and monasteries
The Benedictine Rule
• St. Benedict
– Became disgusted with the worldly
corruption he witnessed
– Left Rome to worship god as a
hermit
– His reputation for holiness spread
• Attracted many followers
– Established a monastery at Monte
Cassino
• In the mountains of central Italy
– Referred to as Saint Benedict
– Created rules to govern monks’
lives
• Adopted by Monasteries and
Convents all over Europe
• Called Benedictine Rule
The Benedictine Rule
• Benedictine Rule was fairly strict
– Everything belonged to their community
– No individual ownership
• The Abbot
– Elected head of the community
– Controlled and distributed all property
• The Abbess
– Served similar role for women in convents
• Spent many hours in prayer, rest of day doing chores
The Spread of Monastic Influence
• Took care of the needy
• Over time many monasteries became rich*
– Pious nobles gave money/land in return for spiritual favor
– Convents also received gifts, but did not get as wealthy
• Some monks left the monasteries to become missionaries
– St. Patrick
• Brought Christianity to Ireland in 432
– St. Augustine
• Lead a group of monks to England
• Became Archbishop of Canterbury
• Canterbury became center of the Christian
Church in England
The Church and Medieval Life
• The Church played a major role in everyday life
– Political, economic, and social
• Political Role
– In the Papal States the Pope was both political and religious leader
– Some claimed power of monarchs
– Many church leaders were Feudal Lords and advisors to kings
• Canon Law
– Church law code and system of courts
– Members of the clergy could be tried and the court would rule
accordingly
– Could be Excommunicated
•
•
•
•
Cut off from the church,
could not receive the sacraments or
be buried in sacred ground
Was greatly feared - removed them from society
The Church and Medieval Life
• Canon Law Continued
• Interdict
• Closing an entire region of churches
• Clergy would be forbidden to perform marriages,
burials, and sacraments
• Used to turn people against rulers who opposed church
powers and policies
– The church did not allow anyone to question the basic
principles of the Christian religion
– People who denied the truth of the church’s
principle or preached beliefs not approved by the
church
– Called Heretics – unbelievers who deserved eternal
damnation
The Church and Medieval Life
• Church had the power to tax
– Tithe
• 1/10 of a persons income
– The church received a large income from its
own lands
• 1200’s - height of its power
• Wealthiest institution in Europe
Economic and Social Role
• Church did not approve of people gaining wealth at the
expense of others
• Thought people who labored should be regarded with dignity
and respect
• Considered the Family a sacred institution
– Did not allow divorce
• Clergy was involved in social work
– Took care of the poor and needy
– Even established hospitals
Problems of the Church
•
•
Lay Investiture
– A noble (King) appointing a friend or relative to be a bishop or abbot
– Church felt only members of clergy could make appointments
Simony
– The buying of high positions within the church hierarchy
– Thought to provide wealth from church income or fees for services
– Came under criticism from within and outside the church
•
Many tried to bring about church reform
– St. Francis of Assisi
• Founded the Order of Franciscans 1209
– St. Dominic
• Founded the Order of the
Dominicans - 1216
– Members called Friars
• Preached and lived among the
people
Problems of the Church
• In mid-1200’s the church attempted to reform itself
– Church ordered the Dominicans to seek out heretics
– To stamp out teachings that opposed church doctrine
• Inquisition
– The search for heretics
– Those who confessed were forced to perform
penance
– Those who did not were turned over to the
government for punishment or execution
• Burning at the stake
• Church believed this necessary to stop the heresy
Matching
___1. a Christian ritual to gain God’s direct favor
___2. a bishop’s official church
___3. group of counselors who advise the pope
___4. “princes of the church”
___5. way of life in convents and monasteries
____6. he created the rules for monastic life
___7. the church’s own code of law
___8. he brought Christianity to Ireland
___9. all churches in a region can be closed with this ruling
__10. Practice of buying high positions in the church hierarchy