Transcript Rise of the Roman Catholic Church

Rise of the Roman
Catholic Church
Refer to Pages 179-183
Guiding Question:

What conditions helped to establish the
Roman Catholic Church as the major
authority and how did the Church establish
and maintain spiritual and political
hegemony throughout the Middle Ages?

Hegemony:
1. leadership or predominant influence exercised by
one nation over others, as in a confederation.
2. leadership; predominance.
3. (esp. among smaller nations) aggression or
expansionism by large nations in an effort to achieve
world domination.
The prominance of the Roman
Catholic Church rose out of the ashes
of the fallen Roman Empire…
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Represented order and authority
Preserved elements of classical culture
Filled power vaccuum
“church” vs. “Church”

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church (lowercase “c”) – individual
communities
Church (uppercase “c”) – Body of Christ
“catholic” – universal
 Institution of the Church became the One Catholic
Church

Guiding Question:

Is the Church today, primarily a spiritual union
or a physical institution? Do you think this is
how it ought to be?
“Headship” of the Church gave rise
to its role as the universal spiritual
authority
• The question is: How did the Roman
Church become the “head” of the church?
Influence of Leo I
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Persuaded Attila to spare
Rome
Hailed as papa or pope
(father-protector)
“Father”-figure translated
to “father” of all churches
Petrine Theory

Matthew 16:18-19
“And I tell you that you are
Peter, and on this rock I will
build my church, and the
gates of Hades will not
overcome it. I will give you
the keys of the kingdom of
heaven; whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in
heaven.”
The Church’s teachings and
practice further establish it as the
spiritual authority.
WHY?
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Middle Ages as “Age of Faith”
Illiteracy leads to reliance on the Church
Roman Church as mediator between God and
Humans
Guardian of Truth
 Interpreter of Scripture

Roman Catholic Sacramental System
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A sacrament is a religious act that grants grace
(salvation)
Core of worship
Requirement of salvation
Baptism

Initiates one into the church by “washing away
original sin.”
Confirmation
(Receiving of the Holy Spirit)

Brings one into full fellowship with the church
and confers upon him the Holy Spirit to
strengthen his spiritual life.
Penance
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Contrition
Confession
Satisfaction
Absolution
Holy Eucharist
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Sacrifice
Mass
Transubstantiation
Matrimony
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Unites a man and woman as husband and wife
Holy Orders

Sets an individual apart
for the service of the
church by ordaining him
into the priesthood.
Extreme Unction (Last Rites)

Anointing or blessing to
an ill or dying person to
grant absolution of sins
and offer spiritual
comfort.
The Church claimed the exclusive right to administer
the Sacraments…
…And therefore the right to maintain itself as the
only true spiritual authority.
“Warriors” of the Church
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Laity = Common people
Clergy = Servants of the Church
Secular clergy
 Regular clergy
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Monasticism
Monasticism
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Benedictine Rule:
"We must, then, prepare our hearts and
bodies for the battle of holy obedience to
his instructions. [T]herefore we intend to
establish a school for the Lord's service."
- The Rule's Prologue
"These [the list of Biblical principles
Benedict just laid out, such as not being
proud, not paying back evil for evil, and
never losing hop of God's mercy], then,
are the tools of the spiritual craft. When
we have used them without ceasing day
and night and have returned them on
judgment day, our wages will be the
reward the Lord has promised: What the
eye has not seen nor the ear heard, God
has prepared for those who love him (1
Cor 2:9)."
Missionary Clergy
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St. Patrick
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St. Boniface
And who’s the head of the clergy?
…That’s right, the POPE!