Chapter 13Section 3

The Church

Chapter Review

Within the feudal system a powerful noble granted land called a ____ to a lesser noble

The system where a fief could be inherited by the vassal’s eldest son

On Christmas Day of the year 800 what did Pope Leo III declare Charlemagne?

What were the schools that Charlemagne established based on?

To become a knight a boy had to belong to what social class?

a code of behavior for knights called _______

The Church Hierarchy

Because of Medieval Europe’s weak government the church power extended through every social and political level

Within the church, members were organized according to a strict hierarchy of rank

{The parish priest held the lowest rank}, he directly served the people and was responsible for religious instruction and the moral and spiritual life of the community

Although the lowest rank, the priest was an important officer. He could administer five of the seven sacraments or ceremonies in which participants received God’s favor to help ward off the consequence of sin

{In medieval times, most people were likely to have contact with a parish priest} when they had dealings with the church

Parish Priest

Continued… Next in the hierarchy were the bishops they managed

a group of parishes called diocese Kings or powerful nobles chose the bishops based on

their family connections and political power Next up the line were the archbishops they controlled

the archdiocese- a group of several diocese and had authority over them and the bishops

The pope held supreme authority over the church. He was advised by the curia- a group of counselors from the highest ranks of clergy. The curia’s most powerful members were called cardinals they advised the pope on legal and spiritual matters

Any man regardless of birth rites could rise within the church

The cardinals elected the pope

archbishop

Monasticism

The medieval church was made up of two types of clergy Priests, bishops and the pope mad up the secular clergy. They gave sacraments and preached the gospel among

the people {The second group of clergy was the regular clergy

made up of male monks} They lived under strict rules and believed they had to

withdraw from the world and its temptations to live a Christian life. They served God through fasting, prayer and self denial

Nuns also lived under these strict rules but were not considered clergy because they were not men

Monks lived in monasteries, while nuns lived in convents Monasticism refers to the way of life in monasteries and

convents

monk

The Benedictine Rule

A young Roman named Benedict became disgusted with the world and its corruption and left Rome to worship God as a hermit

Benedict- later Saint Benedict- created rules for the monks to live by. These standards became known as the Benedictine Rule

Everything a monk or nun used belonged to their community. They had no personal possessions

The Abbot was the head of a monastery and the Abbess was the head of the convents.

Some monks left their monasteries to become missionaries. St. Patrick, brought Christianity to Ireland and St. Augustine was responsible for all of England accepting Christianity

Saint Benedict

The Church’s Political Role in Medieval Life

The church had its own code of law called canon law and its own courts.

{The church used interdicts and excommunication to maintain power over the people}

Excommunication meant a person was cut off from the church. They could not receive sacraments and could not be buried on sacred ground. Interdict meant that all the churches in an entire region would be closed there would be no marriages, no burials etc…

The church would not allow anyone to question the principles of Christianity. Those who denied the church’s principles were considered Heretics.

The church also had the power to tax. The parish priest collected a Tithe- on tenth of a persons income- for the church

Problems of the Church

The church’s great wealth and influence led to problems A part of the problems was that {people could buy high

positions within the church hierarchy in a practice called simony}

Two church leaders sought to bring about church reform, St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscans, and St. Dominic, founder of the Dominicans.

In the mid 1200’s the church ordered the Dominicans to seek out heretics. The search was known as the Inquisition.

Heretics who confessed were forced to perform penance Those who did not confess were turned over to the government

for punishment or execution.

At some point wouldn’t you confess and repent?

Review

What position was the lowest rank in the Church?

Who in the church did most people have contact with?

The regular clergy was made up of who?