in latin, “religio” means “something that binds.” for romans, religion was a force that...
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In Latin, “religio” means “something that
binds.” For Romans, religion was a force that
bound families together, bound subjects to
their ruler and bound men to the gods.
Most of the Roman gods and goddesses were a
blend of several religious influences. Many were
introduced via the Greek colonies of southern Italy.
Many also had their roots in old religions of the
Etruscans or Latin tribes.
Omens and Superstitions
The Roman was by nature a very superstitious
person. Emperors would tremble and even
legions refuse to march if the omens were bad
ones.
Divine blessing
The objective of Roman worship was to gain the
blessing of the gods and thereby gain prosperity
for themselves, their families and communities.
Cult worship
Roman religion involved cult worship. Approval
from the gods did not depend on a person’s
behavior, but on perfectly accurate observance of
religious rituals. Each god needed an image –
usually a statue or relief in stone or bronze – and
an altar or temple at which to offer the prayers
and sacrifices.
The Religion of the State
Just as the wife was supposed to guard the hearth
at home, then Rome had the Vestal Virgins guard
the holy flame of Rome. The religion of state was
in control of the pontifex maximus.
The High Offices of State Religion
Rex sacrorum, the king of rites, was an office
created under the early republic as a substitute for
royal authority over religious matters. The
flamines acted as priests to individual gods: three
for the major gods Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus, and
twelve for the lesser ones.
The Vestal Virgins
There were six vestal virgins. All were traditionally
chosen from old patrician families at a young age.
Their foremost duty was to guard the sacred fire in
the temple. Punishment for vestal virgins was
enormously harsh. If they let the flame go out,
they would be whipped. And as they had to
remain virgins, their punishment for breaking their
vow of chastity was to be walled up alive
underground.
Rise of Christianity
The first century also saw the birth of a brand
new religion. Although he was executed by Rome
at an early age, Jesus would have a massive
impact on the Roman Empire. After his death, his
message of eternal life and hope was spread
across the empire by missionaries such as Paul.
And although Christians in Rome suffered
appalling persecution at times, their ideas refused
to die: instead, they would conquer Rome itself.
Spreading the word
Paul preached in some of the empire’s most
important cities. Like Jesus, Paul spoke to people
in their homes and synagogues. But he went
beyond Jesus, who had only preached to Jews.
Paul believed his message should also be taken
to gentiles – the non-Jews.
Relaxing the rules
As the Christian movement began to accept non-
Jewish members, it moved further away from the
strict rules imposed on Jews. In so doing, it
gradually became a new and separate religion.
Over time, the Christian church and faith grew
more organized. In 313 AD, the Emperor
Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, which
accepted Christianity: 10 years later, it had
become the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Spirituality and religion in Middle ages
The Catholic Church was the only church in
Europe during the Middle Ages. Church leaders
such as bishops and archbishops sat on the king's
council and played leading roles in government.
Bishops, who were often wealthy and came from
noble families, ruled over groups of parishes called
"diocese." Parish priests, on the other hand, came
from humbler backgrounds and often had little
education.
Monks and Nuns
Monasteries in the Middle Ages were based on the rules set down by St. Benedict in the sixth century. The monks took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to their leaders. They were required to perform manual labor and were forbidden to own property, leave the monastery, or become entangled in the concerns of society. Daily tasks were often carried out in silence. Monks and their female counterparts, nuns, who lived in convents, that were safe havens for pilgrims and other travelers.
Pilgrimages
Pilgrimages were an important part of religious life in the Middle Ages. Many people took journeys to visit holy shrines such as the Church of St. James at Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the Canterbury cathedral in England, and sites in Jerusalem and Rome and in our area the srine of the Archangelus Michael.
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