senior theology brief look back at church history september 2014
TRANSCRIPT
The Early ChurchPre Christian Rome
Law/Justice necessary for orderly society
Justice for each in the social order
Landowners, artisans, freed slaves, slaves, lowest
Not necessary to move between orders or aid other orders
Christianity introduces concept of Charity/caritas
The Early ChurchCharity/Caritas
All are equal—examples????
A radical idea
Church still incorporated some idea of law from Rome, especially when Christianity became legal
The Early ChurchChristianity becomes legal religion of all; takes
root and
Spreads during the Pax Romana
Basic organization: bishop of Rome, plus other bishops—from the Apostles; shepherd, sanctify & teach.
Assisted by priests & deacons
Bishop of Rome is most important—why?
The Early ChurchSpread of Christianity
Constantine’s Edict of Milan—he sees Christianity as unifying force for the Empire
Helps evangelization
Church adopts Roman methods of administration & Justinian Code of Law—a reform of civil law that reflected Christian values. Includes protection for women & children but still reflects customs of the time—repressive measures against non-Christians
The Early ChurchCollapse of Rome in 476.
Pope & bishops looked to as civic as well as religious leaders.
Gregory the Great (590-604)
Monasticism—strong force for Christianity’s growthSt. Antony of Egypt—father of monasticismSt. Benedict—father of western monasticism; Rule of
St. Benedict becomes model for future monasteriesMonasteries become centers of learning &
evangelization—stability in unstable times
The Early ChurchPatristic Age—Fathers of the Church—
Franks—Clovis, Pepin, then Charlemagne and
Holy Roman Empire: an alliance between Church and state
Rise of Islam—Muslim invasion, loss of the Eastern Church in Syria, Palestine, North Africa & Spain; isolates the Western Church
Beginnings of split between Pope, emperor & Patriarch of Constantinople
The Middle AgesEarly—The Dark Ages—breakup of Holy Roman
Empire; invasions by Norsemen & Vikings
Rise of Feudalism
Secular control over the Church with abuses like
Lay investiture, simony
Reforms under various popes to free papacy from secular control
The Middle AgesCouncils—seeking spiritual reform; clear definitions of
Catholic doctrine
Councils throughout all time periods
1054—Eastern Schism—result of centuries of differences between Western and Eastern Church—language, culture, theology, politics
Crusades—attempt to open Holy Land to Christian pilgrims
Mixed results—violence against the innocent but opened the West to trade, new ideas, end of feudalism
The Middle Ages Mendicant (begging) orders helped call the Church back
to Gospel Values & simplicity
Cathedrals & universities; scholastic theology—great thinkers—St. Thomas Aquinas
The Peace of God (spared women, clergy, children & peasants from attack) and the Truce of God (limited days to fight in a year—only 80; none Wed evening till Monday morning; religious holidays)
Just-War Theory—roots in St. Augustine & Thomas Aquinas
However, later popes try to exert idea of pope is sovereign over kings
The New WorldPost-Reformation Church—missionary activity to
the New World and the East
18th C—An age of revolutionEnlightenment—Rationalism—humans could achieve truth without
divine revelation
Revolution in America—not hostile to religion
Revolution in France—hostile to religion—stamped out Catholicism
The Modern Era 19th C—Liberalism
Right to vote, democracy, equality of all citizens But many liberals anti-religious, violent; hoped to destroy Church
Industrial Revolution
Marxist communism—must be a violent struggle to bring justice; religion stands in way of that struggle—an ‘opiate’
1891—Pope Leo XIII— Rerum Novarum—On the Condition of Workers Landmark social-justice encyclical Right to private property—capitalism is ok, with limits Workers’ rights to a fair wage & unionization But, state intervention to defend workers. Family & religion important to build just society
The Modern Era—an example
Marie-Eugenie Milleret/France, early 1800s; family not interested in religion, but passionate about ‘liberty and justice’
Fall of Napoleon; rise of industrialism
Early years, did not connect Catholicism (name only in France) to justice concerns
Distraught over plight of industrialized workers.
—”God willed to establish a social order where no man would have to suffer from the oppression of others”
Marie-Eugenie Milleret, cont.
Believed education a key to changing society—there was great neglect in education, especially among workers & women
—”God willed to establish a social order where no man would have to suffer from the oppression of others”
Founded an order of sisters—Religious of the Assumption—to teach and to perform works of mercy/charity
Compare Milleret’s approach to injustice & the approach of marxism.
The Church In Modern Times
A change from the past—castle & moat; above, in a sense, what happens in society.
The Church must be in the world, but not of the world
Go forth from Liturgy to bring the kingdom of God/His transforming love to all people!
Many persons of the Church of 19th C were distilling these ideas—Milleret as an example—but reaches a high point & beginning with Rerum Novarum—try to change social problems
Frederic Ozanam—founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a worldwide charity organization for the poor.
The Church TodayCatholic Social Teaching
To examine & interpret historical & current events in light of Gospel teachings of Jesus Christ with revelation of the Holy Spirit
CST must respond to the “signs of the times”
Rerum NovarumRadical! Creates a great stir!
Challenges society to become more like the Kingdom of God by
Criticizing capitalism & marxism and
Advocating for the dignity of workers
Influenced governments to protect workers’ rights
Rerum Novarum, cont.More importantly,
Sets the precedent for Church to speak out on social matters
Challenges Christians to look for the roots of social injustice—look for causes of problems like poverty
Change the way society is set up to eliminate the problems!
These two things cannot be separated: Individual moral choices affect society & society
affects individual moral choices