The Middle Ages IThe Middle Ages I590-1517590-1517

The Middle Ages IThe Middle Ages I590-1517590-1517

Monks, Popes, and BarbiesMonks, Popes, and Barbies

Middle Ages

Dark Ages

Golden Years

Clovis King of the FranksClovis King of the Franks

• Barbarian chieftain of the Frankish Barbarian chieftain of the Frankish peoplepeople

• Converted, largely through the Converted, largely through the influence of his wife Clotildinfluence of his wife Clotild

• Constantine like conversion experience Constantine like conversion experience before the battle of Tolbiacbefore the battle of Tolbiac

• Began the conversion of all the Began the conversion of all the barbarians, through missionary as well barbarians, through missionary as well as axe work.as axe work.

Monks, Monkery, and MonasticismMonks, Monkery, and Monasticism

NOT these guysNOT these guys

These GuysThese Guys

Monks, Monkery, and MonasticismMonks, Monkery, and MonasticismMonks, Monkery, and MonasticismMonks, Monkery, and Monasticism

• Started by St. Antony in mid 3Started by St. Antony in mid 3rdrd century century• Emphasis on celibacy, asceticism, and purityEmphasis on celibacy, asceticism, and purity• Desired separation from the world in order to Desired separation from the world in order to

obtain purityobtain purity• Came up with some crazy ideas like Simon Came up with some crazy ideas like Simon

StylitusStylitus• Systematized by Benedict in the early 6Systematized by Benedict in the early 6thth

century.century.• Became a punishment used to eliminate heirs to Became a punishment used to eliminate heirs to

the throne without killing themthe throne without killing them

• Started by St. Antony in mid 3Started by St. Antony in mid 3rdrd century century• Emphasis on celibacy, asceticism, and purityEmphasis on celibacy, asceticism, and purity• Desired separation from the world in order to Desired separation from the world in order to

obtain purityobtain purity• Came up with some crazy ideas like Simon Came up with some crazy ideas like Simon

StylitusStylitus• Systematized by Benedict in the early 6Systematized by Benedict in the early 6thth

century.century.• Became a punishment used to eliminate heirs to Became a punishment used to eliminate heirs to

the throne without killing themthe throne without killing them

St. Antony 250-357St. Antony 250-357

• Became a monk at age 20Became a monk at age 20

• Was inspired by the words of Mt. 19:21-Was inspired by the words of Mt. 19:21-2222

• Sold his goods, gave much away, took Sold his goods, gave much away, took care of his sister and ran away to a tombcare of his sister and ran away to a tomb

• Tomb got crowded so he started a Tomb got crowded so he started a monastery in the mountainsmonastery in the mountains

St. Antony 250-357St. Antony 250-357

• Fought with the Devil in many times Fought with the Devil in many times and waysand ways

• Desired to be a martyrDesired to be a martyr

• Performed many miraclesPerformed many miracles

• Uneducated, but wiseUneducated, but wise

• Debated with PagansDebated with Pagans

St. BenedictSt. Benedict

• Father of modern monasticismFather of modern monasticism• Monk at age 15Monk at age 15• ““Knowledgeably ignorant and wisely Knowledgeably ignorant and wisely

unlearned”unlearned”• Performed many miraclesPerformed many miracles• Formed many small monasteries with 12 monks Formed many small monasteries with 12 monks

and one abbotand one abbot• Lived out of the world to save the worldLived out of the world to save the world• Wrote out the Wrote out the Regula Benedicti Regula Benedicti “Rule of “Rule of

Benedict”Benedict”

Rule of BenedictRule of Benedict

• Democratic government, Abbot-provost-deansDemocratic government, Abbot-provost-deans

• 1 year trial for initiates1 year trial for initiates

• ““Ora et Labora” Prayer & Manual LaborOra et Labora” Prayer & Manual Labor

• Threefold vowThreefold vow– Stabilitas – adherence to the monastic orderStabilitas – adherence to the monastic order– Conversio Morum – poverty, chastity, pietyConversio Morum – poverty, chastity, piety– Obedientia coram Deo et sanctis ejus – Absolute Obedientia coram Deo et sanctis ejus – Absolute

obedience to the Abbot – the cardinal virtue of the obedience to the Abbot – the cardinal virtue of the monk.monk.

• Preserved many classics through librariesPreserved many classics through libraries

Gregory The Great 540-604Gregory The Great 540-604• Born into a wealthy familyBorn into a wealthy family• Well educatedWell educated• Gave up prefecture of Rome, sold his belongings Gave up prefecture of Rome, sold his belongings

and built a St. Andrews monastery where he and built a St. Andrews monastery where he became a Benedictine monkbecame a Benedictine monk

• Later became ambassador to Constantinople, Later became ambassador to Constantinople, then Abbot of St. Andrewsthen Abbot of St. Andrews

• He is reluctantly appointed Bishop of Rome, and He is reluctantly appointed Bishop of Rome, and initiates a march against the Plague which ends initiates a march against the Plague which ends miraculously.miraculously.

Gregory The Great 540-604Gregory The Great 540-604

• Becomes pope in 590Becomes pope in 590

• Takes over in Rome due to absent Takes over in Rome due to absent emperor even in military affairsemperor even in military affairs

• Defended the city from a Lombard Defended the city from a Lombard invasion.invasion.

• Humbly enforces the Roman supremacy Humbly enforces the Roman supremacy over all other churches.over all other churches.

Gregory The Great 540-604Gregory The Great 540-604

• Doctor Ecclesia – Wrote Doctor Ecclesia – Wrote Liber Liber pastoralis curaepastoralis curae “book on the office of “book on the office of Bishop” also wrote Bishop” also wrote DialoguesDialogues

• Maybe initiated Gregorian Chant Maybe initiated Gregorian Chant

• Sent a team of 30 monk missionaries to Sent a team of 30 monk missionaries to the Anglo-Saxons ultimately resulting the Anglo-Saxons ultimately resulting in their conversionin their conversion

The Heliand (Saxon Gospel) Circa 8th century

Fadar ûsa firiho barno, Fadar ûsa firiho barno, thu bist an them hôhon himila rîkea, thu bist an them hôhon himila rîkea,

geuuîhid sî thîn namo uuordo gehuuilico. geuuîhid sî thîn namo uuordo gehuuilico. Cuma thîn craftag rîki. Cuma thîn craftag rîki.

Uuerða thîn uuilleo obar thesa uuerold alla, Uuerða thîn uuilleo obar thesa uuerold alla, sô sama an erðo, sô thar uppa ist sô sama an erðo, sô thar uppa ist

an them hôhon himilo rîkea. an them hôhon himilo rîkea. Gef ûs dago gehuuilikes râd, drohtin the gôdo, Gef ûs dago gehuuilikes râd, drohtin the gôdo, thîna hêlaga helpa, endi alât ûs, hebenes uuard, thîna hêlaga helpa, endi alât ûs, hebenes uuard, managoro mênsculdio, al sô uue ôðrum mannum managoro mênsculdio, al sô uue ôðrum mannum

dôan. dôan. Ne lât ûs farlêdean lêða uuihti Ne lât ûs farlêdean lêða uuihti

sô forð an iro uuilleon, sô uui uuirðige sind, sô forð an iro uuilleon, sô uui uuirðige sind, ac help ûs uuiðar allun ubilon dâdiun.ac help ûs uuiðar allun ubilon dâdiun.