The Power of the ChurchThe Power of the ChurchChapter 13, Section 4

Far-Reaching Authority of the Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchChurchThe Structure of the Church

◦Power within the Church is organized by status; the pope is the supreme authority

◦Clergy--religious officials—includes bishops, priests, and others

◦Bishops supervise priests and settle Church disputes

Church StructureChurch Structure

Rise of Religious Rise of Religious ImportanceImportance

• Feudalism and the Manor System created division among people.

• Political turmoil and

warfare

• Church teachings bonded people

together.

• Church provided a sense of security

that gave people a sense of

belonging.

• Middle Ages was

also known as the Age of Faith.

•Religion took center

stage.

Far-Reaching Authority of the Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchChurchReligion as a Unifying Force

◦Religion is important in the Middle Ages; shared beliefs bond people

◦Clergy administers the sacraments—rites to achieve salvation

◦Village church is a place of worship and celebration

Sacraments – important religious ceremonies (rites) in the Church.

Baptism – initiation rite into the Christian community.

Confirmation – people of their own will acknowledge their belief.

Holy Communion - a meal of bread and wine that (Eucharist) Christians share in remembrance of Jesus’ last meal.

Marriage – ceremony blessing the union of a couple

Ordination – ceremony to initiate new priests into the priesthood

Penance / Confession – repenting of sins; (Reconciliation) asking of forgiveness

Last Rites – prayer service priest provides the dying or over the dead.

The Sacraments were meant to follow a person’s life from beginning to end.

Sacraments in Western ChristianitySacraments in Western Christianity

Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ProtestantProtestant

BaptismBaptism

ConfirmationConfirmation

Holy CommunionHoly Communion

Reconciliation Reconciliation (confession)(confession)

Anointing of the SickAnointing of the Sick

MatrimonyMatrimony

Holy OrdersHoly Orders

BaptismBaptism

The Lord’s Supper The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)(Holy Communion)

Far-Reaching Authority of the Far-Reaching Authority of the ChurchChurchThe Law of the Church

◦ The Church has a system of justice to guide people’s conduct

◦ All medieval Christians expected to obey canon law—Church law

◦ Canon law governs marriages and religious practices

◦ Popes have power over political leaders through threat of: Excommunication—banishment from Church,

denial of salvation Interdiction—king’s subjects denied sacraments

and services◦ Kings and emperors were expected to obey

pope’s commands.

CH 13 Sec. 4, “Church Justice”

canon law – the laws of the Church.

Church courts tried people for breaking canon law / heresy.

Two types of punishment:

Of an individual = ExcommunicationOf a community / region = Interdict

Popes often used the “threat” of these two types of punishment to force kings into obedience.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

The Church and the Holy Roman The Church and the Holy Roman EmpireEmpireOtto I Allies with the Church

◦Otto I (Otto the Great) is crowned king of Germany in 936

◦Limits strength of nobles with help of clergy

◦Gains support of bishops and abbots (heads of monasteries)

◦Invades Italy on pope’s behalf; pope crowns him emperor in 962

The Church and the Holy Roman The Church and the Holy Roman EmpireEmpire

Signs of Future Conflicts◦ Otto’s German-

Italian lands become Holy Roman Empire

◦ Holy Roman Empire is the strongest European power until about 1100

The Emperor Clashes with the The Emperor Clashes with the PopePopeEmperor Henry IV and Pope

Gregory VII◦Pope Gregory VII bans lay investiture

—kings appointing Church officials◦Henry IV orders pope to resign;

Gregory VII excommunicates Henry

Showdown at CanossaShowdown at Canossa

◦Henry goes to Canossa, Italy, to beg Gregory forgiveness (see primary source)

◦Gregory forgives Henry, buy lay investiture problem is not solved

CH 13 Sec. 4, “H.R.E. Clashes with the Pope

One of the things Popes began to resent most was kings who exercised power over clergy and their church offices.

The main focus of this resentment was the practice known asLay investiture – a ceremony in which kings appointed church officials within their own kingdom.

CAUSES ACTIONS OUTCOMES

Pope Gregory VII resents the power that emperors have over the church clergy.

2. Pope Gregory bans lay investiture

H.R.E. Henry IV calls a meeting of bishops in the H.R.E. and orders Pope Gregory to step down from the papacy.

The Showdown at Canossa

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Remember:Kings are

considered “Lay” –

they are not ordained “Clergy”

The Emperor Clashes with the The Emperor Clashes with the PopePopeConcordat of Worms

◦Concordat of Worms is 1122 compromise win Worms, Germany

◦Compromise: pope appoints bishops, emperor can veto appointment

CH 13 Sec. 4, “H.R.E. Clashes with the Pope”

CAUSES ACTIONS OUTCOMES

Pope Gregory excommunicates H.R.E. Henry IV;German bishops & princes side with the pope (fearing an interdict);Henry must seek the Pope’s forgiveness.

3. Henry IV travels to Canossa.

Henry is forgiven by the pope, returns home,and then punishes his German nobles for siding with the pope.

The issue of lay investiture would remain undecided for another century.

4. Representatives of Church and the emperor meet in Worms.

Compromise is reached:Only the pope could now promote priests to be bishops in any kingdom; but the emperor would be given veto power over any selection he didn’t like.

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

The Concordat of Worms is signed in 1122.

This is an illustration of the concept of “lay investiture.”

In this picture a king from the Middle Ages is handing a bishop his “shepherd’s crook” a symbol of the office of bishop.

The Catholic Church insisted that bishops were chosen by the Pope, not by kings.

Disorder in the EmpireDisorder in the EmpireThe Reign of Frederick I

◦In 1152, Frederick I becomes king; dominates German princes

◦Disorder breaks out whenever he leaves Germany

◦Frederick invades Italy, meets defeat at Legnano in 1176

◦Empire collapses after Frederick’s death in 1190

Disorder in the EmpireDisorder in the EmpireGerman State’s Remain Separate

◦German kings after Frederick try to revive empire

◦German princes, who elect kings, prefer to keep them weak

Primary SourcePrimary Source“There, having laid aside all the

belongings of royalty, wretchedly, with bare feet and clad in wool, he [Henry IV] continued for three days to stand before the gate of the castle. Nor did he desist from imploring with many tears the aid and consolation of the apostolic mercy until he had moved all of those who were present there.”POPE GREGORY, in Basic Documents

in Medieval History