Medieval Christianity to the Medieval Christianity to the Cluny Reform MovementCluny Reform Movement
MonasticismMonasticism Conversions within EuropeConversions within Europe Popular Piety and Personal Religious Popular Piety and Personal Religious
PracticePractice Reform Efforts in the 11Reform Efforts in the 11thth and 12 and 12thth
CenturiesCenturies
MonasticismMonasticism
AsceticismAsceticism– Eastern: St. Anthony of Egypt (@251-Eastern: St. Anthony of Egypt (@251-
356)356)– Celtic: St. Patrick (5Celtic: St. Patrick (5thth C.; dies in 490) C.; dies in 490)
The Temptation of St. Anthony by The Temptation of St. Anthony by BoschBosch
St. Anthony of Egypt: Ascetic St. Anthony of Egypt: Ascetic MonasticismMonasticism
MonasticismMonasticism
AsceticismAsceticism– Eastern: St. Anthony of Egypt (@251-Eastern: St. Anthony of Egypt (@251-
356)356)– Celtic: St. Patrick (5Celtic: St. Patrick (5thth cent.; dies in 490) cent.; dies in 490)
Communal Communal – Celtic: St. Columba (521-597)Celtic: St. Columba (521-597)– St. Benedict: Rule for Monasteries (c. St. Benedict: Rule for Monasteries (c.
530)530)
Celtic Communal Celtic Communal Monasticism: St. Columba Monasticism: St. Columba
(521-597)(521-597) Very asceticVery ascetic AKA St. ColmcilleAKA St. Colmcille Columba founded Columba founded
the Monastery at the Monastery at Iona off coast of Iona off coast of Scotland, and his Scotland, and his students traveled students traveled throughout Europethroughout Europe
St. Benedict of NursiaSt. Benedict of Nursia
Rule for Rule for Monasteries, (@529-Monasteries, (@529-530)530)
Monastery at Monte Monastery at Monte CassinoCassino
His rule promoted His rule promoted as model for as model for communal communal monasticism based monasticism based on prayer, study, on prayer, study, and physical laborand physical labor
Monastic Legacy: Sacred Monastic Legacy: Sacred Texts The Book of Kells Texts The Book of Kells
(Ireland)(Ireland)
MonasticismMonasticism
AsceticismAsceticism– Eastern: St. Anthony of Egypt (c. 251-356)Eastern: St. Anthony of Egypt (c. 251-356)– Celtic: St. Patrick (5Celtic: St. Patrick (5thth cent., dies in 490) cent., dies in 490)
Communal Communal – Celtic: St. Columba (521-597)Celtic: St. Columba (521-597)– St. Benedict: Rule for Monasteries (c. 530)St. Benedict: Rule for Monasteries (c. 530)
Other Members of the Clergy: The Other Members of the Clergy: The “Secular” Clergy“Secular” Clergy
Christian Conversions in Christian Conversions in EuropeEurope
MethodsMethods– By the Sword: Role of the papal alliance By the Sword: Role of the papal alliance
with the Frankswith the Franks
The Conversion of Clovis The Conversion of Clovis (c. 495) by St. Remi at (c. 495) by St. Remi at
ReimsReims
Christian Conversions in Christian Conversions in EuropeEurope
MethodsMethods– By the Sword: Role of the papal alliance By the Sword: Role of the papal alliance
with the Frankswith the Franks– By the Cross: missionaries and monks: By the Cross: missionaries and monks:
St. Boniface (680-754)St. Boniface (680-754)
Results: Syncretic ChristianityResults: Syncretic Christianity
Medieval Christianity to the Medieval Christianity to the Cluny Reform MovementCluny Reform Movement
MonasticismMonasticism Conversions within EuropeConversions within Europe Popular piety and personal religious Popular piety and personal religious
practicepractice Reform efforts in the 11Reform efforts in the 11thth and 12 and 12thth
centuriescenturies
Popular Piety: Witnessing Popular Piety: Witnessing Syncretic ChristianitySyncretic Christianity
Calendar Christianity: Holy-DaysCalendar Christianity: Holy-Days– Followed Pagan/Agricultural CalendarFollowed Pagan/Agricultural Calendar
Hallowe’en (All Hallows Eve)Hallowe’en (All Hallows Eve) ChristmasChristmas Carnival (Carne vale or goodbye to meat)Carnival (Carne vale or goodbye to meat) Easter (St. Jerome “Against Vigilantius”)Easter (St. Jerome “Against Vigilantius”) PentecostPentecost
Veneration of saintsVeneration of saints
Veneration of the SaintsVeneration of the Saints
Saints of Local InterestSaints of Local Interest– Often Individuals who had impact in the Often Individuals who had impact in the
areaarea– May or may not be “officially” May or may not be “officially”
Canonized by ChurchCanonized by Church– Example: Ursula of CologneExample: Ursula of Cologne
St. Ursula, CologneSt. Ursula, Cologne ““St. Ursula and the St. Ursula and the
11,000 Virgins”11,000 Virgins” 44thth c. British princess c. British princess
avoiding marriage to avoiding marriage to a pagan prince and a pagan prince and dies after visit to dies after visit to RomeRome
Legend mixes pagan Legend mixes pagan with Christianwith Christian
1212thth c. re-emergence c. re-emergence
Veneration of the SaintsVeneration of the Saints
Saints of Local InterestSaints of Local Interest– Often Individuals who had impact in the areaOften Individuals who had impact in the area– May not be “officially” Canonized by ChurchMay not be “officially” Canonized by Church– Example: Ursula of CologneExample: Ursula of Cologne
““International” SaintsInternational” Saints– Individuals with wide reputationsIndividuals with wide reputations– Generally acknowledged by ChurchGenerally acknowledged by Church
Mary: Mother of Jesus, esp’ly from 11Mary: Mother of Jesus, esp’ly from 11thth c. c.
Popular Piety: Witnessing Popular Piety: Witnessing Syncretic ChristianitySyncretic Christianity
Calendar Christianity: Holy-DaysCalendar Christianity: Holy-Days Veneration of saints Veneration of saints
– Local or International (Mary)Local or International (Mary) PilgrimagePilgrimage
PilgrimagePilgrimage Sites associated with Saints or Key Sites associated with Saints or Key
EventsEvents Long and Short PilgrimagesLong and Short Pilgrimages
– Longer trips could last up to a yearLonger trips could last up to a year– Longer trips often performed by or Longer trips often performed by or
organized by the wealthy/landed classesorganized by the wealthy/landed classes– Financial aidFinancial aid– Shorter Trips “counted” less, but allowed Shorter Trips “counted” less, but allowed
for more participationfor more participation
Popular Piety: Witnessing Popular Piety: Witnessing Syncretic ChristianitySyncretic Christianity
Calendar Christianity: Holy-DaysCalendar Christianity: Holy-Days– Followed Pagan/Agricultural CalendarFollowed Pagan/Agricultural Calendar– Examples: Hallowe’en, Christmas, Carnival, Examples: Hallowe’en, Christmas, Carnival,
Easter (St. Jerome “Against Vigilantius”), Easter (St. Jerome “Against Vigilantius”), PentecostPentecost
Saint Veneration: Local or International (Mary)Saint Veneration: Local or International (Mary) PilgrimagePilgrimage
– Sites Associated with Saints or Key EventsSites Associated with Saints or Key Events– Long and Short PilgrimagesLong and Short Pilgrimages
Relic VenerationRelic Veneration
Relic VenerationRelic Veneration Blend of “High” Church and “Low” Blend of “High” Church and “Low”
ChurchChurch– Not unique to Christian churchesNot unique to Christian churches– Christian doctrine develops over Christian doctrine develops over
time: NOT worship of the object time: NOT worship of the object itself, but connection to the divine itself, but connection to the divine through object associated with a holy through object associated with a holy personperson
– ReliquariesReliquaries
Reliquaries with Slivers of Reliquaries with Slivers of the True Crossthe True Cross
Relic VenerationRelic Veneration Blend of “High” Church and “Low” ChurchBlend of “High” Church and “Low” Church
– Not unique to Christian churchesNot unique to Christian churches– Christian doctrine develops over time: Christian doctrine develops over time:
NOT worship of the object itself, but NOT worship of the object itself, but connection to the divine through object connection to the divine through object associated with a holy personassociated with a holy person
– ReliquariesReliquaries Incorporates Veneration of Saints and Incorporates Veneration of Saints and
Magic:Magic:– Differences between East and WestDifferences between East and West
The Foot of St. Basil, @4The Foot of St. Basil, @4thth C.C.
Relic VenerationRelic Veneration Blend of “High” Church and “Low” ChurchBlend of “High” Church and “Low” Church
– Not unique to Christian churchesNot unique to Christian churches– Christian doctrine develops over time: Christian doctrine develops over time:
NOT worship of the object itself, but NOT worship of the object itself, but connection to the divine through object connection to the divine through object associated with a holy personassociated with a holy person
– ReliquariesReliquaries Incorporates Veneration of Saints and Incorporates Veneration of Saints and
Magic:Magic:– Differences between East and WestDifferences between East and West
Other ExamplesOther Examples– The “True Cross”: St. Helena (326)The “True Cross”: St. Helena (326)– Gregory of ToursGregory of Tours
Discovery of the True Discovery of the True Cross, Cross,
St. Helena (326 CE)St. Helena (326 CE)
Veneration of a Relic of the Veneration of a Relic of the True CrossTrue Cross
Gregory of Tours (c. Gregory of Tours (c. 588)588)
““Often I heard how even the lamps [at Often I heard how even the lamps [at Poitiers] that were lit in front of these Poitiers] that were lit in front of these
relics bubbled up because of the divine relics bubbled up because of the divine power and dripped so much oil that power and dripped so much oil that
frequently they filled a vessel frequently they filled a vessel underneath. But because of the underneath. But because of the
foolishness of my closed mind I was foolishness of my closed mind I was never motivated to believe these stories never motivated to believe these stories
until that power which is at present until that power which is at present being revealed reproved my slow-witted being revealed reproved my slow-witted
hesitation. . .”hesitation. . .”
Clunaic Reforms and Medieval Clunaic Reforms and Medieval SocietySociety
Church Reform in the 11Church Reform in the 11thth and and 1212thth centuries centuries
Papacy of Innocent III Papacy of Innocent III Impact of Emphasis on Impact of Emphasis on
Spirituality: New OrdersSpirituality: New Orders Medieval Society (c. 1000 – Medieval Society (c. 1000 –
1300)1300)
Church Reform in the 11Church Reform in the 11thth & 12 & 12thth CenturiesCenturies
Practices open to disputePractices open to dispute– InvestitureInvestiture– SimonySimony– ““Concubinage” (clerical marriage)Concubinage” (clerical marriage)
The Monastery at Cluny (910)The Monastery at Cluny (910) Papal Support: Leo IX and Nicholas IIPapal Support: Leo IX and Nicholas II
– Election Decree (1059)Election Decree (1059) Gregory VII Gregory VII (1073-1085),(1073-1085), Henry IV Henry IV (1056-(1056-
1106)1106) and the Investiture Conflict and the Investiture Conflict– Canossa (1077) Who won?Canossa (1077) Who won?
Concordat of Worms (1122)Concordat of Worms (1122)
Papacy of Innocent III (1198-Papacy of Innocent III (1198-1216)1216)
Firm believer in papal authorityFirm believer in papal authority Built up the Business of the PapacyBuilt up the Business of the Papacy
– Added taxes: Peter’s Pence, AnnatesAdded taxes: Peter’s Pence, Annates– Reserved right to forgive certain sins Reserved right to forgive certain sins
Extended crusades inside Europe to Extended crusades inside Europe to attack Heresyattack Heresy– Albigensians (Cathars) in southern FranceAlbigensians (Cathars) in southern France
Fourth Lateran Council (1215)Fourth Lateran Council (1215)– Established transubstantiation as doctrineEstablished transubstantiation as doctrine– Formalized penance and eucharistic Formalized penance and eucharistic
requirementsrequirements
Sign of Spirituality: New OrdersSign of Spirituality: New Orders
Several Ascetic Orders Founded in Several Ascetic Orders Founded in 1111thth century. century.– Carthusians (1084)Carthusians (1084)– Cistercians (1098)Cistercians (1098)
New Mendicant Orders of 13New Mendicant Orders of 13thth centurycentury– Friars not monksFriars not monks– Franciscans (1210)Franciscans (1210)– Dominicans (1216)Dominicans (1216)
Monastic Reforms: the Monastic Reforms: the CisterciansCistercians
Founded 1098 in CiteauxRobert of Molesme and Benedictine MonksLed by Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Return to asceticism and strict discipline
Distance from secular societyMonasteries in Wilderness
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)1179)
Francis of Assisi (1182-Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)1226)
Dominicans (sanctioned Dominicans (sanctioned 1216)1216)
Sign of Spirituality: New OrdersSign of Spirituality: New Orders Several Ascetic Orders Founded in 11Several Ascetic Orders Founded in 11thth
C.C.– Carthusians (1084)Carthusians (1084)– Cistercians (1098)Cistercians (1098)
New Mendicant Orders New Mendicant Orders – Friars not MonksFriars not Monks– Franciscans (1210)Franciscans (1210)– Dominicans (1216)Dominicans (1216)
Tertiaries: Lay people following the Tertiaries: Lay people following the rule of an orderrule of an order
Women: Monastic (Hildegard of Women: Monastic (Hildegard of Bingen) and lay religious (Beguines)Bingen) and lay religious (Beguines)
