The Catholic Clergy

The “Regular” (MONKS and MONASTERIES)

The “Secular” (Priests that deal with normal folks)

Learning Targets:Who made up the two types (regular and secular) of Catholic Clergy?What political, social and religious roles did they play in medieval Europe?

• St. Benedict – Roman noble.– Left Rome in early 500’s to lead a life of

prayer.– Established a monastery in central Italy.– First person to set up a system of rules to

organize the monastic community.• Why“Regular” Clergy?• “Regula” means rules in Latin.

–What kind of rules?– Monks could own nothing of their own!– Several hours must be spent everyday for

prayer.– Monks had to spend several hours everyday

working.

Who Came Up With The Idea of Monasteries??

Benedictine Monestary, Ettal, Germany

Monasteries as centers for learning

• Monks were often the scholars during Medieval times.

• Monastery libraries were the main preservers of literature from ancient civilizations and of the early church.

Monastery library, Waldsassen, Germany

Vatican library

Gregor Mendel – Early Geneticist, Biologist

What About the “Secular” Clergy?

• How did they get so powerful?• The Church was given land by nobles and kings

– They wanted to save their souls!• Church officials (bishops), became nobles

themselves. • They were the LORDS who controlled the

manor.• In this way church officials could tell people how

to get to heaven (spiritual power)• and also control feudal lands (political power).

Some had WEALTH AND POWER!

The most land was held by the POPE!

Areas within the Holy Roman Empire controlled by the Catholic ChurchIn these areas, the bishop was the feudal lord.

Pope as “Supreme Ruler”

• In the Papal States the Pope was both the spiritual leader and the highest political leader.

• The church decreed that all monarchs (Kings) should obey the pope.

• Some Kings might have had a problem with that!• All Christians were told to obey the civil law,

unless it conflicted with church law.• Video