By the end of the fifth century the Roman Empire which for most of the last five hundred years had ruled the lands of Western Europe was in the West collapsing. The reasons for this both internal and external were apparent: weak emperors, economic collapse, and most noticeable of all hundreds of thousands of barbarians moving across the frontiers of the Empire either peacefully or not. By the year 476 the last Roman Emperor in the West, a young boy and no more than a puppet in the hands of the invading barbarians, was deposed and even though no one knew it the Roman Empire in the West was no more. This unprecedented social and political upheaval created major problems for the Christian Church. The History of the Church in the 150 years from the conversion of Constantine and his edict of toleration until the collapse of the Empire in the West had been one of increasing unification and syncretism. With the collapse of the Empire the Church would be forced to redefine its role and to discover a new source of authority and power strong enough for it to bring about the creation of a completely new society. The Church that would begin to emerge during this time would seem different from its older predecessor that still remained in the East. I. Character of Medieval Christianity A. Ambiguous relationship with government 1. What I mean here is that the Church in the west after the fall of the Roman Empire will be very cautious about seeking to derive authority and power from a political institution. B. Rise of Medieval Papacy 1. The Bishop of Rome will over the course of the early Medieval period begin to draw all of the churches in the West under his control. C. Missionary a. This is a very long process 500-600 years 1. re-christianization of Europe 2. The works of the Monks II. The Fall of Rome A. The Problems of the Empire 1. The Problem of Succession and Power 2. Economic Crisis a. Devaluation of currency b. Inflation c. Severe lack of the economic understanding 3. Barbarian Invasions
a. Not a new problem i. Barbarians had been a problem since the reign of the 5 good Emperors i iv. As the empire weakens the Empire is more and more dependent on the barbarians for the army and to be the forced needed to hold further barbarian invasions at bay. The coming of the Goths, many of these people were allowed by the Romans to settle in sparsely populated areas of the west The Battle of Adrianople 378, the Arian Emperor Valens is killed and the Orthodox Emperor Theodosius comes to the throne b. The Coming of the Huns i. Asiatic Horse People i Their westward movement created massive disruptions in the peoples on the borders of the Roman Empire Attila and the Huns defeated at the Battle of Chalons 451 by a alliance of the Romans and Goths c. the Flood i. Dec. 31 406 the Rhine river freezes over and many tribes heedless of the loses stream over the river and into the Western Empire As many as 20,000 of the Vandals alone may have died in the crossing. d. The Fateful Blow i. In 410 the City of Rome is sacked by the Alaric I and the Visigoths First time the city had been sack in almost 800 years (387BC by the Gauls) e. The Final Stroke 476 i. The Last western Roman Empire Romulus Augustus is deposed and sent into a quite exile by the Barbarian Odoacer B. Christianity is not the answer to the problem 1. Constantine s grand plan to use Christianity focus and direct the empire fails a. The disunity and division caused by theological controversies
b. The problems facing the Empire especially in the West are too great 2. Christianity does not offer any practical solutions to the problems facing the Empire C. Crisis of the Collapse of the Empire for the Church 1. Why is the Christian Empire Collapsing? a. Divine Judgment 2. The Problem of the Invaders a. Either Pagans i. Franks, Angles, Saxons, Jutes b. Or Arians i. The Work of Ulfilas Parents captured by Goths Translates Bible in Gothic, invents Gothic Alphabet Goths, Vandals, Lombards 3. The problem caused by the close association of the Church and the Empire a. As the Church and the Empire was joined more and more closely together and now with the Empire collapsing what does this mean about the relation of the Church and the State b. Augustine and City of God i. Early History Christian Mother Converts: Manichaeism Converts: Christianity 386 Establishes Monastic community in Africa Forced into being Bishop 391 With the sack of Rome Augustine was force to create or recover different view of the relation of the Church to Society pagans attacked Christianity as the reason for the catastrophe
c. A New Relationship i. The City of God 13 yrs to write i deals with Roman history, religions, and the problem of evil The Church and the State are not one and same The two cities The physical can be good as it is influenced and guided by the heavenly The Barbarian kings could be good But There can be no perfectly reality on earth the falleness of man Christians can be citizens of both cities And the church is not the same as the heavenly city there are wolves and sheep iv. The Problem of Pelagius A continued struggle with the nature of the church. Pelagius is in favor of a pure(donatist) Church Augustine argues for the mixed nature of the Church III. The Beginning of the Papacy A. The Causes 1. The founding Role of the Apostles a. By the middle of the 2 nd century shires already built to Peter and Paul b. Year festivals and pilgrimages to the shires of the apostles and martyrs c. Constantine great adds to the great Christian buildings i. St Peters Basilica 319AD-reformation 2. The Wealth of the Church 3. Center of Imperial Government 4. Tradition of Orthodoxy a. Always on the right side of the Christological Arguments
5. The Early History of Popes resolving Problems throughout the West a. Clement I C. The first great popes 1. Damasus I 366-384 reasons for his seeking to increase his power was the problem of his election. Bitter conflict which led to riots in the streets of Rome and the death of 137 people. The Emperor had to be call upon to resolve the crisis a. Made Matt. 16:18 central to papal authority b. Claimed the authority of councils rested on their approval by the Pope i. Problem of multiple councils contradicting each other c. Claimed the full authority of Peter as his successor d. Wrote to other bishops seeking guidance as the Emperor dealing with provincial governors in style e. Sought to enforce a new higher level of uniformity of practice on the Church i. Celibacy i iv. Age for Ordination Degree of relation to prohibit marriage Commissioned the Vulgate bible 2. Leo the Great 440-461 a. Assumes political control of the city and surrounding area during the invasion of Attila and the Vandals b. Brings many of the bishops isolated by the barbarians invasions back under Roman Authority, but only with the help of the Roman Emperor. c. Defends Christological Orthodoxy in his Tome approved by the Council of Chalcedon d. Reaffirmed the Authority of the Pope as the Successor of Peter (Matt 16:18) more than any previous pope he acted/believed his words were those of the Apostle himself(or at least that is how they should be received). i. Plenitude of Power First Pope to be buried in St. Peter s
D. Decline 1. From 482-516 the Eastern and Western Church were split by further Christological controversies a. This led to a long time period were the popes were free from Imperial control and able to direct things in the West unhampered by the East b. The break with the Emperor also led to Papal rhetoric in regard to the relation of Church and State to reach a new level 2. Byzantine Influence i. Pope Gelasius I Emperors should submit to pope in all church matters a. Byzantine return to Chalcedonian orthodox b. The Conquests of Justinian 527-565 i. The conquest of Italy returned the Popes to Eastern control and it would not be until 568 that they again began to regain their liberty. IV. Western Monasticism A. Origins in Eastern Monasticism B. Causes 1. Basil of Caesarea 2. John Cassian the presence of Greek Monastic influence in France and Eventually in Ireland 3. Martin of Tours 1. In the west it was an opportunity to escape from being forced to work with the Arian rulers 2. Not unlike the Donatist and Novatians what is the nature of the Church. Pure or wheat mixed with chaff 3. As the opportunity for Martyrdom ceases how can the Church know who the PURE are? Their power and influence came from their heroic austerity. They martyred their own bodies 4. It is also not surprising that they found such a warm welcome both from the Church who valued their holy life in seeking to imitate the martyrs but also the pagans in imitating the famous Greek ascetic philosophers C. Benedict of Nursia 1. Founding of Monte Casino 529 2. The Rule of Benedict very simple
a. Based on the writings of Cassian and the Master b. The Three Fold Vow i. Poverty they would own individually no possessions i Chastity they would be unmarried Obedience most important, to counter the lawlessness of the world by leaving the world and being obedient to a higher law, and yet it offered a remarkable amount of freedom 3. The Ordering of the Monastic Work Ora et Labora a. The Worship of God The Divine Office/ The liturgy of hours weekly sign through the psalms and year read most of the Bible. Matins (during the night, at midnight with some); also called Vigils or Nocturns or, in monastic usage, the Night Office Lauds or Dawn Prayer (at Dawn, or 3 a.m.) Prime or Early Morning Prayer (First Hour = approximately 6 a.m.) Terce or Mid-Morning Prayer (Third Hour = approximately 9 a.m.) Sext or Midday Prayer (Sixth Hour = approximately 12 noon) None or Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Ninth Hour = approximately 3 p.m.) Vespers or Evening Prayer ("at the lighting of the lamps", generally at 6 p.m.) Compline or Night Prayer (before retiring, generally at 9 p.m.) 4. Recruits a. Laymen men at first the most common b. Clergy c. sons of noblemen later the most common 5. The remarkable spread of Benedictine monestaries D. Function and Importance 1. Social a. Purpose of the monastery was not just for the monk living there b. Spiritual soldier to cleanse the land of evil i. The Spiritual welfare of the kingdom depended on them The abbot is armed with spiritual weapons and supported by a troop of monks anointed with the dew of heavenly graces. They fight together in the strength of Christ with the sword of the spirit against the aery wiles of the devils. They defend the king and clergy of the realm from the onslaughts of their invisible enemies.
Look carefully at the tings which are provided for you by trained monks living in monasteries under a Rule: strenuous is the warfare which these castellans of Christ wage against the Devil; innumerable are the benefits of their struggle. Who recount the vigils, hymns, psalms, prayers, alms, and daily offerings of the masses with floods of tears, which the monks perform? These followers of Christ giving themselves up wholly to theses employments, crucifying themselves that they may please God And so, noble earl, I earnestly advise you to build such a castle in your country, manned my monks against Satan. Here the cowled champions will resist Behemoth in constant warfare for your soul. c. Education i. the copying of books Cassiodorus at Vivarium began the copying of fine manuscripts not just of the scriptures but also of the great books of Classical culture provided education to both the well to do and the exceptional i preserved almost all that we still possess of Roman Culture and literature 2. Penitential a. Monks could act as substitutes for those forced to do penance i. One man s penance was a good as another s the payment of the debt is what was important b. the Daily work of the monk was the payment of the penalties of sin and its wages were eternal life 3. Family a. the structure and nature of the noble medieval family needed monasteries i. at no point did the structure of Medieval society provide for the an honorable secular profession for all the noble children Especially serious for girls b. Nobles provided in land for the provision of the children set to monasteries I saw a Paradise watered by the four streams of the Gospels, overflowing with spiritual virtues, I saw a garden bringing forth all kinds of delicious roses and lilies, heavy with the sweet fragrance of scents and spices, so that God Almighty might say of it See, the smell of my son s raiment is as the smell of a field that the Lord hath blessed. And what else can I call the Monastery of Cluny but a field of the Lord, where such a great company of monks living in charity stands like a harvest of heavenly corn? The field is hoed with holy counsel and the seeds of heavenly discourse are sown in it. There the harvest of spiritual grain is collected for gathering into heavenly barns. Written about the Benedictine monastery at Cluny E. Problems 1. Social a. The changing character of the Medieval countryside led to smaller and more scattered monasteries that were not as wealthy b. A lack of wealth led to a decrease in numbers of monks as a smaller number was needed so that the standard of living could remain the same
2. Spiritual V. The Re-Christianization of Europe a. Spiritual Malaise the individual seems to have been forgotten in Benedictine communal worship. Many Benedictines voiced desires for a deeper personal religion that was hampered customs and regulations A. The Problem of the Barbarian Invasion 1. Social disruptions 2. Loss of Authority 3. de-christianization of Europe B. The Freedom of the Popes and the labors of the monks 1. The Irish 433 a. Early Missionaries b. Patrick i. Patrick is not the first missionary(palladius) but he life and work is the best known due to his autobiography i. early history Grandson of a Christian bishop in England in the North of England Captured by Irish Pirates sold into slavery on Ireland Conversion experience while in captivity Eventual escape to Gaul and return to Britain Work Feels called to return to Ireland and preach to his former captors North West Ireland as bishop Faced criticism back in Britain due to his lack of Education
Many Legends i Legacy established many monasteries in the lands of each local chieftain Patrick used the druid custom of the giving of the chieftains children to the druids and turned it into giving the children to be monks and nuns in his monasteries A closer relation with the East and found anywhere else in the Western Christianity Patrick s Breastplate Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. I bind unto myself the Name, The strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. By Whom all nature hath creation, Eternal Father, Spirit, Word
Praise to the Lord of my salvation, Salvation is of Christ the Lord. 2. The Franks a. Only Pagans i. Other barbarians are Arians b. The Conversion of Clovis 496 i. Influence of his wife Clotilde Importance of the Warrior Saint Martin of Tour Invoked the God of his wife and St Martin and won a battle i Pattern of Conversion of Kings c. The results 3. The English i. First invading people to convert to orthodox Christianity a. Early British Christianity Roman Times The spread to Ireland b. The Invasions of the Angles, Saxons, Jutes Christianity spreads back to the Island from Ireland c. The Papacy of Gregory the Great i. The Legend of the Slave Market Rursus ergo interrogauit, quod esset uocabulum gentis illius. Responsum est, quod Angli uocarentur. At ille: Bene, inquit; nam et angelicam habent faciem, et tales angelorum in caelis decet esse coheredes. Quod habet nomen ipsa prouincia, de qua isti sunt adlati? Responsum est, quod Deiri uocarentur idem prouinciales. At ille: Bene, inquit, Deiri; de ira eruti, et ad misericordiam Christi uocati. Rex prouinciae illius quomodo appellatur? Responsum est, quod Aelli diceretur. At ille adludens ad nomen ait: Alleluia, laudem Dei Creatoris illis in partibus oportet cantari.
He therefore again asked, what was the name of that nation? and was answered, that they were called Angles. "Right," said he, for they have an Angelic face, and it becomes such to be co-heirs with the Angels in heaven. What is the name," proceeded he, "of the province from which they are brought?" It was replied, that the natives of that province were called Deiri. "Truly are they De ira," said he, "withdrawn from wrath, and called to the mercy of Christ. How is the king of that province called?" They told him his name was Ælla: and he, alluding to the name said, "Hallelujah, the praise of God the Creator must be sung in those parts." d. The Mission of St Augustine of Canterbury to Ethelbert the King of Kent --597 i. Influence of his Christian Gallic wife Bertha long road to success pagan resurgence under his son Eadbald e. Conflict between Celtic and Roman Christianity and the Celtic and Benedictine Monasticism i. Eventually this blending of Roman and Celtic Christianity will make England the heart of Christendom VI. The Greatest Englishman A. The Early Life of Boniface Winfrid 1. early age captured by a desire to be a monk 2. fought against the desires of the his father and entered a Benedictine monastery 3. Excellent student and teacher B. Missions to the Germans 1. Turned down offers to be an abbot in Britain to go as a Missionary in Frisia 2. Early disappointment 3. Return but not to Frisia but rather to Germany a. Gets the approval and backing of the Pope three trips b. Story of the Oak of Thor 4. Founds Monasteries a. Is able to bring over to Germany many British monks to carry on his work C. Important Link between the Carolingians and the Popes 1. Acted as an important go-between between Pope and Charles the Hammer and pious son Carloman he eventually steps down as mayor of the Palace to become a monk 2. Reform of the French Church
a. Boniface was able in call a council to help enforce stricter rules on the lax French clergy D. Martyrs Death 1. 754 resigns as Bishop of Germany at the age of over 70 set out to return to Frisia as a missionary 2. Killed while waiting to baptize a number of coverts VII. The Carolingians A. The Rise of the Carolingians 1. the weakness of the Merovingians 2. The rise of the mayors of the Palace B. Pepin and the Pope a. Charles the Hammer and the Battle of Tours 732 1. Pepin is no longer happy having just the power of king he wants the title applies to Pope Zachary to depose the last of the Merovingian Kings 2. In return Pepin agree to help the pope in defeating the Lombards C. Charlemagne 1. Expands the kingdom of the Franks still farther a. Spain to Central Germany 2. Greatest ruler of the early medieval period a. Carolingian Renaissance b. lower case lettering c. conversion of the Saxons D. A New Roman Empire 1. Defeats the Lombards aiding the Pope 2. Pope Leo III mistreated by the Roman People flees to Charlemagne a. Tried to gouge out his eyes and tear out his tongue b. Charlemagne supports him and travels to Rome in 800 to reestablish him
3. On Christmas day as the King is kneeling at mass the Pope places the Imperial crown on his head reestablishing old Roman Empire. VIII. The Church at the Mercy of the State A. The bondage of the Papacy 1. Weakness after the time of Gregory the Great and the Missions to England a. At the mercy politically of the Italian Nobles See Leo III b. At the mercy of the threat of outside invasion See the Lombards c. At the mercy of the new created Emperor 2. Other than settling the occasional doctrinal dispute the Pope had little real power a. Kings at this time had the power to appoint bishops b. Pope only confirmed the appointment of the archbishops B. Theological and Practical Compromises 1. The Problem of Celibacy a. Church officials were also state officials i. To prevent their offices turning into hereditary ownership Charlemagne major force behind enforcing conformity 2. The Insertion of the Filioque a. Used in the west and pushed by Constantine to deal with continued Arianism b. Not supported by the bishop of Rome IX. The Real Dark Ages A. The Problem of Succession 1. Division of the Empire 2. Weak Successors B. New Barbarian Invasions
1. Vikings 793 2. Magyars C. Problems for the Church D. The Rise of the Medieval Papacy