The Golden Age of Medieval Christianity - Berachah Bibleberachahbible.org/.../07-the-golden-age-of-medieval-christianity.pdf · The Golden Age of Medieval Christianity. The Church
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• p. 311‐319 – Theological Activity – Scholasticism
• p. 319‐323 – Stones That Bear a Witness
• The thirteenth century was the high point of medieval civilization.• With Innocent III, the papacy reached the apex of its power.• Europe was united under the pope and the emperor.• However, nationalism, war, plague, corruption, and invasion would shatterthe dreams of the thirteenth century and open the way for a new order… .
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.O, Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console;to be understood as to understand;to be loved as to love;for it is in giving that we receive;it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Francis of Assisi
The Mendicant Orders, p. 301‐307• Francis (Francesco) of Assisi, p. 302 (1181 – 1226 AD)
– Born in Assisi, Italy of wealthy merchant family– Given to “high‐spirited” worldly life, spent time as soldier
and a captive– 1204 AD he turned against his worldly life and was strongly
opposed by his father, Pietro whom he eventually renounced
– Lived as a beggar, restored several local churches near Assisi
– 1209 AD – hears sermon form Mt. 10:7‐10 that changes his life and devotes himself to Christ and life of poverty
– Clad only in a rough garment and barefooted, he begins preaching repentance
– He and his followers were not ordained as priests, had only one rule “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.”
– Request to found new order supported by Bishop of Assisi and cardinal. Pope Innocent III agrees to provisional order.
– 1210 AD ‐ Order of “Lesser Brothers” (Friars Minor) established, which became known as the Franciscan Order.
– Today – the Franciscan Order is world‐wide with approximately 16,000 members. 6
Francis of AssisiFounder Statue by Carlo Monaldi, 1727 – St Peter;s Basilica, Rome
Assisi, Italy – founded in 1000 BC,Became Christian in 238 AD
The Mendicant Orders, p. 301‐307Additional facts about Francis and the Franciscans
• St. Francis is one of the most acclaimed religious figures in Roman Catholic history.
• 1219 AD – went to Egypt and crossed crusader battle lines to meet the Sultan Al‐Kamil (Kurdish) whom he attempted to convert.
• Al‐Kamil was so impressed with Francis that he allowed him to visit Jerusalem and Franciscans were allowed to guard Christian “holy sites” (Custodian of the Holy Land}
• 1220 AD – created the first “living nativity” near Assisi
• Franciscans become major missionary force within the Roman Catholic Church.
7Fresco of the Poor Clares Sisters founded by Francis in 1212
Clare of Assisi 1194‐1253 AD Burial place of Clare of Assisi constructed in 1872 AD
• He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist."
• "A real friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
• "The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today"
• "Nor did demons crucify Him; it is you who have crucified Him and crucify Him still, when you delight in your vices and sins. "
• "Keep trying to do what is necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you're doing the impossible."
• "I have been all things unholy. If God can work through me, He can work through anyone."
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9The Franciscan Friary and Basilica of San Francisco, Assisi, Italy
Whether the emperor should appoint the pope or the pope the emperor continues through the 11th , 12th, and 13th centuries.
“It was under Pope Innocent III that Christendom most nearly approached the ideal ( in the Roman Catholic Church’s view) of being ‘one flock under one shepherd” – the pope. Justo Gonzales, p. 310
The13th century marks the high point of papal political authority under Boniface VIII (p. 311) – Quote from his papal announcement (bull) Unam Sanctum (one Body)
“One sword must be under the other and temporal authority must be subject to the spiritual … . Therefore, if earthly power strays from the right path, it is to be judged by the spiritual … . But, if the supreme spiritual authority strays (the pope), it can only be judged by God and not by humans … . We further declare, affirm, and define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that all human creatures be under the Roman pontiff.” Boniface VIII Papal Bull, Unam Sanctam, 18 Nov 1302
• Theological training :Monasteries cathedral schools universities
• “Scholasticism” ‐ a method of learning and theological reasoning developed in the 11th through 15th centuries.– Methodology ‐ based on “dialectical reasoning” (dialogue between
persons with differing views to resolve difference and reach agreement)
– Aim ‐ attempts to harmonize various "authorities and views” of the Christian tradition
– Two developments had major impact on development of scholasticism: 1) growth of universities and 2) reintroduction of teachings of Aristotle (particularly logic), p. 315.
– Forerunners of scholasticism – Anselm, Abelard, Lombard– Other theologians of note: Albert the Great, and Thomas Aquinas
• Use of reason in matters of faith to affirm beliefs (p. 313)
• Born in Italy• Benedictine monk• Archbishop of
Canterbury from 1093 to 1109
• Exiled from England 1097 to 1100 and 1105 to 1107 under Henry I of England due to lay investiture dispute.
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• Ontological (being) argument for proving the existence of God.
• God must have become incarnate in Christ, because a finite, imperfect man could not die for infinite sin to satisfy the wrath and perfect holiness of God.
• Jesus Christ’s death must therefore be “substitutionary”, Christ died in our place for us (Ga. 5:13).
• Condemned as heretic by Bernard of Clairvaux for his inappropriate use of reason (p. 314)
• Main work, Yes and No. 158 theological questions showing the various and often conflicting authorities.
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• Abelard wrongly advocated the “Moral Encouragement View” of the atonement.
• Abelard believed the death was Christ was primarily a moral example in which Jesus’ death on the Cross was a supreme example of love. (This is an incomplete view).
• Viewed substitutionary atonement as cruel, unjust, and unnecessary.
• Abelard’s view is seen in the doctrine of Socinians (anti‐Trinitarian), Unitarians, and Christian liberals.).
• 1225 AD ‐ Born in Aquino, Italy of noble parents
• 1230 AD ‐ At age 5, began education at Mount Cassino abbey
• 1244 AD ‐ Became Dominican monk in spite of parents desire for him to become a Benedictine monk
• 1274 AD ‐ Attempted to reconcile the Western and Eastern churches in
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• Theologian, not a philosopher. Roman Catholic Church’s “greatest theologian”
• Believe man’s intellect could be moved by God to understand, but man’s mind could understand many things without divine revelation
• Believed “truth is known by reason and faith by supernatural revelation”
• “Faith and reason, while distinct but related, are the two primary tools for processing the data of theology.”
• “Divine Wisdom judged it fitting that God should become man, so that thus one and the same person would be able both to restore man and to offer satisfaction.“
• “Summa Theologica“ , one of the most influential works of Western literature