Church History
Chapter 9
476-1054 AD
Monasteries are established
throughout the Christian world
• Why? Some people wanted to live a life of
faith more fully
• Baptism = gain in social status = false
converts
• Monastic life – a life dedicated to prayer,
work, study and the needs of society
Monasteries are established
throughout the Christian world
• St. Anthony of Egypt – around 300
AD brought group of solitary hermits
together – monasticism began
St. Basil the Great – great theologian
– helped defeat Arian heresy in 381developed a “rule for life” - monks took
vows of poverty, chastity, obedience,
Also followed daily routine of prayer,
work contemplation, and service
Prayer of St. Basil the Great
The bread you do not use is the bread of the hungry;
the garment hanging in your wardrobe
is the garment of him who is naked,
the shoes that you do not wear
are the shoes of one who is barefoot;
the money that you keep locked away
is the money of the poor;
the acts of charity that you do not perform
are so many injustices that you commit."
Monasteries are established
throughout the Christian world
• St. Benedict of Nursia’s
founded Monte Cassino - Motto
- Ora et labora means Pray
and work (7 specific times for
daily prayer)
St. Scholastica –St. Benedict’s
sister – started monastery for
nuns
Monasteries are established
throughout the Christian world
• St. Bernard of Clauirvaux – reformed
monasteries - founded the Cisterian
order of monks – follow extremely strict
rules of prayer centered on St. Benedict’s
rule and manual labor and simple living
Monasteries are established
throughout the Christian world
• Evangelical Counsels – poverty, chastity,
obedience
• Contemplative monks and nuns – remain
within their monasteries dedicated to
prayer, work, and study.
• Abbot in charge of monastery (monks)
• Abbess in charge of monastery (nuns)
The Church brings the good
news to pagan tribes
• Monasteries flourishing while Roman
Empire was weakening due to poor
leadership and immoral ways leaders
were behaving
• From 5th century onward barbarian tribes
invaded Roman territories. They plundered
and conquered what had been Roman
provinces.
• Western empire collapsed Eastern
empire barely survived
The Church brings the good
news to pagan tribes
• Civilization was almost wiped out
• Paganism spread
• Pagan a person who worshiped false
gods. Missionaries spread the gospel
(continues today)
The Church brings the good
news to pagan tribes
• St. Gregory the Great to the rescue –
– reformed the church*
– Contributed to canon law
– Was involved in development of Gregorian
Sacramentary - book that guides celebration
of Mass and other sacraments
– Name associated with church music Gregorian Chants
*Ecclesial means of or relating to the church
The Church brings the good
news to pagan tribes
• Clovis – king of Franks – a pagan
people - converted to Christianity
laid foundation for a new Christian
empire in Western Europe
St. Cyril and Methodius- Greek
brothers – through their work and
other missionary work by year
1000 “barbarian” Europe was
Christian
Charlemagne strengthens the
Church
• Charlemagne strengthened both Church
and world during his reign as Holy
Roman Emperor
• Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne on
Christmas Day 800 AD
• Pope and emperor joined together in
rulings (unlike today where there is
separation of church and state)
• Reorganized the church’s hierarchy or
governing body
•
Charlemagne’s most lasting contribution was to education
Decreed monasteries should open schools to everyone
Encouraged monastic libraries to preserve and copy ancient
manuscripts
Appointed a monk named Alcuin to set up school of religious
studies
Forms of Prayer
• Blessing – when we dedicate someone or something to
God or ask that something be made holy in God’s name
• Petition – when we ask God for something usually for
ourselves
• Intercession – when we ask God for something on
behalf of another person, group of people or the world.
• Thanksgiving – when we show God our gratitude for
all he has given us. Also the Eucharist
• Praise – when we give glory to God simply for being
God
The Church encounters division
• Muslims – followers of the prophet
Muhammad conquered much of the
Middle East including Jerusalem
• Islam is a peaceful and beautiful religion
– Within every faith there are extremists
The Church encounters division
• What caused the Catholic Church to split
into western and eastern Churches?
– Muslim invaders began to be seen as a
serious threat to Christianity
– Growing cultural and political differences
between the eastern and western part of the
Roman Empire clouded the unity in faith.
The Church encounters division
– In 1054 AD a schism (division) took place in
Catholicism separating the Church in the
eastern and western parts of the Roman
Empire
– Due to this schism, the church in the western
part of the empire would grow into what we
know today as the Roman Catholic Church.
– Eastern Churches that chose to remain in
union with pope are called Eastern Catholic
Churches
The Church encounters division
– So the Catholic Church today consists of
• 22 churches
• One Roman Catholic Church
• 21 Eastern Catholic Churches
• EASTERN ORTHODOX Churches – do
not accept the pope as the leader of the
church
• Schism has lasted to this day
St. Columba
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•
•
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St. Columba – pg 102
Poet & Scribe
Copied more than 300 books
founded monasteries in Ireland
Let me bless almighty God,
whose power extends over sea and land,
whose angels watch over all.
Let me study sacred books to calm my
soul:
I pray for peace,
kneeling at heaven's gates.
Let me do my daily work,
gathering seaweed, catching fish,
giving food to the poor.
Let me say my daily prayers,
sometimes chanting, sometimes quiet,
always thanking God.
Delightful it is to live
on a peaceful isle, in a quiet cell,
serving the King of kings.