Medieval Restorationism
Encyclopedia
The term Medieval Restorationism is used to refer collectively to a number of movements that sought to renew the Christian
church during the Middle Ages
. The failure of these movements helped create conditions that ultimately led to the Protestant Reformation
.
, beginning in about 1470 a succession of Pope
s focused on the acquisition of money, their role in Italian politics as rulers of the papal states
and power politics within the college of cardinals
. The papacy had been largely controlled by France and was relocated to Avignon
in the 14th century to escape violent instability between the factions of the Roman nobility. The Avignon papacy
, followed by the Western Schism
, when there were two popes between 1378 to 1417, weakened the authority of the papacy. It had been hoped that the restoration of the papacy to Rome
in the 1430s would result in a church that concentrated on religious affairs, where there were many pressing issues. However, most of the popes during the following period were accused of focusing on making their young relatives cardinals, appointing relatives and supporters to more than one clerical office, simony
(the selling of clerical offices for profit), and general acquisitiveness.
, Hussite
s, and Brethren of the Common Life
. While these pre-reformation movements did presage and sometimes discussed a break with Rome and papal authority
, they also provoked restorationist movements within the church, such as the councils of Constance and Basle , which were held in the first half of the 15th century. Preachers at the time regularly harangued delegates to these conferences regarding simony
, venality
, lack of chastity
and celibacy
, and the holding of multiple benefices. The lack of success of the restorationist movements after this time led inexorably to the Protestant Reformation
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
church during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. The failure of these movements helped create conditions that ultimately led to the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
.
Background
According to Barbara TuchmanBarbara Tuchman
Barbara Wertheim Tuchman was an American historian and author. She became known for her best-selling book The Guns of August, a history of the prelude to and first month of World War I, which won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1963....
, beginning in about 1470 a succession of Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
s focused on the acquisition of money, their role in Italian politics as rulers of the papal states
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
and power politics within the college of cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
. The papacy had been largely controlled by France and was relocated to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
in the 14th century to escape violent instability between the factions of the Roman nobility. The Avignon papacy
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
, followed by the Western Schism
Western Schism
The Western Schism or Papal Schism was a split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417. Two men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope. Driven by politics rather than any theological disagreement, the schism was ended by the Council of Constance . The simultaneous claims to the papal chair...
, when there were two popes between 1378 to 1417, weakened the authority of the papacy. It had been hoped that the restoration of the papacy to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in the 1430s would result in a church that concentrated on religious affairs, where there were many pressing issues. However, most of the popes during the following period were accused of focusing on making their young relatives cardinals, appointing relatives and supporters to more than one clerical office, simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
(the selling of clerical offices for profit), and general acquisitiveness.
Medieval restorationism
The restorationist movement at the time was centered on movements that wanted to renew the church (at that time within Christendom, there was only Roman Catholicism in the west and Eastern Orthodox in the east), such as the LollardsLollardy
Lollardy was a political and religious movement that existed from the mid-14th century to the English Reformation. The term "Lollard" refers to the followers of John Wycliffe, a prominent theologian who was dismissed from the University of Oxford in 1381 for criticism of the Church, especially his...
, Hussite
Hussite
The Hussites were a Christian movement following the teachings of Czech reformer Jan Hus , who became one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation...
s, and Brethren of the Common Life
Brethren of the Common Life
The Brethren of the Common Life was a Roman Catholic pietist religious community founded in the 14th century by Gerard Groote, formerly a successful and worldly educator who had had a religious experience and preached a life of simple devotion to Jesus Christ...
. While these pre-reformation movements did presage and sometimes discussed a break with Rome and papal authority
Primacy of the Roman Pontiff
The primacy of the Bishop of Rome is an ecclesiastical doctrine held by some branches of Christianity, most notably the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. The doctrine concerns the respect and authority that is due to the Bishop of Rome from bishops and their...
, they also provoked restorationist movements within the church, such as the councils of Constance and Basle , which were held in the first half of the 15th century. Preachers at the time regularly harangued delegates to these conferences regarding simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
, venality
Venality
Venality is a vice associated with being bribeable or of selling one's services or power, especially when one should act justly instead. In its most recognizable form, dishonesty, venality causes people to lie and steal for their personal advantage, and is related to bribery and nepotism, among...
, lack of chastity
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
and celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
, and the holding of multiple benefices. The lack of success of the restorationist movements after this time led inexorably to the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
.
External links
- Late Medieval Sourcebook
- The Birth, Life, and Death of the Bohemian Revival Historical overview of the Unitas Fratrum