Unit 4 Church History Vocabulary

Hospitallers

Staff of caretakers were made into its own separate religious order. This group cared for pilgrims in Jerusalem. After the crusade, they moved to and worked in various places in the Mediterranean and were given the Island of Malta where they became Knights of Malta.

Templars

A military order of knights that protected the pilgrims that were coming into Jerusalem. Jerusalem's economy was dependent on pilgrims coming in and spending money. Pilgrims carried lots of cash on them coming into the city and were vulnerable to robberies. They set up a headquarters on the city's sacred Temple Mount. This group was executed by King Philip IV.

Dominicans

Order of Friars Preachers. Their ideal life was to travel from place to place and preach. Founded by St. Dominic de Guzman

Dominic de Guzman

Founded the Dominicans, he disapproved of the crusade against the Cathars and instead wanted to preach to them to convert them.

He realized only preachers who displayed real holiness, humility, and asceticism could win over the Cathars. Thought of an order whose purpose was the combating of heresy and "spreading the light of the Gospel" by preaching to the ends of the then known world. (Missionary preaching and mendicant poverty)

St. Francis of Assisi

His idea was that his friars should practice personal poverty and simplicity, have minimum possessions--no land, no funded property, no fixed costs. (Friars vs. monks). He chose a way of life that he felt God was calling him to live, it wasn't for any religious order. He never condemned people who did not choose to live as he did, he was more focused on his own need for conversion. He proved poverty could work within the Catholic Church without condemning the Church and without engaging in heresy.

Franciscans

A religious order founded by St. Francis and based on simplicity and poverty

Paul Waldo

A businessman from Lyon France who renounced his wealth and became a traveling preacher. He and his followers (Waldensianism) had no formal training as clergy and they were handing out Bibles in the vernacular (instead of Latin), so the Church officials told him and his men to stop preaching.

St. Anselm

Father of Scholasticism stated that the mind (reason) has a right to inquire into the truths (faith) of Scripture. Convinced many scholars that human knowledge (reason) could be harmonized with divine knowledge (faith). Stated that God is a being without there being anything greater. (This conception of Gid exists in the mind). If an idea exists in the mind AND in reality, the real thing is greater, so if the God only exists in the mind, there must be something greater than God, but remember, there cannot be anything greater than God. So, God exists due to this theory.

Peter Abelard

Developed the dialectical approach to understanding theology by offering arguments both pro (yes) and con (no) for a given position without reaching a conclusion-to let the reader conclude for himself. (Wrote Sic Et Non: Yes and No)

Peter Lombard

Medieval theologian known for his work "Four Books of Sentences," which systematized the teachings of the Church and influenced later scholastic thought.

Thomas Aquanis

A theologian who used a similar method to Aristotle (___________' Scholasticism). 1)Presented a question/issue. 2) Presented an opposing position. 3) Offered a solution. The first principle acted as the support to both sides of the position, A systematic/logical approach (Reason) to better understand faith. Summa Theologica- his "systematic guide to understanding theology"

St. Bonaventure

A Franciscan Friar and contemporary of Aquanis. Lived and taught together that the University of Paris. Believed that knowledge of God begins in faith but grows through human rational understanding and reaches perfection in the believer's ultimate mystical union with God.

Thomas a Kempis

A 15th-century Christian mystic and author known for his work "The Imitation of Christ," which emphasizes the inner spiritual life and devotion to Christ.

Catherine of Siena

Grew up uneducated and with an ordinary family (23 siblings). An object of admonition and a counselor to kings, queens, and popes. Doctor of the Church (Never studied Theology). Believed that the earthly and spiritual world are closer than people think. She was able to make the Avignon Pope listen to her and also believed spiritual power was greater than secular power. Blood had a huge significance in her life so she was also known as the "Apostle of the Blood of Christ?" and people justified that she wasn't a lunatic because of the integrity of her life

Sic et Non

A theological work by Peter Abelard that presents conflicting opinions on various theological questions, aimed at encouraging critical thinking and debate. (Yes and No)

Four Books of Sentences

Written by Peter Lombard and is the theological textbook for the next 400+ years in which he set out an issue, related to what the position of the Church Fathers on it would have been, and then proposed his own answer of resolution.

Summa Theologica

A comprehensive work by Thomas Aquinas that outlines Christian theology and philosophy, addressing various theological questions in a systematic manner.

Pope Lucius III

Pope from 1181 to 1185, known for his efforts in combating heresy and supporting the establishment of the Inquisition. He played a significant role in the church's struggle against the political influence of monarchies. The Wave I instigator of the Medieval Inquisition.

Pope Gregory IX

The Pope who established the Medieval Inquisition and issued a decree mandating the organization of the Inquisition in 1231. The Wave 2 instigator of the Medieval Inquisition.

Ferdinand & Isabella

Instigators of the Spanish Inquisition but something different about them was that they were the Christain/Catholic king and queen of Spain. Sought to use the inquisition to support their absolute and centralizing regime to increase royal power in Spain.

The Imitation of Christ

A book written by Mystic Thomas a Kempis and was a manual devotion intended to help the soul in its communion with God. The "how to be a mystic" practical Guide. Its thesis: The life of Christ is presented as the best thing to study. Ignatius of Loyola read a chapter of this book each day of his life (from the cannon ball moment).

Jan Hus

The Czech Church reformer. Argued that since the institutional church is an imperfect reflection of the true invisible church, its punishments do not affect a person's salvation. Challenged the authority of the papacy and asserted that popes are the vicars of Christ only to the degree that they live according to the teaching and example of Jesus. Invited by Sigismund to the Council of Constance to defend his position of papacy and later he was declared a heretic and burned at the stake.

John Wycliffe

English Theologian, opposed papal supremacy within the Church and its authority, believed that Scripture was the only divine authority as it is interpreted by the individual, so he asserted that bibles should be printed in the vernacular. Denied transubstantiation (his most controversial position), he died in 1384, but the Council of Constance was held in 1415 to declare his pov as heretical and dug up his grace and bones to burn it as a sign of condemnation for heresy.

Dante Aligheri

A florentine poet and political leader, author of the Divine Comedy. Suffered exile from Florence and never returned. His poems were crucial to the development of the Italian language (vernacular language) (along with Catherine of Siena). He was Italian

Divine Comedy

Book by Dante Alighieri, a three-part epic poem that recounted his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. He was guided by Virgil through hell and purgatory

Geoffrey Chaucer

A chief revenue collector for King Edward III as well as a poetic genius. created the unfinished masterpiece, Canterbury Tales.

Canterbury Tales

an uncompleted series of tales written after 1387 by Geoffrey Chaucer that talks about a group of pilgrims who enter into a competition to pass time on the way. They tell stories-humorous, dark, earthly, scandalous-the whole mess of human existence.

Poverty Movement

This movement aimed to live the simplicity of Jesus and his followers. Some took this reform and criticisms of the Church too far and became a heresy. ( 1) Gregorian Reforms and financial abuses/corruption, 2) papal primacy fights that overly integrated the Church in worldly affairs had people concerned that the Church had grown too worldly and too focused on money. 3) The crusades created a renewed religious fervor in Christians to live biblical values.)

Catharism

Manicheism + Gnostism , they rejected the Church, the sacraments, most of the bible, and the belief that Jesus was flesh. They adopted extreme poverty to reject the world and the Church that was too attached to it. They criticized the Church's hypocrisy, greed, sexual corruptions, and wealth. Condemned as heretical and a crusade was started to purge them.

Waldensianism

Named after Peter Waldo, preached and wore rough clothing and preached repentance. Their poverty was a rejection of the Church and its excesses. They rejected many Catholic traditions like praying for the dead, holy water, indulgence, and purgatory. They denied the doctrine of transubstantiation. They were declared to be heretics by the Pope and the Fourth Lateran Council.

Scholasticism

The "Science of Theology-treated theology as science. Their goal was to explain what is less well known by what is more well known. To explain what is weakly explained by what is better explained. (Guided by Aristotle)

Mysticism

A life of contemplative prayer. The goal of this practice is a transcendental experience of being in union with God and is faith's most intense and living state. Criticized that Scholasticism had no passion, no intensity of feeling, no concern for godly living, and that it focused too much on the intellectual exercises.

Conversos

Converted Jews in the Spanish Kingdom

Moriscos

Converted Muslims in the Spanish kingdom.

Pax Dei

Latin for “ peace of God’, A medieval movement aimed at ensuring peace and protecting non-combatants from violence during times of conflict, particularly within the Christian community. It sought to limit warfare and promote a sense of security for the vulnerable.

The Council of Clermont

This council justified the Crusade through a series of reasoning- It is the will of God, Get into Heaven free, God will be angry if we don't fight for innocent Christians, if we don't do anything, the problem will get worse.

Peter the Hermit

French religious leader who led one of the bands of the first crusades and was inspired by Urban II.

Alexius Comnenus

A Byzantine Emperor who was nervous during the crusade and demanded the Crusade leaders to give him back his own land if they win the war and give him full control. Also, to swear loyalty to him while the Crusaders remained in his empire. (Western leaders rejected his demands)- He also sent a letter and envoy it to Pope Urban II for military aid.

Selijuk Turks

A new force that overtook the eastern half of the Islamic empire.

Battle of Manzikert

Battle in which the Selijuk Turks defeated the Byzantine Empire-leading to the collapse of the Byzantine Empire in Turkey.

The Beguines

Women who lived religiously but didn't take vows or live in convents. An order of female semi-religious women active in the 13th century and northern France and southern Germany. Existed somewhere between the secular and religious life (this is why they're called semi-religious). Secular outside of Church control but performed religious role within society. Did Charitable works for their communities. They also translated spiritual text in their local vernacular language.

Thomas Maden

Proposed that a crisis brings people together: "The fact that the countries of Europe could come together to fight at all was a sign that Europe had finally come together, that it possessed a fundamental inner unity enabling it to cohere in a way it had never done before."

The Scholastic Method

A common way of teaching and is a logical way of examining problems from contrary points of view.

The Methodology

A system where the scholastic thinker proposes a question to be debated and then proceeds to present arguments on both sides of the question. He then puts fourth answers to each argument in support of this proposition and to each in opposition of the proposition, he comes to a final conclusion.

Reclusa

A holy women dedicated to prayer, mass, and fasting

Mantelate

Women, mostly widows, dedicated to prayer & mass. (Group that led Catherine to become more active)

The Medieval Inquisition

Located in Italy and Southern France. This inquisition targeted mostly heretics of the Poverty Movement (Cartharists & Waldensians). Goal: Unify the church by correcting heretical beliefs and reconciling individuals with the Church and thereby save the soul of the heretic. Punished people through fasting, wearing crosses as sign of repentance, prison sentences, and sometimes death (very rarely since it meant defeat)

The Spanish Inquisition

Located in Spain, Instigators: Ferdinand & Isabella, Goal: Reclaim the southern territory captured by Muslims and unify the country as a Catholic nation. A movement to police minority groups to make sure they either converted or left. Targeted Muslims and Jews & Conversos and Moriscos whose conversions were a suspect. (race vs. theology). Inquisitors- appointed by the king who also appointed his council and could declare what was heresy and what was not. Inquisitors- appointed by the king who also appointed his council and could declare what was heresy and what was not. Punishments: Acquittal, Penances, and Executions.

Pope Sixtus IV

Tried to protect Jews from persecution, but Ferdinand resisted. Issued a papal bull (decree/charter) authorizing the Catholic monarchs to name inquisitors who would address the issue.

Pope Innocent III

Puts the "dictator" in Dictatus Papae. Convenes nearly 1500 religious and lay leaders at the Fourth Lateran Council to assert his power. Many call him the "Lord of the World"

Fourth Lateran Council

Council called by Pope Innocent III, place where transubstantiation becomes the offical Catholic understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist.

Transubstantiation

The transformation of the substance of the bread and wine into the substance of Jesus Christ.

Council of Constance

council that Investigated the controversial teachings of John Wycliffe and Jan Hus. Also was called to end the Great Papal Schism.

Conciliarism

A theory that a general council of the church has greater authority than the popes and may, if necessary, depose him.

Similarity between Geoffrey and Dante's work

The necessity of change (Both had a main idea that people may change their preferences and styles of life during their traveling)

Legacy of the Crusades: The Neutral

Christain Europe slowed the advancement of Islamic power.

Legacy of the Crusades: The Bad

A rise in Anti-Semitism, Islamophopia, East/ West Schism.

Legacy of the Crusades: The Good

Better trade, Opportunities for Evangelization, Respect for women, a better educated West.

The First Crusade

70-80 thousand (twice the People's Crusade) French and German troops march towards Constantinople to help the East with the Turkish invasion. Causes Alexius Comnenus to become nervous and causes distrust between the eastern and western empires.

The Second Crusade

The Byzantium was unhappy about the Franks not returning land and the Franks were unhappy with the lack of suppot from the Byzantines during the crusades. Lead to the Byzantine to try and retake territory. Wanted to recapture Edessa to protect Antioch to keep Jerusalem.

The Third Crusade

Crusade led by Richard the Lionheart, whose goal was to get Jerusalem back from Saladin. In this crusade they captured the port city of Acre. Richard proceeds to Jerusalem after being abandoned by the German and French Crusaders and settles a peace treaty with Saladin that allowed Christain pilgrims safe travels in Jerusalem. Neither side was really content with this treaty.

Martin V

The Pope that was elected at the Council of Constance.

Emperor Sigismund

The holy emperor of Rome who calls for the Council of Constance

Urban VI

Elected by a pro-French majority of cardinals who believe ___________ would move the papacy back to Rome. Starts the Great Papal Schism

Clement V

The first of seven Avignon Popes. Does NOT want to go to Rome

Infinite Regression

The idea that movement causing movement could go back in time infinitely-there is no starting point.

Contingent Being

A being whose existence is contingent (depends) on the existence of a prior being.

Necessary Beings

A being who has always existed, will always exist and who cannot not exist.

The Great Papal Schism

The Schism that led to 3 popes in the world and was resolved through the Council of Constance/Emperor Sigismund.

Saladin

a prominent Muslim figure, particularly known for his role in the Third Crusade, where he famously defeated the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin and captured Jerusalem in 1187, ending its nearly nine decades of occupation by the Franks. 

Richard the Lionhearted

a prominent figure in church history due to his leadership during the Third Crusade (1189–1192) and his role as a Christian commander seeking to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim forces. 

The Fourth Crusade (1202-1291)

• Purpose = recapture Jerusalem.   The crusaders gather in Venice, but in Constantinople, the Byzantine emperor is having problems holding onto his position.  He asks the Crusaders for help.  The emperor is assassinated by his enemies, and the Crusaders sack Zara on the way to Constantinople and then sack that city as well (another example of A LACK OF COOPERATION!). They never make it to Jerusalem.

• Significance: The Fourth Crusade is one of the final acts in the split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church and a significant turning point in the decline of the Byzantine Empire and Christianity in the Near East. 

Cosmological Proofs

• theories of the cosmos (Motion, Causation, Contigency, Degree) that seek to demonstrate the existence of God based on the nature of the universe. They usually argue that everything that exists has a cause, leading to the conclusion of a first cause, often identified as God.

Teleological Proof

• for a purpose or goal , by design. God is the grand designer

• argues that the universe's order and complexity suggest it was designed for a specific purpose. This leads to the conclusion that a grand designer, identified as God, exists.

People’s Crusade

Inspired by Urban II, Peter the hermit goes on a preaching tour and gathers 40-50 thousand crusaders.

• In spring of 1096, Peter the Hermit and his followers left Europe for Constantinople, then moved on to Nicomedia in August. 

• An inexperienced military leader, Peter had trouble maintaining discipline among his unruly troops.  He leaves his troops in Nicomedia  and returns to Constantinople to seek assistance from Byzantine Emperor Alexius.

Deus Vult

A Latin phrase meaning "God wills it," used as a rallying cry during the Crusades.

Modern Scholasticism

A philosophical system that seeks to reconcile faith and reason, drawing on the works of medieval scholars like Thomas Aquinas. It emphasizes the use of logic and critical thinking to explore theological concepts.