Church History Final Essay Questions (Connected)

(UNIT 1) 1. Describe two of the early ecumenical councils addressed in Chapter 3. What are they named, what heresies or other matters did they address, and what did they decide about those heresies or other matters? (Ch. 3 — pgs. 43-44, 54-55)

(UNIT 1) 1. Describe two of the early ecumenical councils addressed in Chapter 3. What are they named, what heresies or other matters did they address, and what did they decide about those heresies or other matters? (Ch. 3 — pgs. 43-44, 54-55)

• Arianism: Council of Nicea (first ecumenical council) - Nicene Creed

• Nicea dealt w/ Arianism (belief Jesus is not God) -> made Nicene Creed and Jesus is God

• 1st Council of Constantinople - Arianism (Revised Nicene Creed)

• Nestorianism - Council of Ephesus

(UNIT 2) 2. Why is the period of history between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Middle Ages known as the Dark Ages? What role did the Church play in society at that time? What part did the monasteries play? (Pgs. 69-73)

• bishops leadership roles

• Monasteries helped feed ppl and keep faith alive 

• Chaos and confusion in civilization due to barbarian invasion

• monasteries helped rebuild a faithful society

(UNIT 3) 3. What specific actions caused the Great Schism? Give at least 2 examples of beliefs/practices the Orthodox and Catholics share, and 2 that are different. (104-107)

• Filioque

•  Papal authority, institution into the Nicene Creed the filioque=(Father AND THE SON) East didn’t consult

• Iconoclasm -Destruction of religious statues/pictures

• Photian schism - a controversy between the two churches. It occurred when the emperor removed Patriarch Ignatius of Constantinople and refused a high government official of Holy communion.

• conflict between Pope and Patriarch

• infallibility of the pope (Catholics believed they were totally just and powerful) (3 popes became an issue)

• basic beliefs are the same, apostolic succession

(UNIT 3) 4. What was the Renaissance? What changes did it inspire in art, architecture, literature, and philosophy, and why? You may use examples to help explain. (Chapter 9) 

• Renaissance = French for rebirth; period of cultural flourishing based on the rediscovery of classical philosophy

• Revival of the culture, coming out of Dark Ages, classical Greek and Rome > Gothic

• art, architecture, literature, philosophy

• Michelangelo made famous sculpture of the Pietà and painted the Sistine Chapel hired by Pope Julius II -> most famous works of art in history

• Fra Angelico: “Angelic Friar”; famous for his charity and faith as for his paintings. Always prayed before painting and was artistically and spiritually intense with each piece.

• Florence - One of the most prosperous of these city-states, and this prosperity attracted the most talented artists and writers. Dante and his contemporaries, Petrarch and Boccacio, wrote in the common dialect of Florence and succeeded in establishing it as the standard language of Italy.

(UNIT 4) 5. What were some of Martin Luther’s main objections to the practices of the 16th century Catholic Church? Which of these objections were justified and which were theological differences that led to schism? Discuss at least two of each type of objection. (Pgs. 179-185)

• Selling of indulgences

• corruption of the clergy (having children, selling bishop positions)

• BIBLE ALONE= SOLA SCRIPTURAand Faith alone

• Justified: Church shouldn’t sell indulgences and clergy shouldn’t be corrupt, grace was necessary for salvation

• Schism: 

  • 2 sacraments (baptism and Eucharist)

  • Eucharist Consubstantiation no Transubstantiation

  • Sola Scriptura

  • Hierarchy of Church

(UNIT 4) 6. Who were three saints that enriched the Church during the Counter-reformation? What did they do and how did this influence other members of the faith? (Chapter 11) 

• PICK 3 people: figure out what they did; Counter Reformation Saints

• Saint Francis De Sales - Devout educational nobleman with zeal and talent for evangelizing Protestants . Dr. Of the church bishop of Geneva. Calvinist stronghold. Introduction to the Devout Life - teach lay people how to achieve this simple holiness he preached

• Vincent de Paul - devoted to serving the poor, sold to slavery, Church charity. Congregation of the Mission Vincentians serving the poor. Daughters of charity

• St. Jane de Chantal - noblewoman widowed, helped those in need those who faced opposition  against women

(UNIT 5) 7. How did Catholic leaders, missionaries, and saints work to combat the problems of slavery in the New World? Discuss at least two different Catholic groups or individuals in your response. (Ch. 12) 

• Two different groups:

• Saint Barolomé de Casas - combatted against slavery “Defender of the Indians” Bartholemuel de Casas- speak out, Spain, King, talked to Pope

  • Wrote books exposing the horrible practices of the colonists

  • inspired papal bull, Sublimis Deus, Sublime God, written by the Pope, 

• King Of Spain - outlawed slavery and made them equal of citizens of Spain

• Pope - treat them like human beings

• Anton Montesano Delivered a homily that struck at the foundations of colonial power in the New World, telling the astonished congregation at the Cathedral of Saint Domingo on the Island of Hispaniola that anyone who held natives as slaves could expect eternal damnation.

• Hernan Cortes, formed alliances with thousands of native peoples who had been conquered by the Aztecs by forming alliances with thousands of native peoples who had been conquered by the Aztecs. Advanced weaponry and military strategies, and the spread of small pox.

• St. Peter Claver inspired by the work of Fr. Alonso de Sandoval, a Jesuit who, for the decades before Peter arrived, devoted himself to serving the enslaved people.

(UNIT 5) 8. How did missionaries and saints use aspects of native cultures to help spread the truth of the Catholic faith and inspire worshipers? Discuss the work of saints or missionaries in two different countries or regions. (See Unit 5)

• Anybody in that whole unit

• Don’t use: Junipersera (CALI MISSIONS)

• Fr. Mateo Ricci (China) - allowed people to come to them about their faith

  • learned Chinese, dressed and lived as them, put images of the Virgin and Child and describe enough of the Christian religion to explain the picture to curious guests

• Saint Issac Jogues (Canada) - Joined in the missionary lands of Canada and after 6 years of preaching the Gospel, he was captured by the Iroquois. Brutally tortured and beat, he made it back to France. He went back to Canada and was attacked and martyred by decapitation.  St. Issac’s love for the Native Americans and zeal to proclaim the Gospel was undeterred, along with other French Jesuits as the North American Martyrs

• Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico) - Imprinted on St. Juan Diego’s tilma, the lady symbolized that she was greater than the Aztec sun god, stars covered her mantle in the specific pattern of the constellation Virgo greater than the stars in the sky worshipped by the Aztecs

  • 10 Million Mexican natives converted and human sacrifice came to a stop

• St. Peter Clavo (Spain) - inspired by the work of Fr. Alonso de Sandoval, a Jesuit who, for the decades before Peter arrived, devoted himself to serving the enslaved people.