Church History 300-1300

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# Church History Study Guide (300-1300 & Beyond)

## Key Topics & Summaries

### 1. Martyrdom of Paul & Peter (c. 64-67 AD)

- Peter: Crucified upside down in Rome under Emperor Nero. Considered the first pope.

- Paul: Beheaded in Rome, also under Nero. Wrote many epistles in the New Testament.

- Their deaths symbolized the early Church’s persecution and strengthened Christian faith.

### 2. The Latin Church

- Western Christianity, centered in Rome, led by the Pope.

- Used Latin as the liturgical language.

- Influenced by Roman law and structure.

### 3. The Great Schism (1054 AD)

- Split between the Latin (Roman Catholic) Church and the Greek (Eastern Orthodox) Church.

- Causes:

- Papal authority: Rome believed the Pope had universal authority; the East disagreed.

- Filioque Controversy: Dispute over whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

- Cultural & Political Differences: East used Greek; West used Latin.

- Result: Mutual excommunications between the Pope and Patriarch of Constantinople.

### 4. Medieval Spirituality (Church as Mother)

- The Church was seen as a nurturing mother, guiding souls to salvation.

- Heavy emphasis on sacraments, saints, and monastic life.

- Monasticism: Growth of religious orders like the Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans.

### 5. Purgatory

- Intermediate state after death where souls are purified before entering heaven.

- Based on ideas from Church Fathers like Augustine and Gregory the Great.

- Led to practices like prayers for the dead and indulgences.

### 6. Soteriology of Indulgences

- Soteriology: The study of salvation.

- Indulgences: A remission of temporal punishment due to sin, granted by the Church.

- Connected to the idea of purgatory—indulgences helped reduce time there.

- Later led to abuses, which became a major issue during the Reformation.

### 7. Rome’s Renewal

- After struggles with corruption and invasions, Rome reaffirmed its spiritual authority.

- Strengthening of papal power and centralization of the Church.

- Gothic Cathedrals and scholastic theology (like Thomas Aquinas) flourished.

### 8. Reformation (Accidental Revolution, 1517)

- Sparked by Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, criticizing indulgences.

- Unintended break from the Catholic Church—led to Protestantism.

- Other reformers: John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli.

- Key beliefs: Sola Scriptura (Bible alone), Sola Fide (faith alone).

### 9. Counter-Reformation (1545-1648)

- Catholic Church’s response to the Reformation.

- Council of Trent (1545-1563):

- Reaffirmed Catholic doctrines.

- Reformed corruption (e.g., banned selling indulgences).

- Strengthened seminaries for priest training.

- Jesuits (Society of Jesus): Founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola to spread Catholicism.

### 10. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

- Called by Pope John XXIII to modernize the Church.

- Major changes:

- Mass could be celebrated in vernacular languages (not just Latin).

- Greater emphasis on ecumenism (unity among Christians).

- Laypeople given a greater role in Church life.

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## Key Vocabulary

- Apostolic Succession: The passing down of spiritual authority from the apostles to bishops.

- Benedictine Rule: Guidelines for monastic life written by St. Benedict.

- Canon Law: Church laws governing clergy and laypeople.

- Ecumenism: Efforts to promote Christian unity.

- Filioque: Latin for “and the Son,” part of the Nicene Creed that contributed to the Great Schism.

- Heresy: Belief or teaching that contradicts Church doctrine.

- Indulgence: A remission of temporal punishment for sins.

- Monasticism: A religious way of life focused on prayer and self-discipline.

- Papal Authority: The Pope’s supreme leadership over the Church.

- Sacrament: A sacred ritual instituted by Christ (e.g., Baptism, Eucharist).

- Scholasticism: Medieval theological method using reason and philosophy (e.g., Thomas Aquinas).

- Transubstantiation: The belief that bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ during Mass.

Questions based on the study guide:

### 1. How did the Bishop of Rome become Pope?

- The Bishop of Rome became the Pope due to Apostolic Succession, tracing authority back to St. Peter, whom Jesus called the “rock” of the Church (Matthew 16:18).

- As Rome was the center of the empire, its bishop gained prominence. Over time, the title "Pope" (meaning "father") became associated with the Bishop of Rome, who held supreme authority over the Church.

### 2. How does the Latin Church shift between flexibility and strictness?

- The Latin Church showed flexibility by adapting to cultural changes, such as using vernacular languages in Mass after Vatican II.

- It was strict in maintaining doctrinal authority, seen in the Council of Trent, which reaffirmed Catholic teachings against Protestantism.

- This balance helped the Church survive crises while maintaining continuity of tradition.

### 3. How do the views of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope contrast?

- The Patriarch of Constantinople viewed himself as a spiritual leader among equals with other Eastern bishops.

- The Pope claimed universal authority over the entire Church, based on Peter’s leadership.

- This power struggle contributed to the Great Schism (1054).

### 4. What is the Filioque clause and why is it significant?

- Filioque means "and the Son", added to the Nicene Creed by the Latin Church to state that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

- The Eastern Church rejected this, believing the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father.

- This disagreement was a major cause of the Great Schism.

### 5. How does mysticism deepen one’s relationship with God?

- Mysticism involves deep spiritual experiences, often through prayer, visions, or meditation.

- Medieval mystics like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross described mystical union with God as an intimate, transformative experience.

- It emphasized direct personal connection with God beyond rituals.

### 6. How does tragedy impact Catholic beliefs and practices?

- Tragedies like plagues, wars, and persecution reinforced Catholic ideas of suffering as a path to salvation.

- Increased devotion to saints, relics, and indulgences for comfort.

- Strengthened belief in Purgatory, where suffering purifies the soul.

### 7. How does Purgatory impact soteriology?

- Purgatory introduced the idea that salvation isn’t instant but requires purification.

- This led to doctrines like indulgences, prayers for the dead, and acts of penance to shorten time in Purgatory.

### 8. How does Purgatory intensify ideas about punishment?

- Purgatory emphasized God’s justice—sin had consequences even after death.

- Led to fears about long, painful purification and encouraged believers to seek indulgences.

### 9. How did indulgences provide comfort, to whom and why?

- Indulgences offered relief from the temporal punishment of sin, reducing time in Purgatory.

- They comforted the faithful and grieving families, believing they could help deceased loved ones reach heaven sooner.

- Became especially popular during times of crisis, like the Black Death.

### 10. How did the Council of Trent boost Roman Catholic values and enthusiasm?

- The Council of Trent (1545-1563) reaffirmed Catholic doctrine, condemned Protestantism, and reformed Church corruption.

- Strengthened priest training, standardized Mass, and banned the sale (but not the doctrine) of indulgences.

- This revitalized Catholic identity and countered Protestant criticisms.

### 11. How does Rome’s spiritual expressiveness contrast with Protestantism?

- Catholicism emphasized sacraments, rituals, saints, relics, and art as ways to experience God.

- Protestants rejected many of these, focusing on scripture and personal faith (e.g., sola scriptura, sola fide).

- Protestant churches were often simpler, while Catholic churches remained ornate and ritualistic.

### 12. How did an Augustinian Roman Catholic monk protest soteriology of Purgatory?

- Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, rejected indulgences and Purgatory’s role in salvation.

- In his 95 Theses (1517), he argued that salvation comes by faith alone (sola fide), not works or indulgences.

- This sparked the Protestant Reformation.

### 13. How did Jesuits play a vital role in reinvigorating Catholic faith amidst Protestant criticism?

- The Jesuits (Society of Jesus), founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola, focused on:

- Education (creating Catholic universities and schools).

- Missionary work (spreading Catholicism worldwide).

- Defending the Church through scholarship and debate.

- They became key leaders in the Counter-Reformation.

### 14. How did Lumen Gentium revolutionize Catholicism?

- Lumen Gentium ("Light of the Nations") was a major document from Vatican II (1964).

- It emphasized:

- The Church as the People of God, not just the hierarchy.

- Greater role for laypeople in Church life.

- Ecumenism, fostering unity with other Christian groups.

- Made Catholicism more accessible and participatory.

### 15. What did the Council of Trent solidify?

- Catholic doctrine against Protestant beliefs:

- Faith + works necessary for salvation (not faith alone).

- Seven sacraments reaffirmed.

- Transubstantiation (Real Presence of Christ in Eucharist).

- Church authority over interpretation of scripture.

- Clerical reforms: Better priest training, stricter moral standards.

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