Militant Catholicism in the
Age of Reformation
Catholic Church Today
What!Seriously?
Militant Catholicism in the Age of Reformation
What does that mean?
Why does it matter?
About what time period are we talking?
Medieval Roman Catholic Church
Was the only Christian church in most of Europe
The people of Europe were very devout
Everyone was concerned about going to heaven
Catholics believe in Purgatory-a place between heaven and hell where a soul stays until the person has done penance for any sins
Abuses in the Catholic Church
Clergy was poorly trained and often illiterate
Higher ranking clergy were more interested in materialism (lifestyle)
Popes needed lots of money to pay for lifestyle, wars, and beautiful cathedrals
Often clergy bought their positions-simony
Indulgences were sold as penance for sins, but often paid for Church projects
Merchants and the Catholic Church
Because of trade with Middle East, merchants needed to borrow money to pay for ships and trading goods
The Catholic church banned usuryUsury=lending money at interest
Merchants resented they could only borrow money from non-Christian moneylenders
They began to demand changes.
Some set up banks to lend money-de Medicis
Italian domination of the Catholic Church
Italians filled many of the high positions in the Catholic Church-bishops, archbishops, popes
All members of Catholic Church had to tithe 10% of their income
Most money went to high clergy positions or to Rome (Italians)
German princes and English royalty disliked Italian domination of the Church
Wanted money to stay in their lands
Church’s Political Power
Catholic church owned HUGE amounts of land throughout Europe--probably more than 30%
They paid no taxes on this land
High ranking clergy held political/feudal positions in many lands increasing the Church’s power
The pope ruled as a political leader-he ruled a large part of Italy-the Papal States.
He often fought wars to control and expand his holdings.
Indulgences
Were sold by the Church as a penance for sins
Much of the money went to the pope
The pope needed money to build St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
He sent Johan Tetzel to Germany to sell indulgences
He sent other priests throughout Europe
Indulgences
To sell more indulgences, Tetzel claimed they could get a dead person’s soul out of Purgatory
“The moment a coin in the coffer rings, a soul to heaven springs”
Many were outraged by Tetzel’s selling technique, including Martin Luther
This led to the Reformation
Militant Catholicism in the Age of Reformation
What does that mean?
Militant Catholicism in the Age of Reformation
Time when Catholic Church felt under attack during the Age of Reform. You should be asking yourself:
What happened to make the church feel like it was under attack?
• You can answer yourself: the age of the Renaissance happened - when people began to question the basis of authority - the church’s automatic authority. They began to think more of individualism.
Militant Catholicism in the Age of Reformation
From roughly 1500- 1750
• One prime example of militant Catholicism during the Age of Reformation is the mid 1500s under Phillip II of Spain.
• Spain is a strongly Catholic nation. They see themselves as nation chosen to protect Christianity from Protestantism.
• Phillip becomes the greatest advocate of militant Catholicism and ushers in an age of Spanish greatness and power. • Insists on strict conformity to Catholicism and adherence to dictates of monarchy
About what time period are we talking?
Militant Catholicism in the Age of Reformation
Why does it matter?
It is this time of Reformation that will cause the nation-state building of Europe -when Europe begins to become the type of Europe of which you know.
One last note:Make sure you understand: This is not just about the Catholics v Protestants religions. This is about multiple, ugly wars, snaky politics, and revolutionary ideas all based in religion and it will be between many religions.
This will be between: Catholics v ProtestantsJesuits Catholics v. Dominican CatholicsLutheran Protestants v Calvinist ProtestantsLutheran Protestants v Anibaptist ProtestantsCalvinist Protestants v Anibaptist ProtestantsZwiglian Protestants v. Lutheran ProtestantsOrthodox Catholics v. Roman CatholicsAnglican Protestants v. Roman Catholicsand there will be continuing prejudice agianst Jews and Muslims.
One last note:
This is about the history of man and how mankind has changed because of man and new ideas -especially ideas based on religion