Late Medieval Christendom Flashcards
3 interwoven components of institutionalised world view. Give an example, and a limitation
Beliefs
Practices
Institutions
All based on scripture and tradition
Baptism
Wide range of local variations
Four key aspects about beliefs
Christain Salvation History
Christian conceptualisation of human life
Late medieval faith and practice
“Divine Providence” and “Sacramentality”
Christian Salvation History
One Creator God
Adam and Eve disobeyed
Sin enters humanity
Call calls a people - Isralites - Covenant
Promise of a messiah (prophets)
Jesus Christ fulfils the prophecies
Jesus’ Death and resurrection
the Church
Second Coming of Christ
Last Judgement
Conceptualisation of human life
Tranistory phase between life and death
Final judgement - eternal life and eternal damnation - intermediate - purgatory
Proper and right Christian belief and practice was necessary for salvation
Faith in Late Medieval Christianity
Fides Qua - the act of believing - that
Fides Quay - the content of faith - what
Explicit Faith - awareness of content - limited to well educated - not necessary for salvation
Implicit faith - obedience to and pariticpation in the life of the church - most Christians
Faith alone - dead faith - not enough for salvation
Faith in action - Fides caritata formata - faith formed in love - necessary for salvation
Faith and works both required but not sufficient - need the saving Grace of God - a gift given freely - through the church
What were two core beliefs of nature of reality
Divine Providence
Sacramentality
What is Divine Providence
God orders and governs all things
There is no “outside: of God’s creation
Biblical Foundations
Intimacy of God with the world he created
What is sacramentality
Spiritual reality manifests itself through material reality
Religion is not separated from rest of life
paradigm is God’s incarnation in Christ
God is present in some places more than others
Constant presence of the holy
What was the importance of the church?
Stable means to ensure orthodoxy
Community of the living and the dead
An overview of the clergy
Authority in the church
Vows of celibacy and obedience, Sacrament of Holy Orders
Committment to Holiness
Special privilges
Responsibile for the organisation and managment of the church
Tensions between secualr and ecclesiastical authorities
What are the geographical based demarcations?
Papacy - vicar of Christ, presides over totality of Christianity, normally based in Rome, authority from Peter
Dioceses/Archdioceses - presided over by Bishop or Archbishop. Successors to apostles. Made up of parishes and secular clergy
Structure not tied to geography
“Regular” clergy - follow a rule. Made up of mendicant (begging) (eg Feanciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians) and contemplative orders (Cistercians, Cathusians, Brigittines). conflict between two.
Lay institutions - confraternities. Lay mutual aid organisations, artisnal based or focused on devotion to saint. Good works. Belong to more than one.
What was the concept of time in this period?
Liturgical conception of time
Days broken into 7 for prayer - divine office
Sunday - for God and rest, Saturday Mary, Friday abstinence
Liturgical seasons and feasts
Ordinary Days - saints - Community of dead and living!
At the base is Divine Providence
What were three types of Christian Practices
All underpinned by the belief of sacramentality - living faith.
Required Practices
Common collective practices
Devout practices
What were the minimum required practices for Christians at this time?
Sunday Mass
Sacraments - Confession and Eucharist once a year
Ecclesiastical regulations - fasting, feast days, moral prescriptions
