What was clergy in the middle ages

A priest authorized to hear confessions. As Christianity emerged as the dominant religion in Europe, persecutions became rare, and the title was given to saints who lived a holy life and died in peace. Perhaps the most well known example is the English king St. Edward the Confessor. Medieval Scribe at Work. Medieval Scribes were important people in medieval times as they copied books by hand so that there were additional religious books in circulation as there were no printing presses in Medieval Times.

They were considered to be servants of God and were people from Irish and Scottish origins who preserved old Gaelic customs and Traditions. So as you can see there was a vast network of people within the Medieval Clergy and there is no getting away from the fact that medieval clergy prayed upon the ignorance of the common man and manipulated them to some degree. Medieval Clergy were also a positive thing for many people in the Middle Ages as they were able to guide people and help them during difficult times.

Medieval Clergy were also needed as record keepers as they were the only people that could speak Latin which was the official language in medieval times, these records could be handed down through the ages to help and guide future generations. Copyright - - - Medieval Chronicles. Medieval Clergy The Pope was thought of as Gods representative on Earth and was the head of the Medieval Clergy, in the eyes of the majority of People in Medieval times the Pope was above the King, with one using religion and the other politics in their struggle for overall power over the population.

Medieval Bishop. They also believed that it was very important to preserve this division and to remain in the social class where you were born in order to maintain the general equilibrium. The Catholic Church decreed that all Acting performances would henceforth, banned. This was due to the extremity of the Roman Theatre , as the Romans decreed that their Comedies, Circuses, Horse Races, and of course, Gladitorial Combat that would take place in the Roman Ampitheatres.

The Catholic Church became very rich and powerful during the Middle Ages. Because the church was considered independent, they did not have to pay the king any tax for their land. Leaders of the church became rich and powerful. Church and community cohesion Christians believe that it is part of their duty to act in a moral way. This involves helping others around them. The Church can play a vital role in assisting Christians to help others by providing: food banks — places where people living in poverty can go and collect some food.

During the high Middle Ages , the Roman Catholic Church became organized into an elaborate hierarchy with the pope as the head in western Europe. He establish supreme power. Many innovations took place in the creative arts during the high Middle Ages. Literacy was no longer merely requirement among the clergy. The popes in Rome claimed papal supremacy, while the leaders in the East rejected the claim. This led to western popes and eastern patriarchs excommunicating each other.

The priests in the middle ages were exempted from paying taxes because their work was considered noble. They provided care for the members of the community and conducted Mass in the parishes. Other roles that the priest played include offering spiritual guidance and absolving the sins of his parishioners. They also generally worked to support themselves in the monastery by gardening and land management. They also sometimes educated the sons of the nobles. Nuns were very devout and served the people.

They sometimes were taught to read and write, but they were not as scholarly as monks. They sometimes did work on manuscripts. Other less-educated nuns did harder work. Many families placed their daughters in convents and the convent was given a dowry for taking them. Older women who became widows were also sent to convents. This was often done so that the woman would have a secure life. Religious Festivals The life of the people revolved around the seasons.

Planting, harvesting, etc. Each month there was some type of religious festival. For example, they celebrated St. Once the Pope was elected he would serve as a pope until the day he dies. The medieval pope was also a legislator. He would make laws that only he could annul and dispense unless his decision was appealed and successfully pass. The Pope in the Middle Ages had the power to appoint clergy men. The medieval popes would rule over disputes and had the power to annul marriages.

The bishops were appointed by the Pope, but before the papacy was established the secular leaders were the ones who would appoint the bishop and also the Archbishop. The bishop would perform duties like any other clergy priest. They would perform wedding ceremonies, gave last rights, settled disputes in their districts, heard confessions and would give absolution.

In the Middle Ages the bishops were claimed to be the successors of the apostles and so they would step in and assume the vacancy the leaders left behind in the unstable areas. This happened in Rome when St. Peter a clergy in the Middle Ages assumed the vacancy of the throne and later on got the title papa or pope.

Clergy of the Middle Ages, in this case the bishops were wealthy. They lived and dressed lavishly just like the lords. The clergy bishops in the Middle Ages involved themselves in politics and courts to help deliberate judgments. Clergy in the Middle Ages included priest. Priests often came from humble homes.