1. The Power of the Church
Chapter 13, Section 4

2. Far-Reaching Authority of the Church
The Structure of the Church
Power within the Church is organized by status; the pope is the supreme authority
Clergy--religious officials—includes bishops, priests, and others
Bishops supervise priests and settle Church disputes

3. Church Structure
CLERGY
Pope
Bishops
Priests

4. Rise of Religious Importance
Feudalism and the Manor System created division among people.
Political turmoil and warfare
Church teachings bonded people together.
Church provided a sense of security that gave people a sense of belonging.
Middle Ages was also known as the Age of Faith.
Religion took center stage.

5. Far-Reaching Authority of the Church
Religion as a Unifying Force
Religion is important in the Middle Ages; shared beliefs bond people
Clergy administers the sacraments—rites to achieve salvation
Village church is a place of worship and celebration

6. Sacraments – important religious ceremonies (rites) in the Church.
The Sacraments were meant to follow a person’s life from beginning to end.
Baptism – initiation rite into the Christian community.
Confirmation – people of their own will acknowledge
their belief.
Holy Communion - a meal of bread and wine that
(Eucharist) Christians share in remembrance
of Jesus’ last meal.
Marriage – ceremony blessing the union of a couple
Ordination – ceremony to initiate new priests into the
priesthood
Penance / Confession – repenting of sins;
(Reconciliation) asking of forgiveness
Last Rites – prayer service priest provides the dying
or over the dead.

7. Sacraments in Western Christianity
Roman Catholic
Protestant
Baptism
Confirmation
Holy Communion
Reconciliation (confession)
Anointing of the Sick
Matrimony
Holy Orders
The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)

8. Far-Reaching Authority of the Church
The Law of the Church
The Church has a system of justice to guide people’s conduct
All medieval Christians expected to obey canon law—Church law
Canon law governs marriages and religious practices
Popes have power over political leaders through threat of:
Excommunication—banishment from Church, denial of salvation
Interdiction—king’s subjects denied sacraments and services
Kings and emperors were expected to obey pope’s commands.

9. CH 13 Sec. 4, “Church Justice”
canon law – the laws of the Church.
Church courts tried people
for breaking canon law / heresy.
Two types of punishment:
Of an individual = Excommunication
Of a community / region = Interdict
Popes often used the “threat”
of these two types of punishment
to force kings into obedience.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

10. The Church and the Holy Roman Empire
Otto I Allies with the Church
Otto I (Otto the Great) is crowned king of Germany in 936
Limits strength of nobles with help of clergy
Gains support of bishops and abbots (heads of monasteries)
Invades Italy on pope’s behalf; pope crowns him emperor in 962

11. The Church and the Holy Roman Empire
Signs of Future Conflicts
Otto’s German-Italian lands become Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire is the strongest European power until about 1100

12. The Emperor Clashes with the Pope
Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII bans lay investiture—kings appointing Church officials
Henry IV orders pope to resign; Gregory VII excommunicates Henry

13. Showdown at Canossa
Henry goes to Canossa, Italy, to beg Gregory forgiveness (see primary source)
Gregory forgives Henry, buy lay investiture problem is not solved

14. CH 13 Sec. 4, “H.R.E. Clashes with the Pope
One of the things Popes began to resent most was kings who
exercised power over clergy and their church offices.
The main focus of this resentment was the practice known as
Lay investiture – a ceremony in which kings appointed
church officials within their own kingdom.
Remember:
Kings are considered “Lay” –
they are not ordained “Clergy”
CAUSES ACTIONS OUTCOMES
Pope Gregory VII resents the power that emperors have over the church clergy.
2. Pope Gregory bans
lay investiture
H.R.E. Henry IV calls a meeting of bishops in the H.R.E. and orders Pope Gregory to step down from the papacy.
The Showdown at Canossa
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

15. The Emperor Clashes with the Pope
Concordat of Worms
Concordat of Worms is 1122 compromise win Worms, Germany
Compromise: pope appoints bishops, emperor can veto appointment

16. CH 13 Sec. 4, “H.R.E. Clashes with the Pope”
CAUSES ACTIONS OUTCOMES
Pope Gregory excommunicates
H.R.E. Henry IV;
German bishops & princes side with the pope (fearing an interdict);
Henry must seek the Pope’s forgiveness.
3. Henry IV travels
to Canossa.
Henry is forgiven by the pope, returns home,
and then punishes his German nobles for siding with the pope.
The Concordat of Worms is signed in 1122.
The issue of lay investiture would remain undecided for another century.
4. Representatives of Church and the emperor meet in Worms.
Compromise is reached:
Only the pope could now promote priests to be bishops in any kingdom; but the emperor would be given veto power over any selection he didn’t like.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

17. This is an illustration of the concept of “lay investiture.”
In this picture a king from the Middle Ages is handing a bishop his “shepherd’s crook” a symbol of the office of bishop.
The Catholic Church insisted that bishops were chosen by the Pope, not by kings.

18. Disorder in the Empire The Reign of Frederick I
In 1152, Frederick I becomes king; dominates German princes
Disorder breaks out whenever he leaves Germany
Frederick invades Italy, meets defeat at Legnano in 1176
Empire collapses after Frederick’s death in 1190

19. Disorder in the Empire German State’s Remain Separate
German kings after Frederick try to revive empire
German princes, who elect kings, prefer to keep them weak

20. Primary Source
“There, having laid aside all the belongings of royalty, wretchedly, with bare feet and clad in wool, he [Henry IV] continued for three days to stand before the gate of the castle. Nor did he desist from imploring with many tears the aid and consolation of the apostolic mercy until he had moved all of those who were present there.”
POPE GREGORY, in Basic Documents in Medieval History