Church History: Reform, Pilgrimages, and Social Justice

A Praying Church: Reform and the Pilgrim

The Reform of the Monasteries

Benedictine monasteries exerted an important role in both religious and social life and culture. They taught farmers to cultivate land and were the guardians of traditional culture but lost to the abuse of power and, therefore, needed a reform that occurred in the 11th century. Two lights were the main reform:

• The Abbey of Cluny (910): The monks began to restore the great principles of the Rule of St. Benedict to become independent of time and reformed the customs.
• The Cistercian Abbey of Cîteaux: The Cluny monks were falling because of some mistakes committed by their predecessors. After two centuries, Roberto of Molesme tried to return to the primitive rigor of Cluny and founded the Abbey of Cîteaux, or the Cistercian Order (1098).

Mendicant Orders

In the 13th century, the development of cities created a new situation in the church; there arose the mendicant orders. Born from the inspiration of some remarkable men, like Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the mendicant friars lived in small urban communities. They were dedicated to preaching and intellectual work.

Pilgrimages: The Road to Santiago

Culture and religion occupied an important place in religious routes and began to spread across Europe.

• The pilgrimage is an individual or group travel made on religious grounds to a sacred place.
• Santiago's fame spread throughout the West from the 9th century. Fixed routes were established, and the pilgrimage routes were raised.

Abbey: Church or monastery governed by an abbot ("father") or an abbess ("mother").

Monastery: Building where monks or nuns of a religious order live in community.

Convent: House of religious living under the rules of their institute.

A Church in Conflict: The Crusades

The expansion of Islam brought two consequences for the Western Church: trade relations between the Christian kingdoms were cut, and the pilgrims had serious difficulties visiting the Holy Places.

The Schism of the East

The separation between the Church of Rome and the Greek Church became increasingly larger. There were political, cultural, and religious differences. This brought the rift between the two churches, which materialized when Patriarch Michael Cerularius ordered the closure of Latin monasteries that were in the East.

The Schism of the West

Upon the death of Pope Gregory XI, an Italian pope, Urban VI, was elected. The French cardinals, feuding with him, rejected this election and proclaimed Pope Clement VII. Both popes, in Rome and Avignon, excommunicated each other. Christianity split into what has been called the Western Schism (1378).

Jesus and the Poor

Jesus' Attitude Toward the Poor

"Jesus announces the good news to the poor." Jesus says that the spirit of the Lord has anointed him to preach to the poor the good news of the kingdom of God. "Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."

Jesus Identifies with the Poor

He identifies with the poor and unfortunate of this world. "What I did for one of these my brethren, you did for me." Those who cannot make a decent living are the face of Jesus.

Jesus is Close to Those in Need

Jesus is not neutral to needs and injustices. He is always on the side of those who most need it. He hosts the weak, the simple, and so on.

The Radicalism of the Holy Fathers

They drew conclusions from what they read in the Bible. Another condition is imposed: what is left over from the rich belongs to the poor.

The Church Works for the Poor

The mission of the church in the world is to continue the mission of Jesus and proclaim the kingdom of God; to do this in the lives of men. The fight against hunger, poverty, injustice, and social marginalization are priority actions of the Church.