Medieval Faith and Conflict: Schism, Monasticism, and Reform

Foundations of Medieval Religious Life

The Ritual of Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage is a ritual that involves a trip to a holy place, undertaken to give thanks, apologize for one's faith, or seek spiritual fulfillment. For believers, this journey is a fundamental religious rite manifested across many religions.

Origins: The origins of pilgrimage stem from the necessity to search for the roots of faith and the desire to be coherent and committed to the Gospel. This includes the charge of Jesus Christ to convert, exemplified by the conversion of Ignatius in Vlora.

The Institutional Church (11th–13th Centuries)

This period was marked by the concepts of PEACE AND WORK OF GOD within the institutional church during the eleventh through thirteenth centuries.

Key Religious and Philosophical Movements

• The Cathars

  The Cathars were a Christian religion that spread from the eleventh century in Southern France, leading to a sectarian movement. They defended Christian dualism and advocated for poverty.

• Scholasticism

  Scholasticism was a philosophical and theological movement based on researching the agreement between the arguments of revelation (faith) and the arguments of reason.

• Theocentricism

  Theocentricism is a stream of thought according to which God was the center and the reason for all that existed.

Monastic Life in the Middle Ages

Monastic life significantly marked the Middle Ages:

• Cluny (Benedictine Reform): Distinguished itself pedagogically and culturally through monastic schools and the work of copyist monks.

The appearance of new orders included:

• Cistercian Order: Sought a return to simplicity, a life of poverty, and manual labor.
• Monastery (Reforming Principles): Founded following principles and renovators looking for evangelical poverty.

Major Conflicts and Divisions

The East-West Schism (1054)

The Schism of 1054 implied a division among Christians:

• Christians of the West (Catholic): Recognized the Pope as the visible head.
• Christians of the East (Orthodox): Followed a more collegial direction.

Consequences of the Schism

There was a cultural gap represented by the differences between Latin (West) and Greek (East). Liturgical celebrations were also different.

Key differences in ecclesiastical structure and discipline:

• In the West, the Pope was attributed the power of intervention in the universal church.
• In the East, there was a shift towards a collegial direction involving the episcopate.
• In the West, the discipline of celibacy was demanded for all priests, contrasting with the previous practice where it was often only required for bishops and monks.

The Investiture Controversy

Investiture consisted of the grant or donation of a church to a cleric, or the appointment of bishops and abbots. Kings and nobles were deeply interested in this process.

The problem arose because this practice allowed secular rulers to appoint church officials, granting them significant power over the Church. This conflict was ultimately resolved with the signing of the Concordat of Worms.

The Benedictine Order

The Benedictine Order was founded in 597 by St. Benedict at Monte Cassino. Its guiding principle is Ora et Labora (Prayer and Work). Key subsequent movements and reforms stemming from this tradition include Cluny and the Cistercians.