final Flashcards
St. Jerome - Vulgate
The version of the bible translated from Hebrew and Greek into Latin
St. Athanasius - Arianism - Council of Nicaea
He fiercely opposed Arianism, which contested Christ’s divinity. At the Council of Nicaea, he played a crucial role in forming the Nicene Creed, which affirmed Christ’s full divinity.
St. Athanasius is celebrated for his defense of Trinitarianism against Arian opposition, shaping orthodox Christian theology.
St. Augustine
Original Sin: Posited that sin is inherited from Adam, impacting all humanity.
Divine Grace: Stressed that only God’s grace, not human action, can achieve salvation.
“Confessions”: First autobiography in Western literature, exploring inner spirituality.
“City of God”: Distinguished between earthly and heavenly realms, influencing political theory.
Just War Theory: Established ethical guidelines for when engaging in war is justified.
Influence on Thought: Bridged Christian teachings with Neoplatonic philosophy, shaping Western thought.
Monasticism and Education: Advocated for monastic life and advanced Christian educational methods.
St. Anthony of Egypt - monasticism
Father of Monasticism: Established the first known Christian monastery, setting a foundational model for monastic life.
Hermitic Life: Advocated for a solitary life in the desert to achieve spiritual purity and closeness to God.
Ascetic Practices: Emphasized rigorous self-discipline and denial of physical pleasures to enhance spiritual growth.
Spiritual Influence: His life and works inspired numerous followers, leading to the spread of monastic communities throughout Egypt and beyond.
Legacy: His approach to monasticism shaped Christian spirituality and influenced both Eastern and Western Christian traditions.
St. Benedict - Benedictine Rule
recognized for their role in monasticism
Created the first self-sufficient monastery
Different rules and people make it universal for everyone
Benedictine rule (all monasteries follow it)
Pope Leo III - Charlemagne
Coronation of Charlemagne: Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, enhancing his legitimacy as emperor.
Mutual Support: Their alliance combined papal spiritual authority with Charlemagne’s secular power.
Symbolic Fusion: The coronation symbolized the integration of Roman, Christian, and Germanic elements, shaping medieval European identity.
Pope Gregory - church reforms
Liturgical Reform: Standardized the Roman liturgy throughout the Western Church, which later became known as the Gregorian chant.
Establishment of Canon Law: Systematized church laws and administrative practices, enhancing Church governance.
Calendar Reform: Introduced the Gregorian calendar, which corrected discrepancies in the Julian calendar and is still in use today.
Strengthened Papal Authority: Asserted the pope’s supreme authority over the Church, emphasizing the role of the papacy in spiritual and temporal matters.
Expansion of Missionary Work: Sponsored missions to convert Northern Europe, including sending St. Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxons in England.
St. Thomas Aquinas - scholasticism/books written
called for spiritual reform
fought Albigensian heresy
called for crusade
His approach to reason and faith influenced Western thought by showing how philosophical principles could be integrated into Christian doctrine.
St. Francis/St. Clare - mendicant orders
started Franciscan order
gave up possessions to become poor and help the poor
god told him to build his church
St. Catherine of Siena - Western Schism
Spiritual Writings: Authored the “Dialogues,” profound mystical texts influencing Christian theology.
Papal Return to Rome: Persuaded Pope Gregory XI to move the papacy back to Rome from Avignon.
Peacemaker: Actively mediated during the Western Schism and worked to heal divisions within the Church.
Council of Nicaea - Arianism - Nicene Creed
Council of Nicaea: Convened to resolve the theological disputes raised by Arianism.
Arianism: Challenged the divinity of Jesus, leading to significant theological debate.
Nicene Creed: Developed at the council to affirm Jesus’ divinity and establish the doctrine of the Trinity, directly countering Arian beliefs.
Fall of Rome - Events leading to it - Church response
Economic and Military Strains: Economic decline and military overreach weakened Rome’s ability to sustain its empire and defend against external threats.
Barbarian Invasions and Political Corruption: These invasions exploited Rome’s vulnerabilities, exacerbated by internal political corruption and instability.
Church’s Role: As Rome’s political and social structures faltered, the Church emerged as a stabilizing force, helping to bridge the transition from Roman to barbarian rule while preserving and transforming Roman cultural and religious practices through the spread of Christianity.
Muslim conquest - Muslim religion
Muslim Conquests: Rapid expansion of Islamic rule across multiple regions.
Spread of Islam: Conquests facilitated widespread adoption of Islam.
Religious Motivation: Driven by the goal to spread Islamic teachings.
Eastern Schism - what led to it?
Theological Disputes: Differences over key doctrines like the Filioque clause.
Ecclesiastical Differences: Diverging practices and views on church authority.
Cultural and Political Factors: Linguistic and political divides between East and West.
Mutual Excommunications: Formalized the split between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Western Schism - what led to it?
The council elected two popes, but they were making people lose faith in the Catholic Church. Sent to Avignon
The council then elected another pope
Heresy of Donatism
MADE PEOPLE LOSE FAITH IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
