The Catholic Church Flashcards
Why was the church important?
Political, spiritual,employment and maintains social control
Powerful entity with sig political influence and wealth= indispensable ally of the gov
How much land did the cc own?
One third of
How much did poor parish priests earn in a yr?
15 pounds
How many ordained clergy and monks n nuns were there?
1] 35000
2] 10000
What was the impact of the church having its own legal system?
People and local communities adhered to church law in matters of marriage, inheritance and morality
Clergy mediated disputes = helping to maintain law n order
Who was the head of the church?
Supreme authority over all spiritual matters= pope in Rome
Had ultimate control in shaping the political landscape through religious authority
List 2 powerful churchmen?
John Morton [ ab of Canterbury] and Richard fox[ bishop in several diocese]
What percentage of adult males by 1500 were monks?
1 percent
How many religious communities were in England and what was the oldest one?
900
Benedictines
All religiously zealous
Why were the clergy influential in local communities?
Sole interpreter of scripture for illiterate parishioners.
Bible written in Latin was limited to priests , interpreted what is said for the benefit of their parishioners.
What were the roles of monks, nuns,and friars[ worked in community]?
Roles in education, healthcare and charity
Monasteries were centre of local , welfare , education and charity and supporting the sick
What did vivid religious imagery help people?
Helped people to navigate life and death, often providing solace in a harsh disease prone world.
Illiterate peasants could understand
What did people pay to reduce their time in purgatory?
Indulgences
What were guilds and confraternities?
Groups of people who would collectively cover the costs of funerals,objects in the parish church,to make charitable donations .
Some ran schools and almshouses.
What social roles and events demonstrated the importance of religion?
Going on pilgrimage such as visiting the tomb of a saint such as Thomas becket in Canterbury.
Rogation Sunday= whole community would walk around parish boundaries to pray for its protection
This event emphasised the importance of the parish as the key focus of local communities in the lives of ordinary people at the time
