The medieval period closed with the greatest move ment of the entire era, the renaissance. This rebirth of learning had a significant effect upon the church as well as upon knowledge and culture in general. One of the areas touched was that of the original languages of Scripture. Scholars began to read the Bible in the orig inal languages, and as they studied they discovered that some of the things which the church had long held to be truths were not in harmony with the Scriptures. Through such investigation as this the renaissance helped prepare the way for the reformation. There was, however, also a negative reaction of the renaissance upon the church. The new emphasis upon science, natural phenomena, and man, turned man’s attention from eternal matters to those of this life. Man became more interested in himself and his accom plishments than in God and spiritual things. The medieval period was dominated by outstanding men. Two of these were popes: Gregory I and Gregory VII. Having looked briefly at the first, we shall con sider the second. Prior to becoming pope, Gregory VII had been the church’s most outstanding leader for some years. Prior to his elevation to the papacy, he had been the moving force in transferring papal elections from the hands of laymen to those of the cardinals. Yet so renowned was he that he was placed on the papal throne by public acclamation, a tribute to his character and ability. Upon assuming the papacy, Gregory con tinued his attack upon the ancient practice of laymen investing clergymen with ecclesiastical office with the result that he was brought into direct conflict with Em peror Henry IV. When Gregory forbade lay investiture, Henry declared the pope deposed. Gregory responded by excommunicating Henry and his supporting bishops. The emperor recognized that he must be reconciled to the pope or lose his throne. Hence, in the dead of winter he traveled to Canossa in the Apennines where for three days in January, 1077, (dressed in sackcloth,) he stood bareheaded and barefooted in the snow outside the pope’s winter quarters. Gregory would not receive Henry until he was satisfied that the emperor was com pletely humbled. Having received absolution, Henry sought to regain his throne through war. At first Greg ory refused to take sides but finally did so when it appeared that Henry would be defeated. However, much to his consternation, Henry turned the tables and won the war. The emperor then marched upon Rome, and the pope was forced to flee, dying the following year in exile. Gregory, however, did not die in vain, because the successors of the emperor and pope reached a compro mise whereby the crown would renounce the right to invest clergymen with office but would retain the right to be present at the election of bishops and abbots and could cast the deciding vote in disputed papal elections. There were two outstanding medieval monastics, among many, to whom attention should be called. One was Bernard of Clairvaux. He has been described as the most outstanding French preacher of the twelfth cen tury, and also as a saint not only by canon but by com mon consent. His great preaching gifts attracted crowds to the monastery of Clairvaux. He was also well known for his ability to heal disputes and was an able defender of Catholic orthodoxy against heretics. He was instru mental in healing the papal schisms of the twelfth cen tury and later had the dubious honor of launching the second crusade. He is best known today by Protestants as the composer of the beautiful hymn, “ Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.” The second famous monastic of the period was St. Francis of Assisi. Few who knew young Francis woujd have dreamed that he would become one of the church’s
Continued from page 17 the Hermit. His reputation caused a great company of men, women, and children to follow him. This army was undisciplined and inadequately led. Its results were negligible. The.main army, on the other hand, led by three French noblemen, was better disciplined and equipped, and when finally it reached Palestine, was successful in capturing several important places, includ ing Jerusalem. The most tragic of these invasions was the Chil dren’s Crusade. It was born of the idea that where military might had failed, innocence would prevail. Children of all ages volunteered. The movement soon fell under the control of unscrupulous men who appealed to the children’s altruism and innocence. Parents found themselves unable to control their children and prevent their going. In Italy the children were placed aboard old, unseaworthy ships, many of which foundered with a terrible loss of life. Perhaps those who drowned were the fortunate ones, for the survivors were sold into slav ery by the men who had enticed them. The most Christlike example was furnished by St. Francis of Assisi, who attached himself to the fifth crusade for the purpose of witnessing to the Sultan. Francis wanted no part in bloodshed and war, but he used the crusade as a means of reaching his objective. Once in Palestine, he disassociated himself from the Crusade and sought out the Sultan to whom he pre sented the Gospel of salvation. The Sultan did not receive Christ as his Saviour, but he was greatly im pressed by this Christian who was not interested in his head but in his soul. Francis was granted permission to go anywhere in Palestine without fear of arrest or molestation. One can only speculate what the result of the crusades might have been if all the crusaders had possessed the vision and zeal of Francis. Perhaps the most amusing crusade was the sixth under the leadership of Frederick II. He was an expe rienced ruler and military general who had indicated his intention to go on a crusade but who was slow in fulfilling his pledge. However, the pope raised an army and set sail for Palestine. However, shortly after he sailed he returned claiming illness. After the pope had excommunicated him for not going, Frederick sailed again. However, when he reached his destination he did not fight. Instead he made a treaty with the Sultan for posession of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth with a route to the coast. Frederick accomplished what others had failed to do, but it might be added the pope was displeased with his peaceful conquest and safe return. Not all the crusades were directed against Islam, however. They were launched also against schismatics from Rome. Notable among these were the Waldensians. Their founder, Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant, came under conviction as he read the Saviour’s words to the rich young man: “ If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me” (Matt. 19:21). As soon as he had disposed of his possessions and made provision for his family, he went about the countryside preaching the Gospel. The people heard him and his followers gladly because their message was in the vernacular. Alarmed by the Waldensians’ growth and aroused to action by the murder of a papal legate by another schismatic group, the Roman church launched a crusade against the Waldensians. The move ment was almost destroyed, but the survivors fled to the Alps where they found asylum to continue their teach ings and way of life to the present. They have some times been referred to as “ Protestants before the Ref ormation.”
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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