Power of the

Catholic Church
 10/27/23

What You Need: Agenda:

● Chromebook *open* ● Power of the Catholic
Church P/D

Homework:
● Finish and submit P/D
 1
History Wordle
 Getting Started

Learning Objective Guiding Question

Analyze how the Catholic How powerful was the
Church influenced life in Catholic Church in Medieval
Medieval Europe. Europe?
What is the most important building in your neighborhood
or community? Explain why it is important.
 The Roman Catholic
Church
The most important building in
01 a medieval European town
was the church.

This reflects the im_________ of

02 the church in people’s da___
lives during the Middle Ag_____.
Fill in the blanks - GUESS with your group!
1. Put the yellow circle on the secular ruler (non religious ruler)
2. Put the green circle on the religious ruler

King Pope
1. Put the yellow circle on the secular building (non religious building)
2. Put the green circle on the religious building

Church School
Religious vs. Secular
1. List example(s) of someone
or something that is
religious.

2. List example(s) of someone

or something that is
secular.
After Charlemagne was crowned emperor by the Pope, a
conflict in who had the power began to arise!

Pope crowned King Charlemagne as an

Emperor (wanted more legitimacy)
Pope has power to crown emperors

in exchange, Charlemagne protected the Pope

Pope is under the influence of
Charlemagne
Canon law set out the rules that Catholics needed to follow and included topics like religious
teachings accepted by the church, crimes, the role of the clergy, and marriage.
Depending on the situation, breaking canon law could result in excommunication, the limiting or
ending of a person’s membership in the Catholic Church. Those who were excommunicated could
not receive the sacraments [sacred ceremonies of the church] or a Christian burial, which many
believed could condemn them to hell for eternity.
Popes and other clergy members in the Church used excommunication to punish those who opposed
them. If the Church wanted to send a message to a noble or king who disagreed with them or spoke
out against them he could impose an interdict, an order that excluded a whole region from receiving
holy sacraments in the Catholic Church. In some cases, this led to revolts from the people who feared
their souls were in danger which might lead to the Church getting what they wanted. A powerful
noble who opposed the Church might face an interdict, but even the strongest ruler usually gave in
rather than have to deal with revolts by the common people.

Highlight in blue WHY medieval Catholics feared excommunication.

Highlight in yellow how the church would send a message to nobles or kings who disagreed with them
Excerpts from Dictatus Papae:
12. That it may be permitted to him [pope] to depose [remove
from power] emperors.
14. That he has power to ordain [make someone a priest] a clerk of
any church he may wish.
17. That no chapter and no book shall be considered canonical
[included in a list of sacred books] without his authority.
18. That a sentence passed by him may be retracted by no one; and
that he himself, alone of all, may retract it.
19. That he himself may be judged by no one.

Which of the commands above do you

think made the Pope the MOST
powerful? Explain!
 The Church and Society
The most important institution
in the lives of most medieval
people was the Roman
Catholic Church.
Daily life revolved around the
local church or monastery.
Priests were in charge of the
local church.
Priest recorded births,
performed weddings and
conducted burials.
On Sundays and holy days,
most medieval Europeans
gathered to attend Mass (the
Catholic worship service).
These Christians also took part
in church rituals called
sacraments.
 Sacraments 101

There are 7 Eucharist

Rituals/practices in Consuming bread and
the Catholic Church wine; the body and
blood of Christ.

Baptism Marriage
A covenant
Being “regenerated”
(agreement) for
in the Word of God
lifelong partnership
through water.
 Vocab Check - MATCHING 1
Lives in Rome and rules over the
Mass entire Roman Catholic Church
worldwide.
A religious leader authorized to
Sacraments perform the sacred rituals of a
religion.

Pope Ceremonial practices/rituals that

help to connect people to God (it
helps them practice their religion).
Priest A religious institution created for men
who live in isolation from society in
order to follow religious teachings.
Monastery
The name of the Catholic worship
service
Are Christianity and Catholicism the same thing?
● The most important sacrament
was Holy Communion during
mass.
● People received bread and wine
to remind them of the death of
Jesus.
● Only the clergy could give people
the sacraments.
● Saints also played an important
role in the lives of medieval
Christians.
● People prayed to the saints to
ask for God’s favor.
 The Contributions of Monks and Nuns
● Monks lived in monasteries.
● Monasteries served as schools
and hospitals.
● Many monks copied Christian
writings as well as Roman
and Greek works.
● These manuscripts were
called illuminations, which
were decorated with beautiful
lettering and pictures.
● Nuns lived in their own
monasteries named
“convents”.
● Many women entered
convents between 1000
and 1200.
● Educated women in
Medieval Europe were
usually nuns.
19
 As you watch this video answer the questions below
1. What does a “habit” refer to for monks? 2. What do monks sacrifice when they go to an
a. routines abbey/monastery?
b. rituals a. fruits and lamb
c. traditional clothing b. the world, riches, possessions, and family
c. their wives and paying jobs

3. Why do monks refrain from speaking, eating, 4. What are three vows under St. Benedict's
or indulging in worldly activities throughout their rule that the monks follow?
days?
a. fasting, gossipping, and working
a. to concentrate instead on glorifying God b. silence, working for pay, and fasting
b. to keep the peace in the abbey/monastery c. poverty, silence, and fasting
c. to not make friends with other monks
What do you think these are pictures of?

CREDITS: This presentation template was

created by Slidesgo, including icons by Flaticon,
infographics & images by Freepik
 Vocab Check - MATCHING 2
Monks Men who leave society in order to
devote their lives fully to religious life.

Nuns The Eucharist; eating bread and wine

as the body and blood of Christ.

Illuminations Women who leave society in order to

devote their lives fully to religious life.

Holy Communion A religious institution created for women

who live in isolation from society in order
to follow religious teachings.
Convent
Decorated manuscripts of great
works copied by monks.
All of the following were
contributions of Monks
and Nuns EXCEPT:
 Short Response
Claim: Monks helped preserve
01 knowledge of the classical
and ancient Christian works.

What evidence in the painting supports

the claim above? Explain in your own
words.
Catholic Church
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