History of the Catholic Church
Part I: Jesus and the Apostles
Section A: From the Birth of Jesus to Pentecost.
Part I: Jesus and the Apostles
Section B: The Apostolic Age.
Part II : Fathers, Church timeline, monasteries
Section A: Fathers of the Church
Part II : Fathers, Church timeline, monasteries
Section B: Councils of the Church and important Popes and events
Includes all important events, and all Ecumenical Councils excluding events in Parts 2/C, 3, 4 and 5
Only Popes which have had great impact for better or worse on the Church are mentioned, Pope Benedict XVI is the 266th Pope
Part II: Fathers, Early Church, monasteries
Section C: History of the Orders and monasteries.
Part III:
The Crusades
Part IV: Protestants
Section A: Church problems begin
Part IV: Protestants
Section B: Luther and Protestant Revolt
Part IV: Protestants
Section C: The Church of England
Part V: Modern Era
Section A: Catholic Reformation
Part V:
Section B: Doctors of the Church |
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Part I: Jesus and the Apostles
Section A: From the Birth of Jesus to Pentecost. |
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Introduction
Catholicism has shaped the world; after the Incarnation some of the most important events had to do with the Catholic establishment. The Holy Catholic Church is the only organisation to survive every era including the Roman era, World War I & II and Communism and it will certainly survive the era we are in today in accordance to the promise of Our Lord that the Church founded on rock will survive to the end of time. Many of our problems we face in our world are caused by the rejection of the Church and its teachings.
The Incarnation
The greatest event in history and at the beginning of everything is the Incarnation of the Son of God; where God became man.
“The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men may become the sons of God.” St Augustine
The dividing point in the dating system all historians use is the Incarnation, were B.C (before Christ) refers to all the events before the Incarnation and A.D (Anno Domini –Year of the Lord) referring to events after the Incarnation.
The Life of Christ
The primary source of our information of Christ is the Gospels these documents are reliable because they are in accordance to the traditions and events of time and they are based on eyewitness accounts, the authors had nothing to gain except martyrdom, and they do not contradict any testimony made at that time. Throughout Christ’s public life Christ forgave sins, gave and changed laws and judged; these three things Jews believed to be the power and authority belonging to God alone, and even more so He claimed to be the Son of God, He did this on several occasions. He also performed miracles; more clear evidence presented by Christ that He is God. Examples of miracles Christ performed was the cure of a blind man from birth, cure of a withered hand, cure of the son of the official in Caphamaum, the miracle of the fish and loaves and more incredibly the raising of the dead of Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus, and the son of the widow of Naim.
The death and Resurrection of Christ
After the condemnation, the scourging, the crowning with thorns, carrying the Cross, and the Crucifixion Christ was buried in a borrowed tomb hastily. After 3 days Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Salome came to complete the embalming in accordance to tradition only to find Christ was not there and the large rock at the entrance of the tomb rolled away. Jesus had risen, truly risen! Christ had opened the gates of Heaven and returned in accordance to scriptures and to complete His Father’s will.
The Ascension of Christ, Pentecost
After 40 days He ascended into Heaven and as He promised nine days later in form of tongues of fire the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin in the Upper Room. This day is known as Pentecost Sunday and is celebrated as the birthday of the Church because at this moment these 12 men (the faithful apostles and St Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot) transformed from fearful and confused men to strong, courageous zealous missionaries. On this day due to the sound a crowd attracted and 3000 were converted.
Part I: Jesus and the Apostles
Section B: The Apostolic Age. |
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The leader of the Apostles was Peter which means rock, because Christ intended Peter to be a foundation stone on which the Church will be built. St Peter was the Church’s first Pope.
| Christ said: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. [Matthew 16: 18-19] |
The death of Stephan and conversion of St Paul
The Apostles began to teach first to the Jews, and during a small interval between Pilate’s removal and the appointment of a new procurator the Pharisees launched a persecution of these Christians, St Stephan whose name means ‘crown’ was the first to receive the crown of martyrdom by being stoned to death. Present at his martyrdom was a brilliant man named Saul, he was a great Jew and believed Christians were evil blasphemers. On the way to Damascus to persecute some Christians settling there; Saul was blinded by the light of God and a voice came from the Heavens “Saul, why do you persecute Me” Saul said “Who are you?” and in reply “I am Jesus of Nazareth.” And he realised the Jesus was the redeemer of the world and not the enemy. Saul changed his name to Paul with accordance to God’s Will he preached to the non-Jews.
The dispersion of the Apostles
The second persecution was led by King Herod Agrippa, during this Peter was imprisoned and miraculously escaped with the help on an angel. And he ordered the Apostles to disperse and carry the Gospel to all men. In 42AD St James the Great was beheaded, the first apostle to suffer martyrdom for the faith. James the Less remained in Jerusalem as Bishop there, Peter went to Rome; the leading city of the world were decisions here affected the world, a place of leadership it is here in Rome that the headquarters of the Church was located. John went with the Blessed Mother to Ephesus and Asia Minor; Andrew went to the Ukraine and Greece, Bartholomew went to South Arabia and perhaps India. Matthew went to Egypt and continued to Ethiopia, Phillip to Asia Minor, Simon to Iran, Jude to Mesopotamia, and Thomas to India, and the journey of Matthias is unknown. Truly they carried the Gospel to the ends of the world as Christ said.
Sts Peter and Paul
In the year 45 AD, St Paul begins his missionary journey carrying the Gospel to the Gentiles. He roughly made three journeys one to the Middle East, to Greece and one to Asia Minor. Everywhere he went he founded Christian communities and later sent letters to continue their instruction in Christian doctrine and to solve any problems. Peter in 49AD was banished with all Jews and Christians from Rome due to uprising of the one they called “Chrestus” [Christ.] So Peter and all the other apostles returned to Jerusalem in 50AD, and conducted the first General Council, also in this year Our Blessed Mother died and was assumed into Heaven; Peter returned to Rome by 54AD. Paul was arrested by the Romans for his presence in Jerusalem had caused controversy, he had the right to be trialled in Rome and he was brought there in 60AD, on the way he was shipwrecked and was stranded on the island of Malta he converted the Roman governor and established a community there. Paul was released and continued his missionary work, perhaps going as far as Spain. Around 54AD Emperor Claudius had been killed and was succeeded by Nero, a proud, insane, brutal dictator. He murdered his mother and wife Octavia, and cheated so that everything went his way, he also erected a 120ft statue of himself. In 64AD he burnt down half of the city of Rome, so that he may build it again in his name. Roman citizens, half of which were now homeless blamed Nero who blamed it on the Christians saying they wanted to end the world as it would end by fire and wanted Rome to convert. He massacred a large number of Christians for their faith and sent his soldiers to seek out any leaders. Peter was arrested in 67AD and condemned to die by crucifixion, and was killed upside down on request that he was unworthy to die like Christ. Paul was arrested the same time as Peter and was beheaded the same year as Peter. St Peter was succeeded by St Linus ordained by Peter and served until 76AD.
Part II : Fathers, Church timeline, monasteries
Section A: Fathers of the Church |
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The first teachers of Christianity seem to be collectively spoken of as "the Father.” Thus St. Irenaeus defines that a teacher is a father, and a disciple is a son. A father is a recipient of tradition of his predecessors in the See and witness and representative of the faith of his Church before the world. The word Father is used in the New Testament to mean a teacher of spiritual things, by whose means the soul of man is born again into the likeness of Christ:
"For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 4:15, 16; cf. Galatians 4:19).
An Appendix of Church Fathers:
Greek
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Latin |
St. Anastasius Sinaita (+700)
St. Andrew of Crete (+740)
Aphraates (+4th Century)
St. Archelaus (+282)
St. Athanasius (+373)
Athenagoras (+2nd Century)
St. Basil the Great (+379)
St. Caesarius of Nazianzus (+369)
St. Clement of Alexandria (+215)
Pope St. Clement I of Rome (+97)
St. Cyril of Alexandria (+444)
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (+386)
Didymus the Blind (+C. 398)
Diodore of Tarsus (+392)
St. Dionysius the Great (+C. 264)
St. Epiphanius (+403)
Eusebius of Caesarea (+340)
St. Eustathius of Antioch (+4th Cent.)
St. Firmillian (+268)
Gennadius I of Constantinople (+5th Cent.)
St. Germanus (+732)
St. Gregory of Nazianzus (+390)
St. Gregory of Nyssa (+395)
St. Gregory Thaumaturgus (+268)
Hermas (+2nd Century)
St. Hippolytus (+236)
St. Ignatius of Antioch (+C. 110)
St. Isidore of Pelusium (+C. 450)
St. John Chrysostom (+407)
St. John Climacus (+649)
St. John Damascene (+749)
Pope St. Julius I (+352)
St. Justin Martyr (+165)
St. Leontius of Byzantium (+6th Cent.)
St. Macarius (+C. 390)
St. Maximus the Confessor (+662)
St. Melito of Sardes (+C. 180)
St. Methodius of Olympus (+311)
St. Nilus the Elder (+C. 430)
St. Polycarp (+C. 155)
Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite (+6th Cent.)
St. Serapion (+C. 370)
St. Sophronius (+638)
Tatian the Syrian (+2nd Century)
Theodore of Mopsuestia (+428)
Theodoret of Cyrrhus (+C. 458)
St. Theophilus of Antioch (+2nd Cent.)
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St. Ambrose of Milan (+397)
Arnobius (+330)
St. Augustine of Hippo (+430)
St. Benedict of Nursia (+550)
St. Caesarius of Arles (+542)
St. John Cassian (+435)
Pope St. Celestine I (+432)
Pope St. Cornelius (+253)
St. Cyprian of Carthage (+258)
Pope St. Damasus I (+384)
Pope St. Dionysius (+268)
St. Ennodius (+521)
St. Eucherius of Lyons (+450)
St. Fulgentius (+533)
St. Gregory of Elvira (+C. 392)
Pope St.Gregory the Great (+604)
St. Hilary of Poitiers (+367)
Pope St. Innocent I (+417)
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (+C. 202)
St. Isidore of Seville (+636)
St. Jerome (+420)
Lactantius (+323)
Pope St. Leo the Great (+461)
Marius Mercator (+451)
Marius Victorinus (+4th Cent.)
Minucius Felix (+2nd Century)
Novatian (+257)
St. Optatus (+4th Century)
St. Pacian (+390)
St. Pamphilus (+309)
St. Paulinus of Nola (+431)
St. Peter Chrysologus (+450)
St.Phoebadius Agen(+4th Cent)
St. Rufinus of Aquileia (+410)
Salvian (+5th Century)
Pope St. Siricius (+399)
Tertullian (+ 222)
St. Vincent of Lerins (+C. 450)
Origen (+ 254)
St. Proclus (+C. 446)
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Fathers of the Church wrote letters, books and writing in defence of the Church, to protect the Church and defend it against heresies. They often sent warnings or advice about particular heresies or groups. These Fathers lived extraordinary lives of faith many of which proved this by dying as a martyr. In your spare time it will be a great idea to research these Fathers and find out their awesome involvement and contribution to Church Doctrine. Through tradition and history, Councils and decree’s Church Fathers are recognised today as the figures of the Early Church, who shaped Catholicism today.
Part II : Fathers, Church timeline, monasteries
Section B: Councils of the Church and important Popes and events
Includes all important events, and all Ecumenical Councils excluding events in Parts 2/C, 3, 4 and 5
Only Popes which have had great impact for better or worse on the Church are mentioned, Pope Benedict XVI is the 266th Pope |
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Councils are legally convened assemblies of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theological experts for the purpose of discussing and regulating matters of church doctrine and discipline. The most important Councils are Ecumenical Councils which are those to which the bishops, and others entitled to vote, are convoked from the whole world under the presidency of the pope or his legates, and the decrees of which, having received papal confirmation, bind all Christians. Other Councils include those were only Bishops of either East of West meet, known as general Councils; others include those of a nation, province or diocese.
| 50 AD- |
First general Council where the Apostles decided that the Mosaic law could not be a requirement for the membership of Gentiles. |
| - 50 AD- |
Our Lady is assumed into Heaven |
| - 67 AD- |
Sts Peter and Paul and martyred |
| - 67AD- |
St Linus succeeds St Peter as the 2 nd reigning Pope |
| - 88AD- |
St Clement I of Rome becomes the 4 th reigning Pope of the Church |
| - 195AD- |
Council of Caesarea to settle a time for celebrating Easter. |
| - 217AD- |
St Callistus I is consecrated the 16 th Pope of the Church |
| - 312AD- |
Emperor Constantine son of St Helena, who located the True Cross, converts to Christianity. |
| - 325AD- |
The first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, it put together the Nicaean Creed (most popular Creed
and said at every mass) it also defended and defined the Divinity of the Son of God. |
| - 366AD- |
St Damascus I becomes the 37 th reigning Pope of the Church. |
| - 381AD- |
Emperor Theodesia declares the official religion of the Roman Empire as Christinity. |
| - 381AD- |
The Ecumenical Council of Constantinople I, It was directed against the followers of
Macedonius, who impugned the Divinity of the Holy Ghost. To the above-mentioned
Nicene Creed it added the clauses referring to the Holy Ghost and all that follows to the end. |
| - 387AD- |
Baptism of St Augustine of Hippo, one of the greatest Saints, Doctors, theologians & writers. |
| - 410AD- |
St Maroun dies |
| - 422AD- |
St Celestine I becomes the 43 rd Holy Pontiff of the Church |
| - 431AD- |
The Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, defined the true personal unity of Christ and declared Mary the Mother of God. |
| - 432AD- |
St Patrick begins his mission in Ireland. |
| - 440AD- |
St Leo the Great becomes the 45 th Pope of the Church, he is one of two Popes to receive the
title Great at the end of his name. |
| -451AD- |
The Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, defined the two natures (Divine and human) |
| - 452AD- |
St Maroun’s Monastery is built in Syria |
| - 455AD- |
End of the Roman Empire |
| - 517AD- |
350 Maronite Monks are martyred, commemorated July 31 st every year. |
| - 553AD- |
The Ecumenical Council of Constantinople II |
| -556AD- |
Pelagius I becomes the 60 th Pontiff of the Church. |
| - 570AD- |
Birth of Mohammed |
| -590AD- |
St Gregory the Great becomes the 64 th Pope of the Church one of two to receive the title Great |
| - 638AD- |
The fall of Jerusalem to the Moslems. |
| - 680-681AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Constantinople III, It put an end to Monothelitism. |
| - 685AD- |
Maronites first patriarch St John Maron is elected this led to another 500 deaths of martyrdom |
| - 771AD- |
Charlemagne’s brother dies and he becomes king of all Frankish land. |
| - 787AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Nicaea I, dealt with iconoclast issue. |
| - 795AD- |
St Leo III becomes the 97 th Pope of the Church |
| - 800AD- |
Charlemagne crowned Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III. |
| - 869AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Constantinople IV. |
| - 1054AD- |
Division of Christianity into East and West |
| - 1073AD- |
St Gregory VII becomes the 158 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1088AD- |
Blessed Urban II becomes the 160 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1095AD- |
The first Crusade proclaimed by Pope Urban II [More information on the whole Crusade
explained in PART 3] |
| - 1123AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Lateran I, Dealt with Church Discipline, recovery of the Holy Land and
abolished the right claimed by lay princes to revenue from Church property. |
| - 1139AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Lateran II. |
| - 1159AD- |
Alexander III becomes the 171 st Pope of the Church |
| - 1170AD- |
St Dominic Guzman is born |
| - 1179AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Lateran III, condemned the Albigenses and Waldenses and issued numerous decrees for the reformation of morals. |
| - 1181AD- |
St Frances of Assisi is born. |
| - 1209AD- |
Order of Friars and of the Poor Clares [Franciscans] founded by St Francis of Assisi [more information in Part II Section C] |
| - 1215AD- |
St Louis, one of the greatest Catholic Kings is born, he began his reign in 1229, he fought and negotiated with Moslems and died 1270AD. |
| - 1215AD- |
Order of Preachers [Dominicans] founded by St Dominic [More info Part II Section C] |
| - 1215AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Lateran IV, the most important Council of the Middle Ages. |
| - 1226AD- |
St Thomas Aquinas, the greatest intellectual genius is born. He became a Dominican, wrote books on the faith and defeated the Manichean heresy. |
| - 1227AD- |
St Gregory IX becomes the 179 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1240AD- |
Chartres Cathedral is built. |
| - 1243AD- |
St Innocent IV becomes the 181 st Pope of the Church |
| - 1245AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Lyons I, directed a new Crusade. |
| -1274AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Lyons II, laid rules for Papal Elections, temporary reunion with the Greek Church, sought from recovering Palestine from the Turks. |
| - 1294AD- |
Boniface VIII becomes the 194 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1300AD- |
Black death in Europe |
| - 1311-1313AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Vienna, projects of a new Crusade, reformation of the clergy. And teaching of oriental languages in University. |
| - 1316AD- |
John XXII becomes the 197 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1370AD- |
Gregory XI becomes the 202 nd Pope of the Church |
| - 1414-1418AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Constance, object of ending divisions in the Church. |
| - 1417AD- |
Martin V becomes the 207 th Pope of the Church. |
| - 1431AD- |
Eugene IV becomes the 208 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1431-1439AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Basle/ Ferrara/ Florence. |
| - 1447AD- |
Nicholas V becomes 209 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1450AD- |
Printing press invented by Guttenberg |
| - 1458AD- |
Pius II becomes the 211 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1471AD- |
Sixtus IV becomes the 213 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1503AD- |
Julius II becomes the 217 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1512-1517AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Lateran V, a new Crusade against the Turks but was ceased due to disturbance due to Luther. |
| - 1513AD- |
Leo X becomes the 218 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1517AD- |
Martin Luther Begins protestant reformation |
| - 1523AD- |
Clement VII becomes the 220 th Pope of the Church |
| -1531AD- |
Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe |
| - 1534AD- |
Henry VIII establishes the Church of England and begins persecution of Catholics. |
| - 1534AD- |
Paul III becomes the 221 st Pope of the Church |
| - 1540AD- |
Foundation of the Jesuits by St Ignatius |
| - 1554-1563AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Trent, examined and condemned the errors of Luther, protestants and other reformers, reformed the discipline of the Church, of all the Councils it lasted the longest, issued the most number of dogmatic and reformatory decrees, and produced the most beneficial results. |
| - 1560’s- |
Presbyterian Church becomes the national Church of Scotland. |
| - 1566AD- |
St Pius V becomes the 226 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1570AD- |
Excommunication of Elizabeth I |
| - 1572AD- |
Gregory XIII becomes the 227 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1585AD- |
Sixtus V becomes the 228 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1587AD- |
Excommunication of Mary Queen of Scots |
| - 1592AD- |
Clement VIII becomes the 232 nd Pope of the Church |
| - 1605 AD- |
Paul V becomes the 234 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1623AD- |
Urban VIII becomes the 236 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1628AD- |
Dedication of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. |
| - 1633AD- |
Trial of Galileo |
| - 1665-66AD- |
Bubonic Plague in London followed by the Great Fire of London. |
| - 1676AD- |
Blessed Innocent XI becomes the 241 st Pope of the Church |
| - 1691AD- |
Innocent XII becomes the 243 rd Pope of the Church |
| - 1740AD- |
Benedict XIV becomes the 248 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1758AD- |
Clement XIII becomes the 249 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1770AD- |
Captain Cook explores coast of Australia |
| - 1788AD- |
First fleet lands |
| - 1800AD- |
Pius VII becomes the 252 nd Pope of the Church |
| - 1809AD- |
In the reign of Napoleon, he arrests Pius VII |
| - 1829AD- |
Catholics are free to worship in England |
| - 1833AD- |
Foundation of the St Vincent de Paul society |
| - 1837 AD- |
Reign of Queen Elizabeth begins |
| - 1846AD- |
Blessed Pius IX becomes the 256 th Pope of the Church |
| - 1854AD- |
Dogma of the Immaculate Conception defined. |
| - 1858 AD- |
Apparitions at Lourdes to St Bernadette |
| - 1869-1870AD- |
Ecumenical Council of Vatican I, issued important Canons relating to the faith and constitutions of the Church, decreed the infallibility of the Pope when speaking as leader of Catholicism, defining doctrine concerning faith or morals held by the whole Church. |
| - 1901 AD- |
The pentecostal church joins the many existing dominations
Australia Federation |
| - 1907 AD- |
Condemnation of Modernism by Pius X |
| - 1914-18 AD- |
World War I |
| - 1917 AD- |
Apparitions at Fatima |
| - 1939 AD- |
World War II |
| - 1950 AD- |
Korean War |
| - 1950 AD- |
Mother Teresa founds the Ministry of Charity |
| - 1950 AD- |
The Dogma of the Assumption is defined |
| - 1958 AD- |
Blessed John XXIII is elected the 262 nd Pope of the Catholic Church |
| - 1962-65 AD- |
The Second Vatican Council |
| - 1963 AD- |
The election of Paul VI to the throne of Peter |
| - 1968 AD- |
Pope Paul VI issues Encyclical: Humanae Vitae |
| - 1977 AD- |
Canonisation of St Charbel |
| - 1978 AD- |
Pope John Paul II is elected Pope |
| - 1981 AD- |
PJPII is shot on the 13 th May |
| - 1983 AD- |
PJPII forgives the would-be assassin Mehmet Ali Agca |
| - 1987 AD- |
World Youth Day (WYD) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| - 1989 AD- |
WYD Santiago de Compostela, Spain |
| - 1989 AD- |
Communism collapses in Central and Eastern Europe |
| - 1991 AD- |
WYD Czestochowa, Poland |
| - 1993 AD- |
Catechism of the Catholic Church is spread to the world
Veritatis Splendor Encyclical issued by PJPII |
| - 1993 AD- |
WYD Denver, USA |
| - 1995 AD- |
WYD Manilla, Philippines |
| - 1997 AD- |
WYD Paris, France |
| - 2000 AD- |
WYD Rome, Italy |
| - 2000 AD- |
Year of Jubilee celebrating 20 centuries of Christianity |
| - 2000 AD- |
St Faustina becomes the first Saint Canonised in the new centaury |
| - 2001 AD- |
Canonisation of St Rafqa |
| - 2002 AD- |
WYD Toronto, Canada |
| - 2004 AD- |
Canonisation of St Neemtallah |
| - 2005 AD- |
Sister Lucia the last child who witnessed the Fatima apparitions dies at the age of 97 on Feb 13th |
| - 2005 AD- |
Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years, the youngest Pope in 132 years, who has Visited the greatest number of countries and parishes, who has written 14 encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions and 45 apostolic letters and five books, Beatified 1338 Blessed’s, and Canonised 482 Saints including St Charbel, St Rafqa, St Neemtallah and St Faustina. Declared 231 cardinals and convened 6 plenary meetings of the College of Cardinals and receiving over 18,000,000 pilgrims. Who served for the third longest reign of 27 years and consecrated the world to Our Lady, who spoke over 8 languages and was a instrument of peace defeating Communism and openly declaring his disapproval of modernism, establishing the devotion of Divine Mercy, spreading the Catechism and instituting the Luminous mysteries and World Youth Day; dies on the vigil of the feast of Divine Mercy 3/4/2005. |
| - 2005 AD- |
Pope Benedict XIV succeeds PJPII. |
| - 2005AD- |
WYD Cologne, Germany |
Part II: Fathers, Early Church, monasteries
Section C: History of the Orders and monasteries. |
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Benedictines
Monasteries are enclosed areas where monks live an ordained life of prayer, study and work. Monasteries has already existed in the East and now the Father of Western Monasticism St Benedict has brought it to the west.
In 520 AD he led a small group of men south of Rome, where they built the Monastery of Monte Cassino. Between 530-540AD he wrote the Benedictine Rule which man monastic orders follow, this rule include the Evangelical Counsels of Poverty, Obedience and Chastity. He set up monasteries which acted as a center of peace and preservation, he is the founder of the Benedictine Order. Not long after led by St Columbanus founded Irish Monasticism throughout Europe.
Dominicans
The Dominican Order was established by St Dominic Guzman. Determined to spiritually combat and defeat the Albigensians (a heresy which believed in 2 principles; the existence of an evil god and a good god.) He established an order of nuns first in the year 1215 (later friars and laypeople) to counteract the influence of this heresy on women. He emphasised the detachment of material things, learning and devotion to the Blessed Mother. This same man also introduced the Rosary to the people to replace sequence recital of Psalms after a appearance of Our Lady. Dominic’s methods were successful, and the Albigensians threat ended. His Dominicans reminded one of the most important religious orders in the Church. Besides St Dominic some well known Dominicans include Pope Pius V, St Rose of Lima, St Thomas Aquinas and St Martin de Porres.
Franciscans
St Frances of Assisi son of a wealthy merchant lived a life of pleasure. It wasn’t until he was captured that he renounced his ways and wore a brown robe with a cord to signify his new life of poverty. This was to be the future habit of the Franciscan order he founded. He led a life of poverty, penance, prayer and service to others. Gradually he attracted followers forming the Friar Minor (Franciscans) his order and rule was approved by Pope Innocent III. The second order of Franciscans of Poor Clares was also founded after a young girl (St Clare of Assisi) sought to embrace the same rule as the friars. He also established a Third Order, in which those who remain in the world could live according to the Franciscan spirit. St Francis was the first person to receive the Holy Stigmata and died in 1226. Other well known Franciscans include St Anthony of Padua, St Bonaventure, Popes Sixtus IV and Sixtus V, and Juniperra Serra.
Carmelites
The Carmelite Order has its origins on Mount Carmel in Israel. Today the Order is found on all five continents. Unlike other Religious Orders, hermits known as the Brothers of the Most Virgin Mary of Mt Carmel (Carmelites) started the order rather than one person founding it. The name ‘Carmel’ means orchard or vineyard. In 1208 St Albert Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem wrote the rule of the Carmelites and in 1432 women adapted the rule as the Second Order. Following the era of the Crusades some Carmelites left the Holy Land and began founding monasteries throughout Europe and Africa. Part of the habit of the Carmelites is the Brown Scapular given to St Simon Stock by Our Lady of Mt Carmel in 1251. Well known Carmelites are Sts Simon Stock, John of the Cross, Therese the little flower.
Jesuits
The Society of Jesus was founded by St Ignatius of Loyola and 7 companions in the early 16th century, and approved by Pope Paul III in 1540. He aimed to spread and promote the Faith and Christian piety. Besides the vowels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience they took a forth vow to travel anywhere the Holy Father wishes. They were often ridiculed and criticised but their numbers grew. They were organised like an army, discipline, obedience, training and spiritual exercises. Due to controversies of the people Pope Clement XIV gave in to pressure in 1773, suppressed the Society. Despite the order of suppression, the order survived. They were allowed to work in Germany, Austria and England. The Society was formally restored in 1814 by Pope Pius VII. Well known Jesuits are Sts Peter Claver, St Edmund Champion, St John Berchmans, St Aloysius Gonzaga, St Francis Xavier.
Part III:
The Crusades |
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Mohammed and Islam
In 570 AD Mohammed was born he was a Middle Eastern man who had heard only parts of Judaism and Christinity. He rejected the Trinity and Incarnation but proclaimed that there was one God [Allah]. Unfortunately he preached his ideas and belief and his influence spread throughout Arab land. In 632AD he died and at this time if it hadn’t been for his successor Abu Bakr Caliph Islam could have died out, instead he taught and practiced that anyone who did not embrace these teachings was killed. Muslim armies went through Arabia converting by the sword they attacked in a particular point in history after a 30 year war and resources were low. In 628AD, Muslims had conquered Arabia including Jerusalem, where the Holy Sepulchre of Our Lord was. They continued there reign into Western Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Southwest Asia. It wasn’t until Caliph Abu 'Ali al-Mansur al-Hakim (985-1021) broke the 200 year peace and stopped pilgrims visiting the Holy Sepulchre which he ordered that the walls be chiselled to the very ground. The most important temple, relic, sacred object to Catholicism was destroyed.
Pope Bl. Urban II- the call for the Crusade
Seljuk Turks had closed off the Land to the Sepulchre and Christians were no longer able to make sacrifices. So not long after in Clermont, France on November 10th 1095AD Pope Urban II, called the first Crusade to recapture Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre. Urban concluded his address to the Council of Clermont: Men of God, men chosen and blessed among all, combine your forces and take the road to the Holy Sepulchre assured of the imperishable glory awaiting you in Gods Kingdom, let us each deny ourselves and take the Cross.” And the people together chanted “God wills it.” They placed a red cross as their emblem and called themselves the Crusaders because Crux is the Latin word for cross. In his speech the Pope promised a plenary indulgence to all those prepared to take up the cross and reclaim the Holy Sepulchre.
Crusades, a just war
The Crusades were a just war. Firstly Christian nations were not the aggressors of the Crusades, as can been shown Moslems had been aggressors since the 7th century; such as the close annihilation of the Byzantine army in 1071AD. Furthermore Christians did not attack Arabia the Moslem homeland, but only the places which originally belonged to Christians. Secondly Christians had the right to defend themselves and the innocent and helpless against attacks and appropriate for them to regain land which their enemy had conquered and to regain the Holy Land the place where Jesus walked, and the Holy Sepulchre the place where Jesus was buried and Resurrected certainly Christians have the right to govern and protect it. Finally immoral actions should be condemned which Bouillion and Montefort [Crusade leaders] both did, and should not detract from the justice of the cause. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church a just war may be fought on the following conditions: the damage inflicted by the aggressor or nation(s) must be lasting, grave and certain; all other means of putting an end to it must have shown to be impractical or ineffective; must be serious prospects of success, the use of arms must not produce evils. These conditions were met by the Crusades. Crusade Critics fail to mention the Islamic militarism and expansion, one never hears outrage of Moslem conquests of Christian regions, large scale kidnappings, discriminatory taxation polices and forced conversions of whole populations to Islam.
The First Crusade
Jerusalem was an important city- for Jews it was the city of David, for Moslems were Mohammed ascended into Heaven and for Christians as the city were Christ lived and died, was buried and Resurrected. The first crusade began after Pope Urban II’s speech in 1095 and by the summer of 1096, Crusaders made their way to the Holy land. The Pope called the crusades because of religious reasons, to defend Constantinople from the Seljuk’s, trade, a need for land and to defend the throne of Peter. One of the first men to follow was a monk known as Peter the hermit. He travelled through northern France and collected 20,000 peasants and their journey became known as the people’s crusade. Upon reaching Constantinople they were led into Turkey but were no match for the disciplined Turk soldiers.
A more organised fight was prepared led by princes of Europe. Prince Bohemond leader of the Normans of Italy; Godfrey de Bouillon and an army of 70,000 French and Germans; Prince Raymond leading the largest contingent from Italy and Southern France and an army from northern France led by Prince Hugh of Vermandois and Robert son of William Wallace. The main contingents arrived in Constantinople in April 1097 and 2 months later had took back Nicea from the Moslems. At Dorylaeum the Moslem commander attacked and was thwarted by groups led by Bohemond, Raymond and Bishop Adhemar. By October Christians reached Antioch and was secured by June 1098 but three days later a new Turkish army arrived and trapped them in Antioch were they had to kill their own horses so they would not starve, but after the discovery of the lance that had pierced Christ’s side they regained spirit and slowly the Arab army melted away. It was now that due to conflict among the leaders that Godfrey had set up his own kingdom in Edessa and Raymond left Bohemond and continued to Jerusalem himself. Around June 1099, Crusaders arrived at Jerusalem and on July 15, the gates of Jerusalem were opened and Crusaders recaptured Jerusalem the Holy City where our Lord saved the world. The first Crusade was from 1096-1099AD.
The Second Crusade
The narrow strip along the Mediterranean was divided into 4 kingdoms: Edessa, Tripoli, Jerusalem and Antioch. Pope Bl. Eugene III a monk from one of St Bernard’s monasteries was elected Pope in 1145. After the fall of Edessa in 1147 he received word that Jerusalem and Antioch were threatened by the Turks. The Knights of St John and the Knights of Templar whom were made up of monks also assisted in the great fight.
St Bernard preached the second Crusade, King Louis VII of France and wife Eleanor of Aquitaine pledged themselves to the Crusades, and in Germany Emperor Conrad and nephew Fredrick Barbarossa received the Cross from Bernard. After continuos battles Louis and Conrad led the second Crusade which took place from 1147 to 1149.
Eleanor had caused many problems worst being turning against her husband and causing a split in the crusading forces, Louis had annulled her as soon as he returned to France. Christian Syrian nobles also betrayed the Crusaders and prevented them from capturing Damascus. One good result of the second Crusade was the freedom of Lisbon from the Moslems by the English knights. The Second Crusade was from 1147-1149AD.
The Third and Fourth Crusade
Saladin, a Muslim soldier who became king of Egypt in 1169, he fought to unite Muslims under his flag. He won a clear victory over the Crusades in Hattin and from here moved to Jerusalem and recaptured it from the Christians who had control over it for over 100 years. However he did not slay the Crusaders but let them free. The third Crusade lasted from 1189 to 1192. Pope Gregory VII now head of the Church called the new Crusade to win back Jerusalem. It was more organised and led by three great kings: Frederick Barbarossa of Germany, Philip Augustus of France and Richard I of England. Fredrick had drowned while crossing a river to the Palestine. Philip Augustus and Richard led their armies across sea to the city of Acre in the Holy Land in 1191. Phillip and Richard had quarrelled and so Phillip and his army returned to France. Richard the Lion Heart continued to Jerusalem. He and Saladin were both great leaders who fought fairly and justly in efforts to capture Jerusalem. Richard failed and Jerusalem remained under Muslim control but Richard agreed to a truce and in 1192 signed a treaty of 5 years to allow Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem, to retain coastal cities as far south as Jaffa and for both religions to move freely in each others territories.
The Third Crusade having failed in its essential objective of recovering Jerusalem. Pope Innocent III immediately began preaching for a new crusade which took longer than expected. The Fourth Crusade led by Thibaud of Champagne lasted from 1202–1204, originally designed to re-conquer Jerusalem by taking Egypt first. The contingents would meet at Venice which promised transportation but less people had showed up than expected and there was not enough money to pay for the transportation. Instead, Venice had agreed to continue with the plans of transportation for less money only if the Crusaders would first capture the Hungarian dependency of Zara. The crusaders diverted from their objective and in 1204, conquered and sacked the Orthodox Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The fourth Crusade was not led by the Pope and was not representing the Church
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Crusade
The Fifth Crusade (1218–1221) was an attempt to take back Jerusalem and the rest of Holy Land by first conquering the powerful Muslim state in Egypt. After the failure of the last attempt Papal Legate Cardinal Pelagius was using the plan which the fourth Crusade failed to do. Christian forces negotiated an eight year truce and were forced to withdraw after Fredrick II’s forces failed to appear as promised.
The Sixth Crusade began in 1228 as an attempt to reconquer Jerusalem. It began only seven years after the failure of the Fifth Crusade. It was led by Fredrick II, despite being excommunicated for not fulfilling his vow to go on Crusade. He had secured control of Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem through negotiation. A surprising success, Jerusalem was under Christian control. In 1244, Turks assembled and recaptured Jerusalem for the Moslems.
The Seventh Crusade was a crusade led by Louis IX of France from 1248 to 1254. He had also aimed to recapture Jerusalem which was lost 4 years earlier. The Crusaders won a major victory in Damietta, Egypt (1249) but were later defeated at Mansura in 1250. They were captured by the Egyptians, St Louis was forced to pay a large ransom for his release and returned to France without an alliance with the Mongols.
St Louis IX of France and Edward I of England aimed at supporting the failing fate of the Christians after the fall of Antioch to the Mamelukes in 1268. Louis besieged Tunis, before contracting the plague and perishing. His brother Charles of Anjou took control of the army, negotiated a treaty and retreated to France. Edward I continued to Acre where after fighting numerous battles returned to England after a treaty was put together with the Mameluke Sultan. The time spent by Edward in Acre, Syria is often called the ninth Crusade. (1270-1271)
After the Crusades
After 1271, Christian determination weakened, and in the next 20 years Mamelukes reduced the remaining Crusader stronghold, last to fall was Acre. All Christian presence including the Knights Templar was completely annihilated. From a military point of view the Crusades were ultimately a disaster, the various massacres, the fall of Jerusalem, the sacking of Constantinople, the unofficial Children’s and Peoples Crusade which were tragic follies leading to the death of thousands of enthusiastic mislead people.
Some Western benefits include improvements in communication and trade with the East was established, new contacts with Maronites, Eastern philosophers and mathematicians were established. The flourishing of religious military orders of the Knights Hospitallers and Knight Templar. And finally the Crusades delayed Islamic invasion of Eastern Europe for nearly 200 years.
The Crusading spirit continued well after the Crusades ended, particularly after the conquest of Constantinople by Mohammed II in 1453. Some major battles include those at Belgrade (1456) Albania (1443-1467) Malta (1565) the Rosary Crusade of Lepanto (1571) Vienna (1638) and Zenta (1697).
Crusaders showed great piety and enthusiasm through the age, to recapture Jerusalem the place where Jesus saved the world. The heroism of great Crusaders will never be forgotten, but will be written in history books until the end of time.
Part IV: Protestants
Section A: Church problems begin |
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The Babylonian Captivity
The first serious problem the Church ever faced was the Babylonian Captivity; it was after Pope Boniface VIII issued a statement in 1303 declaring the right to judge all things including the actions of kings. This angered King Phillip IV and had Boniface captured, he died shortly after. Rome was in chaos; the Pope which followed only lived for a year as Pope, his successor Clement V thought it would be better to be on friendly terms with the King and moved the entire papal court to Avignon, France implying the king had more power. For over 60 years the papacy deserted Rome. The Babylonian Captivity is named this after the time when Jews were forced to go to Babylon. Seven Popes lived in Avignon, the credit for ending this captivity belongs to Sts Bridget of Sweden and Catherine of Sienna. Bridget worked in Rome and successfully persuaded the Pope to leave Avignon. As he prepared to return to Avignon once back in Rome she prophesied that he will die within the year that he left and when he did give into temptation and leave Rome once more he died just as she prophesied. Catherine wrote letters to the Pope urging him to return to Rome after they did not move him she went to Avignon and debated him almost daily. Eventually Catherine’s presence gave Pope Gregory IX the courage and by the January of 1377 the Babylonian Captivity had ended.
The Great Schism
As soon as Gregory IX died the people had made it clear that they wanted a Roman Pope and the Cardinals elected Urban VI of Italy. Most Cardinals then turned against Urban and held their own papal election setting up an anti-pope whose head quarters would be in France. This situation with a Pope and anti-pope both claiming to have authority as the rightful Pope [where an anti-pope does not] was known as the Great Schism. In 1409 some cardinals held the Council of Pisa to end the schism but instead electing a 2nd anti-Pope.
In the Council of Constance 1414, held at the urging of Emperor Sigismund, to end this struggle of papal power, which is leaving Christendom confused and loosing confidence in the Church. The valid Pope Gregory XII and the anti-pope’s agreed to resign in favor of a new Pope. Martin V was validly elected and the Schism was ended.
The Black Death
A final factor which led to the end of the High Middle Ages was the Bubonic Plague or the Black Death. As a result of flea-infested rats aboard trading ships which carried bacteria the Bubonic plague erupted. By 1350 it had reached all over Italy and Europe, from Sicily to the Scandinavian coast. Every village in the British Isles was afflicted. The plague spread rapidly, many people died, over 30% of the population of Europe. If people had not already caught the plague they were terrified and running away from their homes as a result of fear. Many villagers believed this as a direct punishment for their sins and many did extreme penances. The Bubonic Plague brought despair and bitterness rather than optimism and trust in the Church and in God. The quality of the clergy was also affected. The most dedicated and holiest priests would stay behind and nurse the sick and administer the Sacraments and as a result they became ill and died; so once the plague burned itself out the clergy that remained had lower moral quality.
The Beginning of the Renaissance.
The Middle Ages had ended. Renaissance had begun. It is the middle of the 14th century, Italy were it is formally known for the beginning of the ‘rebirth’. Most achievements during the Renaissance were good. Advancements in culture, art and science. But many scholars regarded Christianity inferior to classical civilisations, people had become skeptical of Christian teachings, not wanting to accept anything on the faith. Many followed Machiavelli and his ideas of humanism. It was at this moment the Church need a great Pope to reform the Church after the Schism. Instead Alexander VI, Julius II, Leo X reigned for nearly 3 decades [1492-1521] these Popes governed, they became Popes through bribery and lived in materialism, power, and war. But Christ still protected the Church even when it acted wrongly, that is why Christ had chosen the Apostle that had denied Him to be the first Pope.
Part IV: Protestants
Section B: Luther and Protestant Revolt |
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Luther and his beliefs
In 1483 in Germany a young boy named Martin Luther was born. The Renaissance had already begun. Luther was a young monk in the Augustine order and a professor at the University of Wittenburg. Luther had a despaired belief in his own sinfulness, he felt nothing could make him holy and that not even God could forgive his great sins. Luther concluded that only faith could save him, and that nothing he could do can persuade God to forgive his sins he believed that Christ would overlook his sins as He is the Redeemer.
95 Theses and Indulgences.
Luther’s ideas were very much different. God doesn’t overlook our sins but more greatly absolves them. Luther taught that a man’s grace stayed the same and therefore the Sacraments were insignificant, he also taught that if you had faith God would no longer punish you and that we can not obtain graces or merits. On October 31st, 1517 Luther posted a document on his new doctrines (95 Theses) on the door of the Church at Wittenburg that sparked many throughout Christendom. He debated on the idea of indulgences [an indulgence is the removal of some or all of the punishment due to already forgiven sin because the performance of a good deed or prayer.] The Pope had granted a plenary indulgence to anyone who would donate towards the building of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Luther had preached many inaccurate Church teachings, plus the financial outcomes of the indulgences combined to cause scandal. Luther had accused the Church of selling indulgences. Luther condemned the whole idea of Indulgences because he believed that we could do nothing to remove the punishment we deserve. With the new invention of the printing press, Luther published his ideas and they were formally condemned and burned.
Luther’s support
Luther had been in various debates over months now with many Catholic leaders. Pope Leo X had summoned Luther August 1518 but Luther replied that he was to ill to make the journey. So the Pope then sent a Church legate, St Cajetan to meet with Luther, but Luther refused to meet with him because he felt confident in his position as he was gaining support. Most of Luther’s support came from German peasants (nationalism), business men and merchants (capitalists) and noblemen who thought that by rejecting the Church they would gain more land and wealth.
The Protestant Revolt
Luther was formally excommunicated by Pope Leo in 1520, he was given 60 days to recant but he had no intention to. He was condemned for his 41 separate doctrines he taught. The Protestant Revolt had begun!
John Calvin was one of the first Protestants; in 1536 he published his ideas, which were just as ridiculous as Luther’s. He taught that man was so much in sin that there is nothing else but to submit to it and that man has no free-will.
The widespread evils in society at the time, and the amount of people which turned away from the Church is the only reason for the Protestants spread the speed it did. Luther’s ‘reformation’ which would be better to term as ‘revolt’ split the Church further. Luther and Calvin also opposed Catholic notion of community, to a Catholic, Saints, the Blessed Virgin and each other can help them live holier. Luther taught that no one could help a person spiritually, everyone was alone. And therefore eliminated: Mass, the Sacraments, devotions, the Rosary, religious pictures and statues, and customs. This is how the Protestant Revolt began and its nature, some of the statements of Luther and Calvin are not necessarily the beliefs of Protestants today.
Part IV: Protestants
Section C: The Church of England |
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He came to the thrown
In 1483, Richard III of the Yorks was in the throne, challenged by Henry Tudor. At the Battle of Bosworth Field (1485) where Richard died, Henry placed the crown on his own head by force he was not the rightful king and thus began the Tudor Dynasty. Henry centralised his power and died in 1509 only to be succeeded by his son King Henry VIII. Henry had many talents and in 1521 received the title “Defender of the Faith” after writing a pamphlet attacking Lutheranism which had begun to spread into England.
Princess Catherine
Henry was married to Princess Catherine of Aragon, Spain. Catherine had already his married his brother Arthur but he died 4 months later, her father wanted her to marry Henry to keep the Spanish-English relationship. Catherine and Henry had no sons together; Henry had desperately wanted a son to carry the Tudor dynasty. Henry’s only child was Mary, born in 1516, all of Catherine’s sons died at birth or a few days later.
Anne Boleyn
In 1527 Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn, a young woman who had returned from France. Anne told the King that she wanted him to marry her, and Henry so much in love with her did as she wanted. Henry decided to have his marriage with Catherine annulled so he could marry Anne and she could bear a son. Divorce did no exist at those times because of the Catholic stand on marriage, so Henry had to think of a legal reason to have his marriage invalid.
The Annulment hearing
In 1527, Henry’s chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey a corrupt worldly churchman sent an appeal to Rome asking for an annulment on the grounds that Henry needed a pardon from the Church to marry his brother’s widow and he had not received any in this case. Clement VII sent legate Cardinal Campeggio to hear the trial. But Catherine like her mother believed that the most important thing was to love God especially as she is the queen who must set an example and contested the annulment much against Henry’s pleadings. Catherine knew her marriage to Henry was valid and did not give in, even after Henry took Mary away and disallowed Catherine to see her. Cardinal Campeggio ruled against Henry’s testimony. In fury Henry dismissed Wolsey, who laying in poverty and misery declared “If I have served my God half as well as I served my King he would not leave me to die in this place.”
The Thomas’s
Henry’s friend Thomas More a devout Catholic agreed to take the position as Henry’s chancellor on the terms he would no be involved in the annulment case. Henry wanted to marry Anne and he wanted children. Finally politician Thomas Cromwell and bishop Thomas Cranmer said to him that it didn’t matter that the Church didn’t annul them, that he was the King and he didn’t have to take order’s from them, they told him to declare himself as the leader of the Church of England and to declare that all bishops had to take an oath to him as their spiritual and temporal leader. Both had different motives Cromwell wanted wealth from Church land, and Cranmer wanted England to be Protestant as well as wanting to be the most powerful Church official in the Kingdom. Henry agreed to their plan. (St) Thomas More resigned as he would not go along with the plan in 1532. Cromwell took his place.
The Secret ceremony
In January 1533, Henry and Anne married in a secret ceremony. In March, Bishop Cranmer (who had been appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury) annulled Henry and Catherine who was sent away without income. Anne had become queen, she had replaced the much loved Catherine, the people accuse Anne of bewitching Henry. That September Henry and Anne had a baby girl, Elizabeth. Henry didn’t even attend her baptism. In 1534 Parliament passed an Act of Supremacy, taking England into schism, declaring Henry the head of the Church of England and proclaiming Elizabeth and any child born to Anne as heirs to the throne.
Martyrdom
The Act of Supremacy also declared that all Bishops and important citizens were required to take the oath of Supremacy declaring allegiance to Henry as head of the Church of England. Thomas More refused to take the oath and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Out of all the Bishops of England, only one refused to take the oath, Bishop John Fisher, they were convicted of treason and were beheaded in 1536. Cromwell then ordered the suppression of all monasteries, confiscating their land and distributing it among his friends.
The Pilgrimage of Grace.
Led by Robert Aske holding a banner of Christ’s wounds, northern England rose in opposition after the suppression of monasteries was announced. These loyal Catholics could have overthrown London, but their goal was to re-establish the Church. Henry then told them that he will call parliament to consider their demands, and promised them amnesty. Instead he broke both these promises: Monks were hanged, villagers were hanged, burned and beheaded, and Aske was executed.
Anne who?
Like Catherine, Anne was not able to provide a male heir, but delivered only miscarriages. England suffered much for her to be queen and she failed to please Henry. Anne tried to persuade Henry to execute Catherine and Mary, thinking that their death would result in the people liking her as queen. But Henry was thinking of something else, or more so someone else. He met a young girl, Jane Seymour whom he had fallen in love with. Cromwell only to happy too, trumped up charges of treason against Anne, who was tried and convicted. Her very death warrant was signed by Henry. And just a while earlier Catherine had died a holy death.
Queens: Jane, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Paar
Jane and Henry were married one month after Anne’s death, together they had Henry’s only living son in 1537, Edward. After 12 days of his birth Jane died and in 1540 Henry married Princess Anne of Cleves, Germany. Henry’s marriage to Anne was to get foreign support, and it had been arranged by Cromwell. But poor Anne turned out to be ugly and Henry was enraged and wanted revenge against Cromwell. Henry was annulled to Anne, and wanted revenge against Cromwell so he research and found Cromwell had enriched himself at the expense of everyone, including Henry. He was promptly executed. In the same year he married 19 year old Catherine Howard whom was executed for adultery in 1542. And in 1543, married Catherine Paar whom outlived him. Henry died in 1547 after separating the Catholic Church to satisfy his desires.
Cranmer
Thomas Cranmer had won caretaker of young, sick Edward, because control of Edward meant control of the country. Henry had been schismatic, refusing to accept the Pope’s authority; Cranmer was schismatic and heretical and set out to make England entirely Protestant. Cranmer set out to change the Mass. Henry had already in Official Church of England documents downgraded the mass. But Cranmer eliminated it replacing it with “communion service”. He published the Book of Common Prayer in 1552 which denied that the bread and wine is Transubstantially transformed to the Body and Blood of Christ. Ordinary people did not understand the changes to the Mass until years before they were fully aware that their religion was no longer Catholic. In 1553 Edward died. Mary- Henry’s oldest daughter was the rightful queen. Some Protestants tried to keep her off the throne proclaiming as queen her Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey. But the people wanted Mary and thus England became a Catholic Monarch again
Queen Mary Tudor
Mary had suffered greatly: she had seen the sufferings of Catherine her mother, deprived of her rightful throne, seen her wicked Father, influenced by Cranmer and Cromwell. She had been watched for fear she would run to her Cousin Charles V and endured every kind of pressure to deny the Pope. She had seen the England leave the Church to satisfy the ambitions of evil men.
She came to the throne at 37, and aimed to restore Catholicism to her country. The Act of Supremacy and the Book of Common Prayer were abolished. She married Phillip of Spain, the son of Charles V. She arrested Protestant leaders which had tried to keep her off the throne, including Cranmer. They were trialed and executed for treason, many of them were plotting to kill Mary. Mary reigned for 5 years, and at her deathbed, had to designate an heir. Anne Boleyn’s marriage was illegitimate and therefore Elizabeth had no right to the throne. Mary Stuart [granddaughter of Henry’s sister] should have been the rightful heir, but she was married to prince Francis of France, Phillip was worried that England, Scotland and France would ally against Spain and urged Mary to choose Elizabeth to become her heir. Elizabeth swore an oath that she would continue to restore a Catholic Church in England, Mary accepted her promise and named Elizabeth her heir.
Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth became queen in 1558 and reigned for 45 years. This sealed the doom of the Catholic Church in England. During her reign she did not marry, she launched a vicious and bloody persecution and like her father her secretary of state cared for nothing but power: William Cecil. Though Cecil was much smarter than Cromwell, and set up spies all over Europe. When Cecil a life-long enemy of the Church he was succeeded by his son, Robert.
Even before she was coroneted, Elizabeth broke her promise to Phillip and Mary. She forbade the Elevation of the Host at her coronation mass, restored the Act of Supremacy and the Book of Common Prayer, and lost all connections England had with the Pope. She removed all Bishops from office, except 1, and replaced them with hand selected ones, who were consecrated on the terms of rejection to the Church. As they were not Bishops, all the priests were not really ordained and therefore the bread and wine could not be changed to the Body and Blood of Jesus.
In her reign, people were fined for not attending Anglican services, Mass was illegal, those who would not swear to the Act of Supremacy was killed, devotional objects were confiscated, priests were executed and informers would be rewarded for reporting any of these activities.
Because of the courage of people like Margaret Clitherow, and St Edmund Campion and the Jesuits Catholicism was kept secretly alive, those who remained faithful to the Church risked their lives, public practising of the faith was ended.
Queen Mary Stuart of the Scots
Catholics could not except Elizabeth as Queen, the ones that were not executed regarded Mary Stuart as there rightful queen. She was the ruler of Scotland since the age of 6 days old [her mother ruled as the queen until she came of age.] in 1558 Mary married Francis-prince of France. When Francis was 16 his father died in a jousting tournament. With the help of Mary he became King but one year later his brain began rotting and he died (1560). Scotland was being run by her half-brother James Moray and a group of Protestants. And Mary’s mother in law (whom she fought with) acted as a regent for Charles IX as ruler of France. Mary announced- to bring Catholicism back to England- that she would not persecute anyone for their religion. In 1565 she married handsome, though arrogant Henry Darnley who killed her advisor in front of her eyes and had her imprisoned because of the Protestant influence around him. Mary re-persuaded him and he helped her escape. She gathered loyal noblemen including James Bothwell. She returned to Edinburgh, were she bore her son James in 1566. Bothwell had arranged Darnley’s murder- Mary was not involved, but made no attempt to find those responsible. On the 15th May, 3 months later she married Bothwell- this and the death of her husband lead the people to believe that she was guilty. A rebellion broke out and she was forced to renounce her title to her 13 month son who was taken away from her and never saw again. Meanwhile Bothwell abandoned Mary and hid in Denmark. She was captured and imprisoned; her guards were impressed and helped her escape- she fled to England to speak with Elizabeth. The queen of Scotland was unjustly arrested for co-operating to kill Darnley, in a lower hierarchical English court (even though she was Scottish and the queen therefore could not be trialed in a lower court) was found guilty (with the help of Moray). She was placed in captivity were she grew closer to God, repenting her sins. Protestant Elizabeth remained the queen of Protestant England.
Part V: Modern Era
Section A: Catholic Reformation |
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The Church had to reform and renew itself to win back lost territory, and so they went into new lands to win souls for Christ. The 16th century for the Church is known as the Catholic Reformation. Missionaries were sent all over the world. The Jesuits had established. Schools, universities and retreats were organised. Many missionaries went into Protestant countries, winning back part of the Church. Many suffered the glorious death of martyrdom especially in England.
The Catholic reformation was a reaction against Protestantism- the first reforming Pope was Paul III elected in 1534 he; tightened discipline among those with religious vows, restricted indulgences, forbade and began preparing for a General Council which would work out the greater details of the need to reform. In 1562-3 in the Council of Trent, improvements were made in discipline and doctrine.
The works of the Council of Trent could be summarised as: Bishops were required to live in their dioceses, indulgences for money were forbidden, seminaries were founded to train priests, Bishops must evaluate a candidate for priesthood before ordination, parish priests needed to be qualified, and all priests were required to lead an example, monks were required to live in their monasteries and adhere to there vows. Kings and queens were forbidden to interfere with Church affairs. But more was needed.
In order to over rule confusion caused by Protestants among ordinary Catholics in terms of doctrine, the Council defined and stated the exact meaning of each of the Church’s doctrines. Some of the doctrines defined which eliminate Protest doctrine is that Baptism removes sin, rather than covering t hem up; man is transformed by grace, you also need hope and charity and not faith alone to be saved, good works increase grace, grace is offered to all, there are seven sacraments of: Baptism, Confirmation, Confession, the Holy Eucharist, Anointing of the sick, Matrimony, Holy Orders. Purgatory exists, saints should be honoured though not adored, and indulgences may be granted.
The reforms of the Council were put into effect by St Pope Pius V. He was a very humble man who prayed and meditated greatly in his bare room especially on Christ’s passion. He also ridded simony (buying or selling of sacred or spiritual things) and nepotism (favoritism shown to someone in power) and called the Rosary crusade against the Turks at Lepanto. Many historical Saints such as: St Charles Borromeo, St John of the Cross, St Theresa of Avila, St Phillip Neri worked to reform the Catholic Church and Saints such as St Peter Canisius and St Frances de Sales took their mission to the Protestants persuading them to return to the Church.
Part V:
Section B: Doctors of the Church |
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A Doctor of the Church is a title indicating that the writings and preaching’s of such a person are useful to Catholicism; at any time through history. They are known for their understanding of the Church’s teachings and orthodoxy of theology. Doctors are often considered inspired by the Holy Spirit. This does not mean they are infallible, but it does mean that they contributed significantly to the formulation of Christian teaching in at least one area.
There are 33 Doctors of the Church:
St. Athanasius
St. Ephrem of Syria
St. Hilary of Poitiers
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
St. Gregory of Nazianzus
St. Basil the Great
St. Ambrose of Milan
St. John Chrysostom
St. Jerome
St. Augustine of Hippo
St. Cyril of Alexandria
St. Peter Chrysologous
St. Leo the Great
St. Gregory the Great
St. Isidore of Seville
St. John of Damascus
St. Bede the Venerable
St. Peter Damian
St. Anselm
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Albert the Great
St. Bonaventure
St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Catherine of Siena
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Peter Canisius
St. John of the Cross
St. Robert Bellarmine
St. Lawrence of Brindisi
St. Francis de Sales
St. Alphonsus Ligouri
St. Thérèse of Lisieux |
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