Verse and Thought Today
“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”(Acts 4:32).
Pope Ven. Pius XII - Head of the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958
The Catholic Church 800 AD to 1300 AD
The Rise of the Holy Roman Empire
This week we will continue looking at the development of the Church. The first several hundred years of missionary work had seeded Christianity throughout the Roman Empire and into Asia. But now the simplistic days of house churches, lead by spirit-filled believers living in community, were gone.
Christianity was now a formal, developing religion. It changed from the Universal Christian Church of men and women who followed the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, to an organized institution of church laws and rules of order under the banner, “Catholic Church,” with its adherents submitting to the authority of the Pope.
The changes that took place set in motion a strong and united force with church laws and hierarchal status (similar to the imperial government). But this unity was soon challenged, and men became tempted by power struggles, conflicts of interest, fights over theology, greed, and other human moral failings. There is nothing new under the sun, just as King Solomon said in ancient times.
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”(Philippians 3:15-18).
The period from 800 AD to 1300 AD in the history of the Catholic Church saw significant developments and events that shaped both the Church's internal structure and its relationship within the culture.
By 800 AD, the papacy asserted itself as having both spiritual authority, as well as earthly authority, at least in central Italy. This lead to the establishment of what was called the “Papal States.”
This new political role continued to evolve all the way through the Middle Ages. The pope now acted as the supreme leader of the Church, and also as a “sovereign prince” with political authority over central Italy as the church began amassing wealth and land.
The newly acquired status influenced the development of more elaborate liturgical practices and symbolism, including papal attire. The pope now donned a three-crowned tiara traditionally made of gold and adorned with precious gemstones; a variety of robes that changed with the seasons and occasions’; and iconic red leather shoes.
“…the red shoes are a holdover from ancient times when red was the most expensive and rarest dye for garments. At one point, only kings and emperors — and popes, who were essentially on the same level of power as monarchs back in the day — were allowed to wear red. In fact, popes used to dress all in red as a symbol of their power” (source).
As the simplistic life of the martyred apostles morphed into elaborate and grand ceremonies of Popes, so too did their costumes. The humble garment worn by priests in the first centuries was now exchanged for flowing robes of silk and velvet adorned with intricately embroidered designs.
Donations of land were made to the Church. These properties helped create the Papal states. The lands were intended to support the Church's mission and provide a stable base of operation for the pope.
Unfortunately, the dual role of the pope created conflicts of interest. Decisions made in governing the Papal States, such as appointments to political offices or distribution of resources, were potentially influenced by political motives, rather than God’s will.
This newly established power allowed popes to play a significant role in the political affairs of Europe all throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. This also contributed to conflicts and alliances between various emperors and kings over control of territories and European politics.
And then internal strife happened - 1054 AD marks the Great Schism
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”(Matthew 7:3).
By 1054 AD, the message of unity in the church began to suffer. The East-West Schism, also known as the “Great Schism,” marked a formal split between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western Catholic Church. While tensions had been brewing for centuries between the two regions over theological, cultural, and political differences, a mutual excommunication took place between Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius in 1054.
The groundwork for the “Great Schism” had actually started back when Emperor Diocletian decided to divide the growing empire into the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (aka the Byzantine Empire). One of the initial factors that brought about division was the language. The primary language in the West was Latin, while Greek was common in the East.
When the Roman Empire of the West fell, the remaining Eastern Empire remained dominant. This lead to smaller schisms as politics played a role in the church. Theologically speaking, the East and West were taking different paths. In the West, they spoke Latin and took a more legalistic, practical approach to church as Latin ideology was strongly influenced by Roman law and scholastic theology. They used the Latin Vulgate Scriptures translated by Jerome in the late 300s AD.
The Eastern Empire spoke Greek and their mindset was much more mystical and speculative. Greeks understood theology through the use of philosophical debate. They read from the Greek Septuagint, written around the 3rd century BC. This was the translation that Jesus and the Apostles likely quoted scripture from.
Another point of contention between the East and West included the nature of the Holy Spirit. The Roman Catholic Church added the phrase “and son” (the filioque clause ) to the original Nicene Creed, indicating that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father “and Son.” Unfortunately this debate is still ongoing today. The mystery of God is just that; a mystery. God’s mysteries can’t be defined by men’s understanding.
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”(John 15:26).
This issue was addressed with the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD which expanded upon the original Nicene Creed of 325 AD. It addressed theological controversies concerning the Trinity and the nature of the Holy Spirit. It also used this opportunity to establish church laws and regulations that shaped the development of Catholicism.
“The Eastern Church insisted on keeping the original wording of the Nicene Creed, leaving the filioque clause out. Leaders in the East argued loudly that the West had no right to alter the foundational creed of Christianity without consulting the Eastern Church. Furthermore, they felt the addition revealed underlying theological differences between the two branches and their understanding of the Trinity. The Eastern Church thought itself to be the only true and right one, believing Western theology to be based erroneously in Augustinian thinking, which they considered heterodox, which means unorthodox and verging on heretical.”(source).
But the real tension may have had to do with ecclesiastical authority—specifically, the East refused to acknowledge that the pope in Rome had power over the patriarchs in the East.
The Roman Bishop began asserting spiritual authority in the late 300s, and by the 800s, had firmly established the supremacy of the newly named Roman “Pope” over the entire church. But Eastern leaders, while honoring the Pope, wouldn’t bend to his claim of supreme authority that gave him sole determination of church policy for all jurisdictions, or to alter the decisions of Ecumenical Councils.
The Eastern and Western Church parted ways, but they still remained in friendly communication until the time of the fourth Crusades. This split would forever impact the unity of the Universal Catholic Church. Now there were two denominations in Christianity: Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic.
“All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”(John 17:10-11).
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Verses to Explore
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3).
“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”(Luke 11:13).
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’ ”(Matthew 28:18-20).
“Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.”(Psalm 51:11).
“And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.(Matthew 12:32).
Today’s Prayer
Father, I bow down before you with a humble heart today to ask you to open our eyes to the truth of your word. As your word tells us that the Holy Spirit will guide us to truth, I ask that you fill each of us with your Holy Spirit and help us to know how to rightly handle your word. Help us to understand that we are to be unified in our hearts Lord with love for our brothers and sisters. The Law will never change hearts or make us one. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we be your true witnesses. Only through the power of your Holy Spirit can we minister correctly. Your kingdom isn’t about words, but about the power of the Holy Spirit manifested through us for the benefit of your children. Help us today Lord to open our hearts to the fullness of the Spirit. Help us to not walk in the flesh, but in the power of your Spirit. While we don’t understand this mystery, we subject ourselves to it and bow to your authority. Help us to humbly accept that we are only useful in your kingdom when we are truly walking in the Spirit. Thank you for giving us your mighty gift Father. Thank you for opening our eyes to your truth. May all honor and praise be yours today. Amen.❤️
The Helper “Parakletos” The Holy Spirit - our legal defender and counselor
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”(John 14:26).