The Foundations of the
Medieval Church
Jesus
•Used parables to teach
•Christians believed in his miracles
•Apostles spread Christianity
•Peter brought Christianity to Rome
Priests
•St. Paul and the apostles were
considered “priests”
•Over time, only specially trained
men could administer the
sacraments
Bible
•Gospels (story of Jesus’s life)
written 100 years after his death
•Old Testament + New Testament =
Christian Bible
The
Sacraments
Last rites- Final blessing
for the sick and dying
Ordination- Becoming a priest
Marriage- Formal union of a man and a
woman
Eucharist- Central part of the mass and a reenacting
of the last supper.
Confirmation- When adults become full church members and
the Holy Spirit is conferred.
Baptism- admittance into the church (Saved from damnation)
What do you see in this
picture?
Who might these people
be?
What are they feeling?
What is happening to
them?
Salvation
• Christians believe that Adam and Eve rebelled against
God and were sent out of the Garden of Eden. This was
the original sin and all humans since have been cursed
by their rebellion.
• The ultimate goal of a Christian was salvation and
forgiveness of original sin to be able to go to heaven.
• Salvation in Medieval Europe was gained through:
– Following the beliefs of the church
– Good works
– Living a moral life
If a person does not earn salvation,
damnation awaits them.
What do you see in this
picture?
What types of animals are
shown?
Where do you see humans?
What is happening to them?
Who is holding the key?
What does this figure
represent?
What does the painting
represent?
Damnation
• The result of living a life of sin (turning
away from God and the church)
• Souls were sent to hell
• Hell was ruled by Lucifer who was a fallen
angel who was cast out of heaven for
questioning God and showing false pride
• Medieval view of hell: souls burned
continuously by fire and demons gnawed
on their bodies for eternity
•Monasticism- life led
by monks and nuns
Life in Monastaries
A community set apart from society
TCI 7.1.4.1
A life guided by rules
•Wanted to serve
God and fellow
Christians
•St. Benedict
renounced wealth,
founded Italian
monastery in 529
•Wrote “The Rule” a
set of rules for monks
•Nun and monks
wanted to avoid
•Duties: work, study,
prayer
A life of work
•War
•Vows: poverty,
chastity, and
obedience
•Sickness
•Sin
•Corruption
A life in a monastary or convent
•Self-sufficient tasks: farming, cooking, sewing, building
•Charitable tasks: hospitals, refuge for homeless, food for
poor, lodging for travelers, and sacraments
Church
Dormitory
•Led by an Abbot who was elected by the monks
•Dormitory= where monks slept
•Refectory= where monks ate
Library and Scriptorium
Refectory
•Library and scriptorium= where monks
wrote and copied texts