The Rise of the Mediaeval Church / And Its Influence on the Civilization of Western Europe from the First to the Thirteenth Century

by Alexander Clarence Flick

In the thirteenth century the mediæval Church was a completed institution and at the height of its power. Its rise from humble beginnings, by a multitude of explainable causes and forces, to this lofty

position is a well-nigh incredible miracle. It was very different from all modern churches whether Catholic or Protestant, yet was the mother of all of them. Both theoretically and legally all persons in western Europe belonged to it and were ruled by it, except those who were expelled from it, and thus formed one mighty religious society, the like of which has not again appeared in Christendom. Unable during subsequent centuries to meet the demands of new and higher phases of civilisation, the mediæval Church broke up into the various Christian sects of to-day.

Sources

• A.—PRIMARY:
  • 1.—Eales, Life and Works of St. Bernard.
  • 2.—Henderson, Historical Documents of the Middle Ages.
  • 3.—Lea, C. H., A Formulary of the Papal Penitentiary in the Thirteenth Century.
  • 4.—Migne, Patrologia Latina.
  • 5.—Morley, Mediæval Tales.
  • 6.—Robinson, Readings in European History.
  • 7.—Steele, R., Mediæval Lore. Lond., 1893.
  • 8.—Thatcher and McNeal, A Source-Book for Mediæval History.
  • 9.—Univ. of Penn., Translations and Reprints.
• B.—SECONDARY:
  • I.—SPECIAL:
    • 1.—Bethune-Baker, J. F., The Influence of Christianity on War. Camb., 1888.
    • 2.—Brace, G. L., Gesta Christi. Lond., 1886.
    • 3.—Cornish, Chivalry.
    • 4.—Cutts, E. L., Scenes and Characters of the Middle Ages. Lond., 1872. Parish Priests and their People. Lond., 1890.
    • 5.—Döllinger, J. J. I., Papal Fables of the Middle Ages.
    • 6.—Fournier, Les officialités au moyen âge.
    • 7.—Gautier, Chivalry.
    • 8.—Jessopp, The Coming of the Friars.
    • 9.—Lea, H. C., History of Auricular Confession. 3 vols. Phil., 1896. History of the Inquisition. 3 vols. History of Sacerdotal Celibacy. Superstition and Force. Studies in Church History.
    • 10.—Luchaire, Manuel des institutions.
    • 11.—Maitland, The Dark Ages.
    • 12.—Milman, H. H., History of Latin Christianity. viii., bk. 14, ch. 1-10.
    • 13.—Prévost, L'église et les compagnes au moyen âge.
    • 14.—Rashdall, History of the Universities of Europe in the Middle Ages.
    • 15.—Smith, The Troubadours at Home.
  • II.—GENERAL.
    • Adams, Med. Civ., ch. 16, 18. Blunt, i., ch. 10-12. Coxe, Lect. 5-7. Darras, iii., ch. 8-10. Dehorbe, ch. 11, 42. Fisher, pd. 6, ch. 6. Foulkes, ch. 11, 12. Gieseler, iii., ch. 1, 2, 5, and 6. Gilmartin, ii., ch. 5-13. Hardwick, ch. 8, 10, 11, 12. Hase, sec. 192-237. Hurst, i., ch. 50. Jennings, ii., ch. 12, 13. Knight, ch. 14-16. Kurtz, ii., 89-138. Milner, iii., cent. 12, 13. Moeller, ii., pd. 2, ch. 5; iii., ch. 2 and 3. Neander, iv. Robertson, bk. 5, ch. 13; bk. 6, ch. 6-8. Sikes, ch. 17.

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FOOTNOTES:

[569:1] Lea, Hist. of the Inq., iii., 57.

[570:1] Moeller, ii., 436.

[570:2] Munro, "The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century," in An. Rep. Am. Hist. Assoc., 1906, i., p. 45.

[571:1] Munro, "The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century," in An. Rep. Am. Hist. Assoc., 1906, i., p. 47.