Religion and the Clergy

Very important and influential in the society

Were exempted from paying taxes because they were giving services to their parishioners and also provided spiritual satisfaction and care

Mediators between God and men

The role was to be the churches’ spiritual leader and administrator

Served until he died

Had the power to appoint clergy men

Appointed by the Pope

Bishops were wealthy

Can read and write

Were apart of the daily lives of citizens

Kept record of the village and kingdom

Collected taxes

Monks devoted their lives to working in monasteries

When somebody wanted to be a monk there were three vows that he had to take. The first one was the vow of poverty, which meant giving up all your possessions. The second one was the vow to stay single. The third vow was the vow of obedience.

Nuns were women who had taken oath of poverty, chastity, and obedience just like the monks.

The most important role of the nuns was to praise God. Each nun had a different role in the community, like the almoner, who would give out alms to the poor and treat the sick.

All well educated

The only Church in Europe during the Middle Ages

Became an organized hierarchy

Divided into the regular church and the secular
church

Those who went against the Church's teachings
could be killed as punishment

Dominated the lives of the people from birth to death

The Church had it's own laws and imposed taxes

As it's wealth grew so did it's power, allowing the Church
to influence the rulers of Europe

Catholicism was the dominant religion in Europe

The law of Europe was governed by Catholicism

Many "Christian Campaigns" occurred, which were led by bishops and scholars to purge the world of all non-Christian religions

Everyday life was dictated by the rules of Catholicism and the Church