Key Ideas from L7: Dominicans, Friars, and Prep for Reformation

•    Structure can never produce renewal but renewal needs institutional structures that will help channel and stifle the movement of the Spirit
•    Context: 13th/14th century- loss of vitality of renewal movements, Cistercian abbots lived in great wealth, Crusades, Pinnacle of Pople’s power, church not prepared to meet needs of changing society, people increasingly alienated from church, rapidly changing context: feudal society, trade, rise of middle class
o    Monastic movement unplanned by the hiearchy: began with Poor catholic movement (1207 in S. France)- renounced wealth, refused money, Church ordered them not to preach
•    Dominicans
o    St. Dominic (1170-1222)- influenced by Diego De Azevedo- established house to win the heretic with the word not the sword
o    Reluctanly endorsed by pope in 1216
o    Strategy: sent disciples to strategic points to establish houses, train people, send people out to other strategic points
o    In 4 years:  order organized into 8 countries with 60 houses, focused on cities and universities
o    Organization: like army, leaders elected permanently, monastic discipline to send out to preach and win others to faith
o    By 1243: movement begins to  decline, became a Cardinal, by 1276- Dominican pope, 1277- 404 houses; by 16th  century- Torquemada and Tetzel
o    Missionary work- central asia in 13th/14th c, Polo Bros
•    Fransicans
o    St. Francis—little or no formal education (1208)- heard a command from God to restore the church
o    Vows- simplicity, poverty, deference to priests
o    Reluctant papal approval in 1216
o    Order of OFM- order of little brothers
o    Cardinal Ugolino- organized movement
o    Provided alternative structure for religious life parallel to instutional church

o    Missionary work: John of Monte Corvino to China in 1294- established churches, won 6000, translated NT
•    Prep for Reformation:
o    Context: monastic orer in decline, church corrupt, papacy in avignon- “babylonian captivity of the church” (1309-1377)
o    Radical ideas/key people
o    Marsilus of Padua (Paris, 1324)- overturned idea of hierarchy, state dominating church
o    John Huss (1373-1415, Prague)- christ, not pter foundation of church, some pope been heretics

o    Rennaisance- return to sources, underground christian humanists- Reuchlin, Erasmus, Ximenes, Lefevreo

- Underground streams of piety: Brethern of Common life (1340-1382), Thomas A Kempis (1380-1471)- placed bible above people, God alone could forgive sins, mystics (14th c)

o    Rise of Nation states:  Spain and Englad unified under one king (1450-1500)