The Just Shall Live By Faith pt. 1

The Church in 1517
The most powerful and influential authority in Europe in 1517 was the Church. Its power was greater than that of kings. The leader of the church was the pope. He was Christ’s agent on Earth. The pope’s residence was Rome making it the center of Christianity in Europe. Why were the Church and pope so powerful? Why did everyone in Europe from peasants to kings bow down to the supremacy of the Church and pope?

Church’s Teaching on Salvation

Seven Sacraments

1) Baptism - the first step in a lifelong journey of commitment and discipleship. Performed by the clergy.

2) Confirmation - Through this sacrament the grace given in baptism is strengthened and deepened. It confirms a baptized person in his or her faith and admits him or her to full participation in the church. It is conferred by the anointing with sacred oil mixed with balsam which is done by the laying on of the hand of the clergy who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. Administration was normally reserved for those who can understand its significance.

3) The Eucharist - is the sacrament in which Church members partake of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Holy Communion) and participate in his one sacrifice. The bread and wine used in the Eucharistic rite were in all but appearance the body and blood of Christ, a change that is called transubstantiation. The bread and wine was mysteriously transformed into the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. Only clergy could administer of the Eucharist, acting in the person of Christ himself.
4) Reconciliation - involves four elements: (1) Contrition (the penitent's sincere remorse for wrongdoing or sin, repentance, without which the rite has no effect); (2) Confession to a member of the clergy. Only the clergy had the power to administer the sacrament; (3) Absolution (freeing from guilt for sins committed) by the clergy; and, (4) Satisfaction or Penance - performance of some act to repair the damage caused by sin
For the confession to be acceptable, the penitent (person seeking forgiveness) must tell his or her sins directly to an ordained clergy. The clergy will then recite the prayers of absolution to forgive the penitent's sins. The penitent may confess his sin face to face with the clergy, or anonymously through a screen known as a "penitential grill.”

5) Extreme Unction (now referred to as Anointing the Sick) - the sacrament was conferred only on those in immediate danger of death by clergy. Also referred to as Last Rites. One of the effects of the sacrament is to absolve the recipient of any sins not previously absolved through the sacrament of penance.
6) Marriage – performed by clergy

7) Holy Orders - is the sacrament by which a man is made a bishop, a priest, or a deacon, and thus dedicated to be an image of Christ. Performed by clergy.

The Church affirms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. - Council of Trent 1547. The Church was affirming a belief that had been in place for centuries. As the sole dispenser of Christ's sacraments, the Church itself is spoken of as "the universal Sacrament of salvation" containing the individual seven sacraments.

Excommunication – If an individual refuses to submit to the authority of the Church, he/she would be denied the sacraments – usually the Eucharist. Performed by clergy. Examples – Emperor Theodosius and Bishop Ambrose, Henry III and Pope Gregory

Anathema – Major excommunication that could only be performed by the pope.

“Wherefore in the name of God the All-powerful, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, of Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and of all the saints, in virtue of the power which has been given us of binding and loosing in Heaven and on earth, we deprive (Name) himself and all his accomplices and all his abettors of the Communion of the Body and Blood of Our Lord, we separate him from the society of all Christians, we exclude him from the bosom of our Holy Mother the Church in Heaven and on earth, we declare him excommunicated and anathematized and we judge him condemned to eternal fire with Satan and his angels and all the reprobate, so long as he will not burst the fetters of the demon, do penance and satisfy the Church; we deliver him to Satan to mortify his body, that his soul may be saved on the day of judgment.”

Interdict – form of excommunication that typically excluded groups from certain rites of the Church. Ex. In 1208, Pope Innocent then placed an interdict on England because King John refused to acknowledge papal authority. The pope prohibited clergy from conducting religious services, with the exception of baptisms for the young, reconciliation, and absolutions for the dying. Clergy were not allowed to perform the Eucharist or marriages.

Indulgence - the full or partial remission of temporary (as opposed to eternal) punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. You do not have to perform penance in purgatory for sins you have committed. Ex. Pope Urban II and the First Crusade to reclaim the Holy Lands from the Muslims in 1095. Pope Urban II guaranteed an indulgence for the Crusaders. “All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested.”

1) In order for one to be saved in 1517, according to the Church what must one do? The sacraments

2) Who made salvation possible? God through his agency on earth the Church. No Church, no salvation. Do illustration.

Reading and interpretation of Scripture – Only the clergy were permitted to read and interpret Scripture. The average person (laity) whether rich or poor did not own a Bible. In some instances, it was illegal to own a Bible. Even if one could own a Bible, they could not read it because a) illiterate b) the Bible could only be written in Latin. It was illegal to translate the Bible into the language of the masses (English, French, German, Italian, Slavic, etc.)

3) Why did the Church deny people access to the Bible? The Church wanted everyone on to be on the page when it came to spiritual matters. Prevented the rise of heresies that would lead people away from the Truth. Masses did not have the proper education to understand the complex teachings found in the Bible.

4) What problem do you think were generated from the inability of a person to read and interpret the Bible? Inability to know if what the Church was teaching them was true. Acts 17:10-15

5) How did the laity’s inability to read and interpret the Bible enhance the authority of the Church? The Church was the sole source for all knowledge re: God. Show illustration again.