Clunian Reforms

From Freepedia

Clunian Reform was the time of the purification and scourging of the Roman Catholic Church during the 11th century.

After a century of corruption and decadence, the Christian church was finally cleaned up. In the 11th century, the Church began a remarkable religious revival in which the the popes worked to codify and re-establish church law. Church officials sought to communicate with all the clergy and peoples of Europe though a clearly defined, obedient hierachy of bishops. The popes wanted the basic loyalty of all the clergy in Europe. Pope Gregory VII's strong assertion of papal power led to profound changes and serious conflict with secular authorities. The revival of the church was manifested in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries by a flowering of popular piety, reflected in the building of magnificent cathedrals.

Monastic revival

In the early middle ages, the best Benedictine monasteries had been citadels of good monastic observance and centers of learning. Between the seventh and ninth centuries, religious houses such as Bobbio in northern Italy, Luxiel in France, and Jarrow in England copied and preserved manuscripts, maintained schools, and set high standards of monastic observance. Charlemagne had encouraged and supported these monastic activities, and the collapse of the Carolingian Empire had disasterous effects.

Since the time of Charlemagne, secular powers had selected church officials and compelled them to become their vassals. In the period of political disorder that followed the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire, many religious houses fell under the control and domination of local feudal lords.

In 909, William the Pious, duke of Aquitane, established the abbey of Cluny near Macon in Burgundy. Duke William declared that Cluny was to enjoy complete independence from all feudal or secular episcopal lordship. The first two abbots at Cluny, Berno, and Odo set very high standards of religious behavior. They stressed strict observance of Rule of Saint Benedict, the development of a personal spiritual life by the individual monk, and the importance of the liturgy. Cluny was fortunate in having a series of highlightable abbots who ruled for a long time. These abbots paid careful attention to sound economic management. In a disorderly world, Cluny gradually came to stand for religious and political stability.