Key Figures and Movements in Christian History
Saint Benedict of Norcia: Life and Legacy
Born in 480 in the small town of Norcia, Italy, Saint Benedict belonged to a noble family of modest and solid virtues. He sought to succeed in life, but one day he journeyed to Subiaco. There, he settled in a difficult-to-access cave to seek God in solitude and prayer as a hermit. He met a monk named Romanus, who opened his heart and served the young Benedict with great zeal. For three years of his life, his fame for holiness and wisdom spread, and he founded several monasteries.
In 529, after a priest attempted to poison him, Benedict took refuge at Monte Cassino. On the ruins of an ancient pagan temple, he built two chapels and some shrines. Gradually, a large monastery emerged, extending the Benedictine order. Around 540, he wrote his famous *Rule*. His motto was: “Pray and Work.” He died on March 21, 547. According to witnesses, his last words were, “Oh, who has a huge desire to go to heaven.”
Characteristics of Early Christian Communities
The early Church was characterized by the presence of the Spirit of Jesus, seen as the sacrament of salvation. The Church is holy.
Conversion of Germanic Peoples to Christianity
The Germanic peoples initially practiced pagan religions but gradually became Christians. Their conversion often occurred through the king’s decision, which was then supported by the entire populace.
Saint Francis of Assisi: Vocation and Impact
Born in Assisi in 1182, the young Francis had almost everything and aspired to be a great gentleman and go on the Crusades. During the war between Assisi and Perugia, he was taken prisoner and became severely ill. It was during this illness that he experienced his vocation. Francis felt Jesus inviting him to shed his worldly concerns. He heard the call of God to rebuild His Church, and he soon discovered that the church to be rebuilt was not the stone structure, but the people.
A group dedicated to preaching the Gospel and caring for the poor and sick gathered around Francis. The *Gospel fraternity* and *disposition to serve* characterized their way of life. Pope Innocent III approved their way of life. Sick and almost blind, Francis composed the famous *Canticle of the Creatures*. He died on October 3, 1226, at 45 years old.
The Great Schisms: East-West and Western
The East-West Schism
- Separation of the Latin and Greek Churches.
- There were political, cultural, and religious reasons.
- Patriarch Michael Cerularius closed Latin monasteries in the East.
- Pope Leo IX and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other.
- The Orthodox Church was born from this separation.
- In 1965, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras met in a symbolic embrace and lifted the excommunications, a first step towards reconciliation.
The Western Schism
- After Pope Gregory XI died, two popes were chosen, dividing Christianity.
- To resolve the problem, a council met in Pisa, where they chose a third pope, worsening the situation.
- The Council of Constance eventually elected a single pope; two of the previous claimants resigned, and the third, Benedict XIII, fled.
The Church’s Commitment to the Poor
The Church has consistently been present among the poorest through volunteers, missionaries, religious orders, and societies of apostolic life.
Saint Teresa of Ávila: A Life of Mysticism
Her lifestyle was withdrawn, under strict enclosure. She lived in poverty and was dedicated to prayer and menial jobs. She began to experience God through visions and withdrew to a solitary life. She described her ecstasies and revelations in her writings. She is undoubtedly one of the greatest mystics in Church history.
Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther was one of the protagonists of the religious and political events of the 16th century. Luther argued that:
- Every person, not the Church, is the sole interpreter of Scripture.
- The only thing that saves is faith in God, not good works.
- The cult of saints, the Virgin, and indulgences should be abolished.
- Only two sacraments are valid: Baptism and the Eucharist.
- The hierarchy has no power in the Church.
The Catholic Counter-Reformation Era
This period is known as the stage of restoration of the Catholic Church during the 16th and 17th centuries. It was Catholicism’s reaction against the Protestant Reformation.
Jesus’ Revelation of God as a Loving Father
The image of God presented by Jesus is that of a Father who deeply loves all and desires His children to live as brothers and sisters.