Charlemagne

                                   Charlemagne

 On Christmas Day, Charles was present at Mass in St. Peter’s when suddenly Pope Leo set a crown on his head while the whole assembly roared out, “Hail to Charles the Augustus, crowned of God, the great and peace-bringing Emperor of the Romans. This is the acclamation of the people to the great warrior, defender of faith and of the Catholic Church. Who is this Charles the Augustus? Einhard described Charles as huge in stature, physically vigorous, a tender father, affable and popular with his subject, a man of profound Christian conviction, and imbued with a strong sense of a God-given mission to unify the people of the West under Christian banner. (1) 

 The long years of Charlemagne’s reign (768-814) were filled with work of restoration. Schools were founded everywhere, ecclesiastical life was reformed and reorganized, every aspect of religious life became a main interest for the State’s protecting care. Church and State seemed at last fused into one thing, bishops and popes were the Frankish king’s enthusiastic assistants. His solemn crowning as emperor marks the restoration of the Western Empire in his person, the gesture seemed to seal divinely the great success of his life. (2)

As emperor, Charlemagne proved to be a talented diplomat and able administrator of the vast area he controlled. He promoted education and encouraged the Carolingian Renaissance, a period of renewed emphasis on scholarship and culture. He instituted economic and religious reforms, and was a driving force behind the Carolingian minuscule, a standardized form of writing that later became a basis for modern European printed alphabets. Charlemagne ruled from a number of cities and palaces, but spent significant time in Aachen. His palace there included a school, for which he recruited the best teachers in the land. In addition to learning, Charlemagne was interested in athletic pursuits. Known to be highly energetic, he enjoyed hunting, horseback riding and swimming. Aachen held particular appeal for him due to its therapeutic warm springs. (3)

Like King David of Israel, Charlemagne was a great warrior but had also his tendency to intervene church rulings.Historian recorded that there was a time that he wanted to control the Church and make theological decisions. At one point, Charlemagne wrote the pope and told him that it was the pope’s job to pray for the church, but his job, as emperor to rule it. In theory, there was a division between worldly (temporal) and spiritual authority in this alliance between church and state; in practice, however, a strong emperor or king would always take control of some spiritual affairs, and a strong pope would take control of worldly or political affairs. (4) Nevertheless it is interesting to note that the name Charlemagne was included in the list of saints and blessed. It was during the reign of Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758) that he canonized nine saints and proclaimed thirty-one people blessed, and one of them was Charlemagne. (5) Today the cult of Charlemagne is confine to the keeping of a feast (every January 28) in his honor in Aachen and two Swiss abbeys. (6) 

Here is an article which is truly a magnificent testimony of Catholicism made by the man who was one of the most expressive symbols of medieval Europe. He counsels  his subjects in varying proportions that can be apply to each one of us: (7)

"Hear me, my beloved brothers! We were sent here for your salvation, to exhort you to faithfully follow the Law of God and to convert you, in justice and mercy, to obey the laws of this world.

"First, I exhort you to believe in the One Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: the only true God, perfect Trinity, true Unity, Creator of all things visible and invisible, Who is our salvation and the Author of all good things. Believe in the Son of God made man for the salvation of the world, born of the Virgin Mary by the work of the Holy Ghost. Believe that for our salvation He suffered death; and that on the third day He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God. Believe that He will return to judge the living and dead, and that He will give to each one according to his works.

"Believe in one single Church, the society of the blessed through the entire universe, and know that only they can be saved, and that the Reign of God belongs only to those who persevere to the end in this [Catholic] Faith. Those who are excluded from the Church because of their sins and do not return to her through penance, can never make any action accepted by God. Be convinced that with Baptism you received absolution of your sins. Trust in the mercy of God, Who daily forgives our sins through confession and penance. Believe in the resurrection of the dead, in eternal life and in the never-ending torment of the impious.

"This is the Faith that will save you if you keep it faithfully, and add to it the practice of good works, because Faith without works is a dead faith; and works without Faith, even when they are good, cannot please God. Therefore, love Almighty God above all things with all your heart and strength. With the help with His grace, do everything, always and as much as possible, that you believe will please Him. But avoid everything that displeases Him, for the man who pretends to love God and does not observe His Commandment lies. "Love your neighbor as yourself, and give as many alms to the poor as you can, according to your means. Receive travelers in your houses, visit the poor, and show charity to the prisoners as much as you can. Do evil to no one, and make no compromise with those who do bad things, because it is bad to not only harm your neighbor, but also to be familiar with those who harm him.

"Mutually forgive offenses if you want God to forgive your sins. Rescue captives, help those who are unjustly oppressed, defend widows and orphans. Make judgments fairly; never favor any injustice, do not harbor long hatreds; avoid drunkenness and taking part in frivolous feasts.

"Be humble and good to one another; be faithful to your lords. Commit no robberies or perjuries, and avoid any acquaintance with those who commit them. Hatred, jealousies and violence separate us from the Kingdom of God. Reconcile with one another as soon as possible, for while it is human for men to sin, it is angelic to repent and diabolic to persevere in sin.

"Defend the Church of God and help her so that the priests of God can pray for us. Remember your promise in Baptism to renounce the Devil and his works. Do not return to him in anything; nor should you return to the works you have renounced, but rather follow the will of God as you have promised, and love the One who created you and gave you all the gifts and goods you possess.

"Each one should serve God faithfully in the place he finds himself. Wives should submit to their husbands in all goodness and modesty. They should avoid any dishonest action, and not poison others or be jealous, because those who do such actions are in revolt against God. They should raise their children in the fear of God, and give alms with a glad and joyous heart according to their means.

"Husbands should love their wives and speak no rude word to them; they should direct their homes with goodness and frequently gather in church. They should return to others what they owe them without murmuring, and with good will return to God what belongs to Him.

"Children should love and honor their parents; obey them in everything, and remain far from stealing, murdering and debaucheries.

"Clerics and canons should diligently obey the commands of their Bishops; they should live in their residences and not wander here and there among the people. Nor should they enter into secular questions. They should preserve their chastity: the reading of Holy Scriptures should remind them of their service to God and the Church.

"Monks should be faithful to the promises they made to God. They should not do anything against the will of their Abbots or seek any shameful personal benefit. They should know their rule by heart and follow it regularly, reminding themselves that it would be better not to have made any vow than to have made them and not be faithful "Dukes, counts and judges should be just with the people and merciful to the poor. They should never sell justice for money, and never allow a personal hatred to lead them to condemn an innocent man. They should always have these words of the Apostle in their hearts: 'For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that which he has done, whether it be good or bad.' (2 Cor. 5:10) The Lord expressed this by the following words: 'For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged' (Matt 7:2); "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hidden, that shall not be known. (Luke 12:2) 'That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment' (Matt 12:36).

"We must make an effort, therefore, with the help of God, to please Him in all our actions so that after this present life, we will merit eternal happiness in the company of the Saints of the Lord. This life is short, and the hour of death is uncertain. What matters except to be ready? Let us not forget how terrible it is to fall into the hands of the Lord. By means of confession, penance and alms, we make the Lord become merciful and clement. If He sees us turn to Him with a sincere heart, He will show us pity and will have mercy on us.

"May God grant us prosperity in this life and an eternity with His Saints in the future life.

References:

  1      Bokenkotter, Thomas, The Concise History of the Catholic Church, page 104-105 

  2      Hughes, Philip, A Popular History of the Catholic Church, page 86-87 

  3     www.history.com 

  4      Schreck, Alan, The Compact History of the Catholic Church, page 36 

  5      Butler’s Lives of the Saints (1955) Vol. One page 188-189

  6      catholicsaints.info/pope-benedict-xiv/ 

  7       http://www.traditioninaction.org/History/A04CharlemagneSpeech.html

Papal History

Two Thousand Years Guiding the Barque of Peter

Sea of Galilee - by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

What is papal infallibility?

Was Pius XII really “Hitler’s Pope”?

Was there really a Pope Joan?

Why do cardinals wear red?

The Pope is the Vicar of Christ whose authority has been passed down from St. Peter in an unbroken line of succession for over two thousand years.  An office with that much history and that level of importance is bound to be at the center of numerous controversies and the subject of many questions ranging from the skeptical to the merely curious.  In 101 Questions & Answers on Popes and the Papacy, Christopher M. Bellitto, Ph.D. answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the history of the papacy over the last two millennia.

In addressing those questions Bellitto attempts to take a balanced approach, declaring in the preface that, “my intention is not to produce a work of advocacy or indictment.  I don’t want to evangelize or scandalize, revise or attack, debunk or skewer . . . Whitewashed history does no one any good.  It is bad history because it is incomplete history.”[1]

Overall, I believe Bellitto met his stated goal and took a very even-handed approach in answering many difficult questions.  Based on his experience teaching the history of the papacy at the university level as well his interactions with general audiences through television, radio, and public lectures, Bellito is very familiar with questions that create the most problems for people regarding the papacy.  For example, many questions he raises concern papal authority or the hierarchical structure of the Church (which is not surprising in the relativistic and fiercely independent culture of today).  Other questions cover the major hot-buttons in papal history such as the Protestant reformation and conflicts over the relationship between Church and state.  Bellitto also deals with a number of points that people are simply curious about, such as the pope’s vestments and jewelry, the triple crown, papal coats of arms, and why cardinals wear red.

Generally the answers to the questions are short and to the point, seldom exceeding one to two pages each.  When dealing with questions about papal failings or accusations against the Church, Bellito steers a middle course, neither engaging in hagiography nor blanket condemnations.  For example when answering questions about misdeeds of the clergy, Bellito, acknowledges the sins but puts the issue into perspective.

Have there been priest-pedophiles and did irresponsible bishops cover up their crimes?  Yes, but the overwhelming majority – surely better than 95 percent – of bishops and priests are the good guys.  Did Renaissance popes promote their children and grandchildren to cardinal, divert church money to their family bank accounts, and plot to push their enemies aside?  You bet, but . . .  those fellows were a very small minority of popes, not the norm . . . To speak too much of the “good popes” risks downplaying the dark chapters . . . but to speak only of the “bad popes” does a disservice to the far larger achievements of so many others.[2]

Similarly, when answering a question suggesting that the Church’s great collection of artwork and other wealth at the Vatican is contradictory to the Jesus’ mission to the poor, Bellitto explains,

. . . the church has a proud tradition of leading the way in helping the poor through her schools, hospitals, adoption agencies, and many other relief efforts.  True, the Vatican’s buildings and the art collections in its museums often make people wonder if the church is hoarding valuable objects that she might otherwise sell to give the money to the poor . . . However, it must be remembered that the church holds these objects in a kind of trust . . . More than most countries and other institutions, the church has safeguarded these artworks and made them available to people of all faiths, often at a financial loss because of the massive cost to simply maintain them.[3]

As a church historian, Bellitto believes the story of the papacy is best encountered by viewing it chronologically, stating,  “We must begin with the history and then return to specific aspects, themes, and topics of that history that recur . . .”[4]  Toward that end, Bellitto organizes the questions and answers into several major sections: The first three cover the history of the Early Church (50-800), the Medieval and Reformation Church (800-1600), and the Early Modern and Modern Church (1600-present).  The next group covers questions on structure and meaning with sections on Papal Authority, Cardinals, Papal Death and Succession, Worldliness and Symbolism.  The final group is a collection of miscellaneous questions which range from topics such as the existence of Pope Joan to which popes had the longest and shortest reigns.

By presenting a wide range of questions in a concise and objective fashion, Bellitto makes this work very accessible to a general audience, even when dealing with complex or controversial topics.  Some of the difficult questions that he covers include:

    V proof of the primacy of Peter

    V the struggle between church and state on such issues as lay investiture

    V effects of increased papal power

    V the Great western Schism and its aftermath

    V various aspects of the Protestant reformation

    V papal infallibility

    V effects of  European revolutions on the papacy

    V modern popes’ responses to modernism

    V papal authority vs bishop and council authority

Christopher Bellitto, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of history at Kean University in New Jersey.  He has written numerous books on Church history including Church History 101: A Concise Overview and Reassessing Reform: A Historical Investigation into Church Renewal.  In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Bellitto is a frequent media resource and an entertaining lecturer.  Amazon sells 101 Questions & Answers on Popes and the Papacy (ISBN-13: 978-0809145164) for $11.94 in paperback.

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[1] Christopher M. Bellitto, 101 Questions & Answers on Popes and the Papacy (New York: Paulist Press, 2008), xv.

[2] Bellitto, 101 Questions & Answers on Popes, xv-xvi.

[3] Bellitto, 101 Questions & Answers on Popes, 125-126.

[4] Bellitto, 101 Questions & Answers on Popes, xvii.

Bibliography

Bellitto, Christopher. 101 Questions & Answers on Popes and the Papacy. New York: Paulist Press, 2008.