Patristics

“So far from that, we, on the contrary, bring before you one who was their protector, as you will see by examining the letters of Marcus Aurelius, that most grave of emperors, in which he bears his testimony that that Germanic drought was removed by the rains obtained through the prayers of the Christians who chanced to be fighting under him.” Tertullian, Apology, 5, ANF 3:22

Baier's axioms

Faciens et consentiens pari poena plectendi sunt.

Doing and consenting are punished with an equal punishment.

Murphysboro Centuries, 12th secullar

Arnold of Bresica - a charismatic priest whose preaching helped begin a “commune” in Rome, a democracy that denounced non-Italian popes and the growing wealth of the papacy and demanded a return to “apostolic poverty”

Luther

“In short, it [worshiping God according to our 'own pleasure'] is the most horrible and frightful misuse that one can imagine or express, for it is equivalent to the denial of God himself and of his first, highest and noblest commandment.” Martin Luther, Misuse of the Mass, LW, AE, 36:148

Latin proverbs

Crudelitatis mater est avaritia. (Quintilian)

Greed is the mother of cruelty.

Murphysboro Centuries, 12th secular

Italy

Paschal II, 1099-1118

- was humiliated by Henry V of Germany - renounced all secular power, but he and his decision were repudiated by his own clergy - eventually arrested by Henry V (which made a huge impression on Europe)

Imitation of Christ

Possunt quidem verba sonare, sed spiritum non conferunt. Pulcherrime dicunt, sed te tacente cor non accedunt. Litteras tradunt, sed tu sensum aperis. Mysteria referunt, sed tu referas intellectum signatorum. Mandata edunt, sed tu juvas ad perficiendum. Viam ostendunt, sed tu confortas ad ambulandum. Illi foris tantum agunt, sed tu corda instruis, et illuminas. Illi exterius rigant, sed tu fecunditatem donas. Illi clamant verbis, sed tu auditui intelligentiam tribuis.

They [Moses and the prophets] can indeed utter words, but they give not the spirit. They speak with exceeding beauty, but when You are silent they kindle not the heart. They give us scriptures, but You make known the sense thereof. They bring us mysteries, but You reveal the things which are signified. They utter commandments, but You help in the fulfilling of them. They show the way, but You give strength for the journey. They act only outwardly, but You instruct and enlighten the heart. They water, but You give the increase. They cry with words, but You give understanding to the hearer.

Imitation of Christ, III, 2:2

Ecclesiasticus

"He [God] set his eye upon their hearts to show them [man] the majesty of his works." Ecclesiasticus 17:9

Latin proverbs

Crudelitatis mater est avaritia. (Quintilian)

Greed is the mother of cruelty.

Murphysboro Centuries, 12th secular

Alfonso VIII, 1158-1214

- beaten by Moslems in 1195, Castile was invaded by Leon and Navarre - beat them back and began the process of unifying all of Spain against the Moslems

Patristics

“Tiberius accordingly, in whose days the Christian name made its entry into the world, having himself received intelligence from Palestine of events which had clearly shown the truth of Christ's divinity, brought the matter before the Senate, with his own decision in favor of Christ. The Senate, because it had not given the approval itself, rejected his proposal. Caesar held to his opinions, threatening wrath against all accusers of the Christians.” Tertullian, Apology, 5, ANF 3: 21-22

Baier's axioms

Fides per quodvis peccatum mortale excutitur et amittitur.

Faith, through whatever mortal sin you wish, is driven out and sent away.

Murphysboro Centuries, 12th secular

Spain

Alfonso VII, 1126-1157

- crowned “emperor in 1135, worked hard to advance the reconquest and drive out the Moslems

Luther

“For Christ established the sacrament on himself and not on the person of the minister. It rests on the Word. Accordingly, when there is a confession of the Word, no matter what kind of knave the minister may be, this detracts not at all from the sacrament.” Martin Luther, Tabletalk, Deitrich, #574, Summer/Fall 1533, LW, AE, 54:101

Latin proverbs

Hominis tota vita nihil aliud quam ad mortem iter est. (Seneca)

The whole life of man is nothing else than a joumey to death.

Murphysboro Centuries, 12th secular

Philip II, “Augustus”, 1180-1223

- the outstanding king of his time - “founder of the organized state” (he started regular taxes and a bureacracy) and the “maker of Paris” - spent the first part of his reign putting down revolts and increasing his power - in 1191 joined Richard of England on the 3rd Crusade, but quarreled with him and returned home.

Imitation of Christ

Animadverte hoc, o anima mea, et claude sensualitatis tuæ ostia, ut possis audire quid loquatur Deus Dominus in te. Hæc dicit dilectus tuus. Salus tua ego sum, pax tua, et vita tua. Serva te apud me, et pacem invenies. Dimitte omnia transitoria, et quære æterna. Quid sunt omnia temporalia, nisi seductoria et quid juvant omnes creaturæ, si fueris a Creatore deserta? Omnibus ergo abdicatis Creatori tuo te redde placitam et fidelem, ut veram valeas apprehendere beatitudinem.

Think on these things, O my soul, and shut the doors of your carnal desires, so you may hear what the Lord God will say within you. These things your Beloved says, "I am your salvation, I am your peace and life. Keep with Me, and you will find peace." Put away all transitory things, seek those things that are eternal. For what are all temporal things but deceits, and what shall all created things help you if you are forsaken by the Creator? Therefore put all things else away, and give yourself to the Creator, to be well pleasing and faithful to Him, that you may be able to attain true blessedness.

Imitation of Christ, III, 1:2

Ecclesiasticus

"He [God] made for them [man] tongue and eyes; he gave them ears and a mind for thinking. He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and showed them good and evil." Ecclesiasticus 17:6-7

Murphysboro Centuries, 12th secular

Louis VII, “the Young”, 1137-1180

- not a strong king, but pious - in 1147, he inspired the 2^nd Crusade - returned, beaten, two years later to all sorts of problems - his marriage to Eleanor of Acquitaine annulled in 1152 (she quickly married Henry II of England, which gave Henry more power in France than Louis)

- 1170, the “masters” (teachers) of Paris were recognized as a group, marking the beginning of the University of Paris

Patristics

“…, you exhibit the violence and unjust domination of mere tyranny, if you deny a thing to be lawful, simply on the ground that you wish it to be unlawful, not because it ought to be.” Tertullian, Apology, 4, ANF 3:21

Baier's axioms

Omne peccatum, etiam minimum et cordiale, etiam in regenitis, natura sua et per se est mortale, legalitur. – Omne peccatum, etiam maximum, evangelice ex parte Dei est veniale. – Omne peccatum in irregenitis, etiam minimum, est actu mortiferum.

Every sin, even the smallest and from the heart, even in the reborn, by its nature and in itself is mortal, legally. – Every sin, even the greatest, evangelically on the part of God is forgivable. – Every sin in the unregenerate, even the smallest, is by act death-bringing.

Murphysboro Centuries, 12th secular

France

Louis VI, “the Fat”, 1108-1137

- brave soldier, very popular - tried hard to reduce the power of the nobles - by granting charters  (permission to form towns/cities) he began the process of developing cities, which started growing for the first time in 7-8 centuries - kings had relied on their nobles, Louis began the practice of getting help from lesser nobles and the middle class