Chapter 7

The breaking down of the empires, and the diminishing rule of the state due
to barbarian invasion and feudal anarchy eventually turned into a similar
crisis for the Church. It was not just monasteries getting attacked now, but
the real worldview underneath. Secularism was being brought into play. In
the fifth and sixth century, Christianity is seen to be independent when the
world is falling. It brought forth real reformation, regeneration, and
renewal along with its new found power. This movement began as a monastic
one, but each monastery was lead differently and so lead to different yet
unifying beliefs. Every monastery held the responsibility of its missionary
function very highly and seriously. We can see from the writings of St. Odo
that even within the Church there was great evil. The monastic age was
decaying rapidly. But St. Odo also realizes that this cannot help but
happen. Within every culture and every individual there lies a nature that
wills to create evil and wrongdoing. This will come out, but the glory of
the Lord will reign in the end. He knew the Church would not disappear
completely.



“The only remedy is to be found in that spiritual force by which the
humility of God conquers the pride of the evil one. Hence the spiritual
reformer cannot expect to have the majority on his side. He must be prepared
to stand alone like Ezekiel and Jeremy. He must take as his example St.
Augustine besieged by the Vandals at Hippo, or St. Gregory preaching at Rome
with the Lombards at the gates. For the true helpers of the world are the
poor in spirit, the men who bear the sign of the cross on their foreheads,
who refuse to be overcome by the triumph of injustice and put their sole
trust in the salvation of God.”



Within the sea of feudal anarchy, monasteries of peace and tranquility were
forming and spreading the Gospel. Not only that, but they made great
progress. Many faithful and Godly abbots exercised great influence upon the
rulers of their times.


The temporal authority in the Church was its temporal ministers. If these
ministers lead the Church astray, it was the duty and calling of the Church
and of the Christian people to either correct their ways, or replace them.


F.W. Maitland said, "It is impossible to frame any acceptable definition of
the State which would not include the medieval Church."