The Ages of Faith: Popular Religion in Late Medieval England and Western Europe (International Library of Historical Studies)

Christianity in the later Middle Ages was flourishing, popular and vibrant and the institutional church was generally popular - in stark contrast to the picture of corruption and decline painted by the later Reformers which persists even today. Norman Tanner, the pre-eminent historian of the later medieval church, provides a rich and authoritative history of religion in this pivotal period. Despite signs of turbulence and demands for reform, he demonstrates that the church remained powerful, self-confident and deeply rooted. Weaving together key themes of religious history - the Christian roots of Europe; the crusades; the problematic question of the Inquisition; the relationship between the church and secular state; the central role of monasticism; and, the independence of the English church - "The Ages of Faith" is an impressive tribute to a lifetime's research into this subject. But to many readers the central fascination of "The Ages of Faith" will be its perceptive insights into popular and individual spiritual experience: sin, piety, penance, heresy, the role of the mystics and even 'making merry'. "The Ages of Faith" is a major contribution to the Reformation debate and offers a revealing vision of individual and popular religion in an important period so long obscured by the drama of the Reformation. Provides A History Of Religion In Late Medieval England. The Author Demonstrates That, Despite Signs Of Turbulence And Demands For Reform, The Church Remained Powerful, Self-confident And Deeply Rooted. Medieval Crusade Degrees And Ignatius's Meditation On The Kingdom -- Reception Of The First Seven Ecumenical Councils By Medieval And Later General Councils Of The Western Church -- Pastoral Care: The Fourth Lateran Council Of 1215 -- The Council Of Florence, 1439-45 -- The Council Of Trent, 1545-63 -- The Reformation And Regionalism: Further Reflections On The Church In Late Medieval Norwich -- Religious Practice In Norwich -- Sources For Popular Religion In Late Medieval England -- Penances Imposed On Kentish Lollards By Archbishop Warham, 1511-12 -- Crying 'god For Harry! England And St George!' -- The Study Of English Medieval Recluses In The Twentieth Century -- Canon Law In England, Hermits And Anchorites, Popular Religion -- Piety In The Later Middle Ages In England -- Private Life And The Middle Ages -- Medieval Christendom And The Restoration Of A Christian Society -- Do North Americans Understand The Middle Ages Better Than Europeans? -- Sin In The Middle Ages -- Making Merry In The Middle Ages -- Christianity Vs 'paganism'?: Reflections On Medieval Europe -- Inquisition And Holy Office. Norman Tanner. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [201]-219) And Indexes. Contents 6 Introduction 8 1. Medieval Crusade Decrees and Ignatius's Meditation on the Kingdom 14 2. Reception of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils by Medieval and Later General Councils of the Western Church 26 3. Pastoral Care: The Fourth Lateran Council of 1215 32 4. The Council of Florence, 1439-45 46 5. The Council of Trent, 1545-63 50 6. The Reformation and Regionalism: Further Reflections on the Church in Late Medieval Norwich 54 7. Religious Practice in Norwich 72 8. Source for Popular Religion in Late Medieval England 92 9. Penances Imposed on Kentish Lollards by Archbishop Warham, 1511-12 108 10. Crying 'God for Harry! England adn St George!'' 126 11. The Study of English Medieval Recluses in the Twentieth Century 134 12. Canon Law in England, Hermits and Anchorites, Popular Religion 140 13. Piety in the Later Middle Ages in England 148 14. Private Life and the Middle Ages 166 15. Medieval Christendom and the Restoriation of a Christian Society 174 16. Do North Americans Understand the Middle Ages Better than Europeans? 184 17. Sin in the Middle Ages 188 18. Making Merry in the Middle Ages 194 19. Christianity vs 'Paganism'? Reflections on Medieval Europe 200 20. Inquisition and Holy Office 210 Notes 214 Index of Modern Scholars (c. 1750-)) 234 General Index 238 Maps 247