How did the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages help the common man?

Answer 1

During the Middle Ages, the Church provide a number of important services for the common people. Clearly, the most important service of the Church, as far as the people of that time were concerned, was the business of providing spiritual support, saving souls. But there were other important church functions, as well.

The Church provided an alternate justice system, to which people who qualified could appeal, in order to avoid secular courts. Originally, this system was for clergy, but the question of who constituted the clergy was so vague that in time anyone who could read qualified. The usual test was whether the person could read the 51st Psalm.

The Church provided sanctuary for refugees. These were mostly individuals who had run into some kind of trouble, with the law, with abusive husbands, or with people they owed money. Appeal to sanctuary was nearly always respected, even by kings. There are records of queens who fled their husbands and went into sanctuary for the remainder of their lives, and there is one case of a woman who tried to assassinate a King of France being allowed to live out her life in a convent because it had provided sanctuary.

The Church was an arbiter between nations, and prevented wars from time to time.

The Church built and ran hospitals.

The Church provided shelter for travelers, originally pilgrims, but quickly anyone who came along.

Monastic organizations also provided security on the pilgrim roads.

Monasteries and Cathedrals built, staffed, and maintained schools and universities. During much of the Middle Ages, most people who were educated got their teaching from church organizations.

The Church was itself an institution in which the common people could rise in rank.

Answer 2

It was a virtual community center, with the exeption of actual commerce ( left to tradesmen, farmers, peddlars) The Church ( prior to the Reformation) was a one-stop facility for everything from health care ( hospitals), to the normal functions of worship and sacraments and educatiion, and end of the line- cemetery and mortuary facilities so it was womb-to-tomb. In some mission countries until recent decades this tight little community center concept ( ecclesiastical) survived, and still does to some extent in Underdevloped countries. The Belgian Congo was a classic example.

Mission stations ranged from camp sites to, well pocket cities- and all of this was supported by voluntary donations ( such as the Holy Childhood) and was tax exempt.

Answer 3

they set up schools, charities and hospitals to help people

Answer 4

They had power over people, gave people hope and helped them

Answer 5

The church was extremely important and it kept everybody in order. This was because everybody believed in heaven and hell.

Answer 6

They could find a refugium in churches and monasteries during natural disasters and wars.