During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the supreme political and religious power in Europe. Even though it was sometimes invaded and had its lands annexed, the Church still had immense influence over the people of most European nations and thus rulers were ever cautious in how they appeared vis-a-vis the Church. To this end, the Church exercised excommunication as a last resort in spiritual and political conflicts. Excommunications were extremely powerful since they basically alienated the excommunicated person from all of society, which was basically Christian. As a result, the excommunicated person was often quick to repent. People were excommunicated for: * Apostasy * Heresy * Assault of a Church official * Attack on Church territories * An attack on another Christen monarch or land * Failure to enforce or recognize a papal mandate * Withholding Church funds * Convening a Church Council without papal approval * Ordination of a bishop without papal mandate
There were other reasons, but these suffice as an example. Often wars were started or diverted by whom the Church supported. Drawing an excommunication upon oneself was to be avoided, especially by rulers, since Christians were not obliged to follow an excommunicated sovereign and thus, if intransigent, a ruler could lose their entire kingdom.
they wouldnt go to heaven
excommunication. It's still the same now.
Excommunication and Fines. They could also use public humiliation.
Catholic AnswerExcommunication and Interdiction were used in the medieval Church the same as they are today - to save people's souls. These are the most extreme punishments used to bring people to their senses, and only used in the most extreme cases. Excommunication is used to deny a person access to the sacraments, except of course, confession; interdiction denies the sacraments to a whole area or country. Though relatively rare, excommunication today is much more common as several very serious sins, such as procuring a successful abortion, incur automatic excommunication.
the spirituality
Jerusalem
sacraments
Most medieval queens in Europe were Christians. Some were not. Aside from those areas of Europe where there were pagans, there were well organized and sophisticated monarchies in Europe that were Muslim, such as those in Spain and Sicily.
excommunication
The Excommunication of Christ was created in 2001.
The pope has authority over excommunication.
They should be. Many places in the Bible this is written: 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, ........ This is not the fear and trembling kind of fear but reverential fear