Explain the importance of Henry's relationship with the Papacy in relation to other factors in maintainingThe stability of the church in 1485-1509

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Explain the importance of Henry’s relationship with the

Papacy in relation to other factors in maintaining

The stability of the church in 1485-1509

Many factors contributed to the stability of the church and Henry VII was very important in maintaining that stability. Henry VII was not directly involved in the progress of Protestant reform in England. In fact, he died before the Reformation became a factor in the development of the English church. However, Henry VII was involved in the historical circumstances that set the stage for the choices his son felt he had to make when he became king--choices that pushed him inexorably toward a complete break between the English church and the Roman Catholic church. Henry was pious and had desire for security. He continued to maintain excellent relations with the Pope, and he remained a devout Christian, this is demonstrated by his religious commitment which is evidenced in his pilgrimages to Our Lady of Walshingham, and decreeing 10000 for the salvation of his immortal souls.  He also appointed more bishops who were lawyers and Bishops were theologians.   He never challenged the authority of the Pope or the Roman Church and this helped the maintenance of the stability of the English church, which followed the Roman church, with the Pope as its head.  Henry did not have any influence over the church courts and was also determined that the authority of the pope in the church courts should not prejudice his rights and interests.  For many centuries the Roman Catholic Church was the most powerful ecumenical institution in Europe. All of Western Europe was united by the Christian faith, and that faith was defined by the teachings of the Roman Catholic church. But by fairly early in the fifteenth century, secular kings and princes had begun to successfully assert control over the personnel and property of the church within their own borders. In 1420, one pope, Julius II even commented, "Not the pope but the king of England governs the church in his dominions,” as Henry VII had more influence over the church than the Pope who was the official head of the church.  He also maintained the English church by setting an example for his people to follow and showing them that the English church followed the Roman Church.  

  Humanism was a huge factor, which contributed to the maintenance of the stability of the church.  The impact of humanism upon English thought and religion during this period must have been seen in perspective.  Humanism was only an option for the select few and its historical importance properly derives from its educational role in challenging scholasticism and the papacy. Pre-reformation the church was dominated by the clergy, services were in Latin and therefore 1/5 graduates were educated.  For majority the traditional forms of religious devotion were norm such as liturgy, mysticism pilgrimages the veneration of images, local saints, miracles and prophetic revelations but other humanists according to J.Lotherington wanted ‘a simpler religion based on a more accurate version of the Bible.’  Humanism encouraged the questioning of the Roman Catholic Church and the English church after.  This questioning would lead to protests and complaints against the church, which would destabilise it.  Humanism encouraged educational changes and the arrival of Desiderius Erasmus and other humanists meant that Platonism and the study of Greek literature were emphasised as the better means of understanding and writing.  There was also study of the Bible and other religious texts and also the ideas of the great Greek thinkers Aristotle and Plato which meant that the Church could no longer attempt to have a monopoly on learning and thought.  John Colet also opened a number of grammar schools in England for example St Paul’s School in London which was completely run by lay control and the curriculum was to comprise Latin and Greek texts.  Education also encouraged the destabilisation of the English church as it meant that more people could think for themselves and could question the Roman and English church more critically as like any other powerful institution, the Roman church was riddled with corruption and greed, and over time the sacred rituals of the church had become more complex and more subject to abuse, and yet less able to meet the needs of the church's adherents. J. Guy said  “The impact of humanism upon English thought and religion must be seen in perspective” as humanism only influenced the English church to a small extent through the upper ranks in society who had access by influence to humanist writings, schools or intellectuals. Erasmus challenged and criticised the church, even though he was a devout Christian, but was concerned with the corruption that had spread through the religious positions of office. However, Erasmus believed that religious revolt led directly to anarchy; therefore he took the side of neither the Pope, nor the reform radical, Martin Luther. Erasmus hoped to provoke people into questioning their confidence in religious authority through his writings as opposed to speaking out directly against the Romanists. Erasmus wrote The Praise of Folly as a satire in hope that people would start to question the Romanists' religious authority. Erasmus implies that he Pope puts on a facade as an all-knowing, all-powerful mortal. Erasmus states here that the Pope has no true knowledge as to what God expects from his worshipers and he attacks theologians through the voice of Folly when he says that they will not waste haste to proclaim heresy in order to "terrify any towards whom they are ill-disposed.” Erasmus does not accept the word of theologians as religious law, and therefore is not intimidated by their accusations of blasphemy upon his questioning of authority. Their notion that they "already inhabit the third heaven they look down from" is proof that they have lost their humility in front of Christ. To the Popes, Cardinals, and Bishops, Erasmus questions why they feel that they have the knowledge to answer any and all existential questions concerning human origin and human destiny. Humanism did promote anti-scholasticism and anti-papilism by its idea of questioning them but not to many people and so its role in destabilising the church was very limited, this is shown in the quote by Guy who says “Humanism was only an option for the select few and its historical influence properly derives from its educational role in scholasticism and the papacy.”  In some aspects the church’s role was not declining as it did make an impact on the laity, there was civic investment, which meant that there were more buildings of churches, religious guilds providing community role such as funerals, fresh water facilities in Bristol and the payment of midwives.  

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   In line with the burgeoning influence of Humanism there came an intellectual revival of the study of law.  The tradition of statues, laws and parliamentary acts together with the collective memory of the legal profession and judges provided a basis for a renewed pursuit of this in the late 15th century.  Guy says that  ‘by instigating internal reforms, novel procedures, restudying the law, the place of canon law (church) was questioned” and during Henry’s reign there was a constant conflict between Henry and the humanists who wanted to defer canon law to common law and the church who was adamant ...

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