THEN. According to Church historian, Baronius (b.1538; d.1607), the tenth century was perhaps the saddest in Christian annals which he described as "that Christ was as if asleep in the vessel of the Church."
I wonder if future historians would look at our time the same way. However, there are so many similarities. In Benedict XVI's final address in 2013, "I have felt like St. Peter with the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee: the Lord has given us many days of sunshine and gentle breeze, days in which the catch has been abundant; then there have been times when the seas were rough and the wind against us, as in the whole history of the Church it has ever been—and the Lord seemed to sleep. Nevertheless, I always knew that the Lord is in the barque."
Even (St) Bruno, Bishop of Segni, Italy spoke of that period upon the election of Pope Leo IX (152nd pope, 1049-54) as: "the whole world lay in wickedness, holiness had disappeared, justice had perished and truth had been buried; Simon Magus lording it over the Church, whose bishops and priests were given to luxury and fornication."
CHURCH ESTATE
Then. During that time, the Church had many estates, and thus, priests and religious were also landlords. On the other hand, the secular world was governed by monarchs, dukes, and emperors. With the Church's material wealth, worldly and power hungry people took interest in her.
Now. The Church's estate had been reduced to the Vatican State within Rome, Italy. The rest of its material property is spread out in monasteries, buildings, and dioceses. The Catholic Church is still considered rich with its precious assets.
SIMONY and RELATIONSHIP with WORLDLY POWERS
Simony was the biggest problem of the Church wherin clerical office are bought. The emperor at that time was from the Franconian line. Germany was the Imperial land. Kings and dukes were fond of investing clerics for political influence.
Now. There are many independent nations with their own system of government. Majority is governed by electoral process. In issues of artificial contraception, abortion, euthanasia,and same-sex marriage, majority of bishops' conference are still at odds with the government.
ECCLESIASTICAL EDIFICE
How bad were things? [1] Then,Leo IX also appointed Hildebrand as propositus or promisor of the monastery of St. Paul extra Muros (St. Paul outside the walls). The historic and venerable establishment had suffered much from the past violence of lawless bands of the Champagne. The building had been so neglected that sheeps and cattles would roam around through the unrepaired broken doors. Just as broken down was the monastic discipline within the establishment. The monks were being attended by women in the refectory and the regiments of prayers were not being observed.
Now. From those of age at the time of Vatican II's implementation witnessed the demolishing of sanctuary rails, moving of altar table to accommodate priest facing people, moving of the tabernacle to the side. Many Churches after Vatican II function like multipurpose edifice where cultural presentations are held. Modern Church architecture had also emerged taking away much of the symbolism of old churches.
SEXUAL IMMORALITY
And the extent of sexual immorality then?
Peter Damian, monk, published his treatise on the vices of the clergy, the "Liber Gomorrhianus" (Book of Gomorrha) in 1051, dedicating it to the pope who was two years into his pontificate. It became a controversial book. Those that were alluded to were certainly not happy with the author. The pope who at first praised Peter Damian’s work soon distanced himself with the author with the rising controversy and considered the writing as an exaggeration. Peter vigorously protested in his letter to the pope.
The issues tackled in the book were:
•The problems of homosexual bishops or heads of religious orders who engage their "spiritual sons" in acts of sodomy.
•The sacrilegious use of the sacraments by homosexual clerics and religious.
•The special problems for the Church related to the seduction of youths by clerical pederasts, and
•The problem of overtly lax canons and penances for clerical and religious offenders that make a mockery of the seriously sinful nature of homosexual acts.
During the time of Ratzinger in Rome, the sexual abuse scandal erupted in the press. The extent, though, about 0.1% of the priesthood was alarming.
Worst was the clique that developed from it and became a homo lobby within the Church which can be likened to (St) Peter Damien's Book of Gomorrah.
Cardinal Ratzinger and later as Benedict XVI tried to clean up the Church and more succinctly fight the homoheresy. Ratzinger called it the "filth" within the church.
EASTERN CHURCH
Then, there was also the continuing tension between the Church in the East with the Church in the West. The conflict that allowed the Moslem an advantage in conquering several territories in the East.
Pope Leo IX didn’t live to see the result of his embassy to Constantinople. On 16th of July, 1054 the two cardinals excommunicated Caerularius and the Greek Patriarch, likewise, excommunicated the Roman pontiff.
Now. Pope Paul VI, on his trip to the Holy Land, together with the Patriarch mutually lifted the excommunication. Succeeding popes have traveled to the Holy Land but "communion" had not been arrived.
ISLAM
Then. Islam was aggressive in occupying territories. Pope Gregory VII (Hildebrand) tried to call a crusade to help the Christians in the Middle East but his call was met with indifference.
Now, Islam had become the dominant religion in the Middle East. Israel also has its own land but the conflict remains in the East. Shari'a law is enforced in both Sunni and Shiite controlled areas. Most of Middle East had become rich through its oil and gas production. However, Christian persecution of Political and militant Moslems prevail in greater intensity.
HOLY EUCHARIST
Another notable problem then was the heresy of Berengarius of Tours (b.999; d.1088) questioning the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
Although there is no outright Berengarius heresy, the actuations of priests and laity towards the Holy Eucharist speak tons. Clown masses, Priests distributing Holy Communion as if they were handing out coins to be received by the hand. The churchgoers dressed up for another occasion and the Mass was just a convenient incidental in their schedule. The unrecognizable Sacrifice of the Mass abound.
DISSENT/ CELIBACY DEBATE
In spite of reforms, condemnations, and sending papal legates, bishops and priests were openly dissenting. Dissent became the norm and those who are faithful to the teaching of the Church were treated with contempt. It was then and it is now.
Deacon Ariald and Anselm of Lucca were amongst those going against the current. Deacon Ariald was slained in 1065 on his way to Rome.
Now, open dissent from bishops and lay leaders. Kasper, Mahoney, with many dissenting organizations.
HILDEBRAND AND RATZINGER
After Hildebrand's 20 year long service to the pope's, he was elected pope on 1073. He was about 50 years old and took the name of Gregory VII. The Holy Roman Emperor at that time was 23-year-old King Henry IV of the Franconian line. He was consecrated on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, 29 June 1073, which was the anniversary of his priestly ordination.
Hildebrand asked for a lot of prayers and he wrote to Desiderius, Abbot of Monte Cassino, referring to his elevation to the pontificate with the words of Psalm: "I am come into deep waters, so that the floods run over me... Fearlessness and trembling are come upon me, and darkness hath covered me."
Ratzinger after serving as prefect of Congregation of Doctrine and Faith was elected into the papacy on 2005 and took the name of Benedict XVI
In his inaugural address on April 24, he said, "Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves." Joseph Ratzinger was ordained in the priesthood on 29 June 1951.
January 1075, Pope Gregory VII to Abbot Hugh of Cluny: "The Eastern Church has FALLEN AWAY from the Faith and is now assailed on every side by infidels. Wherever I turn my eyes--to the west, to the north, or to the south--I find everywhere bishops who have OBTAINED their office in an irregular way, whose lives and conversation are strangely at variance with their SACRED CALLING; who go through their duties not for the LOVE of CHRIST but from motives of WORLDLY gain. There are no longer princes who set God's honour before their own selfish ends, or who allow justice to stand in the way of their ambition... And those among whom I live-- Romans, Lombards, and Normans --are, as I have often told them, worse than Jews or Pagans".
In the flight en route to Fatima, 13 May 2010, Ratzinger said, "As for the new things which we can find in this message today, there is also the fact that attacks on the Pope and the Church come not only from without, but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within the Church, from the sin existing within the Church. This too is something that we have always known, but today we are seeing it in a really terrifying way: that the greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without, but arises from sin within the Church, and that the Church thus has a deep need to relearn penance, to accept purification, to learn forgiveness on the one hand, but also the need for justice."
23 January 1076, King Henry who continued to practice Simony called his own council with bishops aligning with him and declared Gregory VII deposed, putting his own anti-pope. Hildebrand excommunicated King Henry and his allies. In spite of the terrible state of Christendom, the masses still believe in Christianity and declared they want a new king rather than the excommunicated one. King Henry, thus, realized he needs the approval of the pope.
In 1084, after so many attempts King Henry succeeded in occupying Rome and consecrated Guibert as Clement III. 61-year-old Pope Gregory VII was exiled at the Castle of Sant’ Angelo. He was liberated by the Normans, but their abuses were too much for the Romans who went on uprising. Hildebrand went into self-exile at Monte Cassimo then at Salerno.
On May 25, 1085, Hildebrand/ Pope Gregory VII died at Salerno around the age of 60 or 65. His last words were: "I have LOVED JUSTICE and HATED INIQUITY, therefore I die in EXILE."
On February 11, 2013, Ratzinger/ Benedict XVI announced his renunciation. Beginning the 28th of February, he began his life of reclusion at Castel Gandolfo then at the Monastery of Mater Ecclesiae within the Vatican City.
POST- HILDEBRAND
Several pontificates and anti-popes came after Hildebrand. It would be in the age of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (B. 1090; D. 21 August, 1153) when Christianity would blossom again.
Reference: New Advent: Pope St. Gregory VII
