what is the cluny reform movement

What were the Cluniac reforms?

The Cluniac Reforms (also called the Benedictine Reform) were a series of changes within medieval monasticism of the Western Church focused on restoring the traditional monastic life, encouraging art, and caring for the poor. The movement began within the Benedictine order at Cluny Abbey, founded in 910 by William I, Duke of Aquitaine (875–918).

Why did Cluny become the center of reform?

Because of specific historical circumstances, alien to the mentality of its founders, Cluny rapidly became the center of a vast movement of reform that continued until the 12th century. The popes and feudal authorities alike entrusted to the abbots of Cluny the reform of older monasteries and the foundation of new houses.

What is the Cluniac movement?

The Cluniac movement arose in France in 910. Cluniacs felt that the Church was becoming too worldly and too concerned with material wealth and temporal power. The Cluniac movement got its start in monasteries.

What is the difference between the Reformation and the Cluniac movement?

Although some of its goals were similar to those of the Protestant Reformation, it happened centuries before the Reformation. The Cluniac movement arose in France in 910. Cluniacs felt that the Church was becoming too worldly and too concerned with material wealth and temporal power.

What was the impact of cluniac reform movement on the church?

1130), the Cluniac movement was one of the largest religious forces in Europe. At least as significantly as their political consequences, the reforms demanded greater religious devotion. The Cluniacs supported the Peace of God, and promoted pilgrimages to the Holy Lands.

When was the cluniac reform?

The Cluniac Reform Founded in 909 by local nobles, the monastery was given an important privilege by the pope in the 10th century. Monks from all over Europe were permitted to live in the monastery at Cluny if they felt that conditions at their own monastery didn't live up to the mark.

What did Cluny accomplish?

Cluny became, in many ways, the dynamo that powered the engine of reform directed toward rescuing the Church from feudalism and rescuing lay society as well. Although the idea was not developed by Cluny but originated in Cataluña, the Peace of God and Truce of God, it supported these movements energetically.

Why was Cluny significant?

Cluny was founded by Duke William I of Aquitaine in 910. He nominated Berno as the first abbot of Cluny, subject only to Pope Sergius III. The abbey was notable for its stricter adherence to the Rule of St. Benedict, whereby Cluny became acknowledged as the leader of western monasticism.

What were the main reasons for the Cluny reform movement?

its purpose was to reform the error in monasticism. Manasticism had become corrupt and secular- monks thought they weree cultural saviors , and thought they were higher , morally than others . The Cluny Reform was to fix those errors and to reform the thoughts behind monastic living and tradition.

Who were some of the major players in the cluniac reforms?

A string of influential and creative abbots—Odo (926–944), Mayeul (965–994), Odilo (994–1048), and Hugh (1049–1109)—caused the house to become a major center of spirituality that quickly spread its influence over much of Europe.

What did the monastic reform at Cluny emphasize?

What did the monastic reform at Cluny emphasize? framework. It also emphasized traditional monastic life, encouraging art, and caring for the poor.

What is the Cluny?

British Dictionary definitions for Cluny Cluny. / (ˈkluːnɪ, French klyni) / noun. a town in E central France: reformed Benedictine order founded here in 910; important religious and cultural centre in the Middle Ages.

What is the foundation of Charter Cluny 910 about?

It began with the founding of the Abbey of Cluny in 910 by William I (875–918), Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Auvergne, called “the Pious.” The charter explains William's reasons for donating much of his wealth to create the order, as well as states that the order is founded on the Rule of St. Benedictine.

Who created Cluny?

William IThe monastery of Cluny, one centre of reform, was founded in 910 by William I (the Pious), a duke of Aquitaine with a bad conscience; dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, it thus came under the protection of the pope. The Cluniac reform, whose influence gradually radiated beyond…

How do you pronounce Cluny?

0:051:00How To Say Cluny - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipColi joven y joven y juani holley holley.MoreColi joven y joven y juani holley holley.

Was Cluny a reformed monastery?

The Abbey of Cluny was not founded as a reforming agency. Originally, Cluniac monasticism drew its inspiration from the Rule of St. Benedict and the legislation of benedict of aniane.

What was the Cluniac movement?

Result. During its height ( c. 950–c.1130), the Cluniac movement was one of the largest religious forces in Europe. At least as significantly as their political consequences, the reforms demanded greater religious devotion. The Cluniacs supported the Peace of God, and promoted pilgrimages to the Holy Lands.

Who were the most prominent supporters of the Cluniac Reforms?

Among the most notable supporters of the Cluniac reforms were Pope Urban II, Lambert of Hersfeld, and Richard of Verdun. The reforms encouraged the Church in the West to be more attentive to business and led the papacy to attempt to assert control over the Eastern Church.

What were the changes in medieval monasticism?

10th-century changes within medieval monasticism. The Cluniac Reforms (also called the Benedictine Reform) were a series of changes within medieval monasticism of the Western Church focused on restoring the traditional monastic life, encouraging art, and caring for the poor. The movement began within the Benedictine order at Cluny Abbey, ...

What did the Cluniacs do?

The Cluniacs supported the Peace of God, and promoted pilgrimages to the Holy Lands. An increasingly rich liturgy stimulated demand for altar vessels of gold, fine tapestries and fabrics, stained glass, and polyphonic choral music to fill the Romanesque churches.

Why did monasticism decline?

In the early 10th century, Western monasticism, which had flourished several centuries earlier with St Benedict of Nursia, was experiencing a severe decline due to unstable political and social conditions resulting from the nearly continuous Viking raids, widespread poverty and, especially, the dependence of abbeys on ...

Why did monasteries have the Benedictine rule?

The Benedictine Rule, in these monasteries, was modified to schedule matins when it would not interrupt sleep and expanded the vegetarian diet. Monks in these houses wore richer, warmer clothing and were free to disregard the rules pertaining to fasting. The Cluny reform was an attempt to remedy these practices in the hope that a more independent abbot would better enforce the Rule of Saint Benedict .

What was the major reform of the Cluny movement?

A major papal reform that surfaced out of the Cluny movement was the celibacy of priests. Priests were required to be celibate so they would have no heirs to inherit power and property.

What was the purpose of the Cluny Reform?

Its primary purpose was to end corruption that existed because of the ties that monasteries had with feudal lords. These ties existed because of the issue of property.

What was the Cluny movement?

One of the most significant monastic movements of the high Middle Ages. It is necessary first of all to clarify the notion of "Cluny" and of the reform movement that sprang from it. Cluny as such is a mere abstraction, given different meanings at various times and places. If the reform is limited to the period extending from its foundation (909) ...

What was the Cluniac Reform?

The Cluniac reform, without deviating from its initial purpose, dedicated itself also to tasks of the temporal and political order. The abbots, especially Odo, Odilo, and Hugh, gave to this objective the loyal support of personal service and moral influence, without loss of independence.

How did the Cluniac Reform end?

The End of Reform. After more than two centuries of unparalleled expansion, Cluniac monasticism was weakened in part by its internal structure and by the order's excessive expansion, temporal power, and the absence of a centralized governing body. It has been calculated that at the height of its development the order had 1,184 houses, situated in several provinces. peter the venerable (d. 1157) understood the need for adaptation required by economic and social change; and at successive general chapters statutes were passed. But in the same era the new order of C î teaux seemed to be a return to Cluny's primitive simplicity; and with the rapid development of the cistercian movement, the Cluniac reform came to an end. In the centuries that followed, Cluny itself was in need of reform.

What was the origin of Cluniac monasticism?

Originally, Cluniac monasticism drew its inspiration from the Rule of St. Benedict and the legislation of benedict of aniane. Because of specific historical circumstances, alien to the mentality of its founders, Cluny rapidly became the center of a vast movement of reform that continued until the 12th century.

Where was the Reform centered?

The reform was centered in one place: the Abbey of cluny. It is a mistake to attribute to the Order of Cluny or to the Abbey of Cluny the reforming activity carried out by the great abbots of Cluny as individuals, and the reverse also is true. History of the Reform. The Abbey of Cluny was not founded as a reforming agency.

Who protected the Cluniac monasteries?

Henceforth Cluniac monasteries were the property of the Apostolic See, which defended and protected them in jurisdictional conflicts, notably those instigated by the bishops of M â con, in whose territory Cluny was situated.

Did Cluny try to gain possession of churches belonging to laymen?

Cluny did not try to gain possession of churches belonging to laymen. This fact is worth noting, since the feudal Church had fallen into lay hands. Beginning with odo of cluny (d. 949), the expansion of the Cluniac Order accelerated, and Cluny benefited from the changing conditions in feudal society.

Why did the Cluniacs ask the Cluniacs to help them?

Due to their high standards of observance, European houses as far away as Italy and Spain asked the Cluniacs for assistance with their own reforms . Although the community was poor at first, it did not take long for admirers of their lifestyle to become supporters and benefactors, creating a wealth of endowments.

Who wrote the Cluniacs and the Gregorian Reform?

H. E. J. Cowdrey, The Cluniacs and the Gregorian Reform (Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1970).

What was the influence of Benedictine monasticism?

As the pervasive presence and influence of Benedictine monasticism emerged from Carolingian reforms of the ninth century, a particularly powerful house at Cluny (in the Burgundy region of eastern France) became the embodiment of church leadership, independence, and success in Western Christianity. Through cooperation with its benefactor, Duke William the Pious of Aquitaine, the monastery (founded in 909) adopted an original charter that allowed the monks to choose their own succession of abbots without interference or intervention from outside secular or church authorities. The abbot and community were also to have complete control over all of the monastery's properties, being answerable only to the Apostolic See in Rome. A string of influential and creative abbots—Odo (926–944), Mayeul (965–994), Odilo (994–1048), and Hugh (1049–1109)—caused the house to become a major center of spirituality that quickly spread its influence over much of Europe. The notion that the present evil age was signaling the end of the world and that monastic life was the most perfect embodiment of the Christian vocation became cornerstones of Cluniac spirituality. The monks believed that if they renounced the world and undertook a life of silence and interior transformation they would experience God in the unceasing prayer of their community and the paradise of the cloister. Due to their high standards of observance, European houses as far away as Italy and Spain asked the Cluniacs for assistance with their own reforms. Although the community was poor at first, it did not take long for admirers of their lifestyle to become supporters and benefactors, creating a wealth of endowments. Secular estates and even entire monasteries were given over for Cluny to manage.

What were the monks' beliefs about the monastery?

The monks believed that the monastery should be a place where continuous prayer was lifted up to God. According to the order's customals (books containing instructions for monastic daily life), the monks extended the time for prayer well beyond the earlier Benedictine directives to the point where as many as eight hours of their day were dedicated to activity in the choir, the special seating area near the altar. In addition to the extra offices, two daily community masses were often celebrated. Extra psalms recited for benefactors, longer night offices on saints' days, and the chanting of the entire books of Genesis and Exodus prior to the Lenten season also served to lengthen the time of prayer. During Lent so many prayers were added that the offices became almost continuous. Those laity who could not make such an extreme commitment to the monastic lifestyle might share in the merits of the monks' work by associating themselves with the monasteries. This could be accomplished through donations, sending family members (sometimes child oblates) to the monasteries, being buried on the monastic property, or requesting the prayers of the monks during their various offices. One could even apply for confraternity, an arrangement by which the community chapter would vote to accept a person as an associate member of the house, sharing in the same spiritual benefits as the monks and even being remembered in the Office for the Dead like a regular member of the community. Lay members' names could also be written in the Liber Vitae (Book of Life), which occupied a place on the high altar during Mass. Much of the theology behind lay association with the monasteries was linked to the belief in petitionary prayer, which allowed individuals to direct specific requests to God.

Overview

The Cluniac Reforms (also called the Benedictine Reform) were a series of changes within medieval monasticism of the Western Church focused on restoring the traditional monastic life, encouraging art, and caring for the poor. The movement began within the Benedictine order at Cluny Abbey, founded in 910 by William I, Duke of Aquitaine (875–918). The reforms were largely carried out by Saint Odo (c. 878 – 942) and spread throughout France (Burgundy, Provence, Auver…

Background

Cluny Abbey

Result

The Cistercian Order

See also

Further reading

External links