Fourteenth Century

Avignon Papacy, Papal Schism, Reformation

            Avignon Papacy: 1305-1378: During this period the Pope moved from Rome to Avignon in France. Seven popes, all French, resided in Avignon during this period. In general they were good popes, but strongly under the influence of the French King. The seventh Avignon Pope, Gregory XI (1370-1378) moved the papal residence back to Rome and died there. His energy was largely stimulated by the stirring words of St. Catherine of Siena, to whom in particular the transference of the papal see back to Italy was almost entirely due. This period is also called "Babylonian Captivity" of the papacy, because it lasted about 70 years as the captivity of the Israelis in Babylon.

            Papal Great Schism: 1378-1414: Also called "Western Schism" and "Great Schism", started immediately after the death of Pope Gregory XI. The Cardinals in Rome elected Urban VI to replace him, but another council in France elected a different man, who took the name Clement VII with residence in Avignon. For several decades, the competing colleges elected competing Popes. Since then, the Popes elected in Rome have been deemed the "properly-elected" ones; the Avignon-elected popes are remembered as "anti-popes."
            At one point (1409) the issue became even more clouded, as a council held at Pisa elected a third Pope, when the Avignon-elected anti-pope at that time (Benedict XIII) had turned out to be corrupt and unbearable. After a good deal of wrangling — mostly in the form of debates held in the competing papal curiae (courts), the Avignon- and Pisa-elected anti-popes abdicated (of course, without ever admitting they had been "illegitimate") and the remaining Pope, Benedict IX, convened another council to decide the issue.
            The Council of Constance in 1414 finally resolved the controversy, dismantling the last vestiges of the Avignon papacy. In 1417, the Papal Schism ended, with the election of Pope Martin V. This Council of Constance in 1417 deposed John XXIII and the Avignon Pope Benedict XIII, received the resignation of the Roman Pope Gregory XII (who had abdicated in 1415), and elected Pope Martin V, thereby ending the schism.   
            It was a difficult time for the Christians who had to choose which pope they would recognize: France, Spain, Burgundy, Savoy, Naples, and Scotland chose to recognize the Avignon claimant. Northern Italy, England, Germany, and central Europe followed the Roman claimant.

            Even in such difficult times the Church goes on. By this time there were dozens of new Orders of Friars and Nuns living holy lives and evangelizing at home and abroad all over the world known.

            The Black Death or bubonic plague ravages Europe; 25 million Europeans, over 1/4 of the population, dies. Thousands of Christian saints took good care of the sick and dying

Saints:
            St. Catherine of Siena: She deliberately told popes, queens and kings how to behave. She was spontaneous, unafraid of authority and fearless in the face of death. She was a Dominican religious who corresponded with Popes and peasants alike. Wanting Pope Gregory XI to leave his residency in Avignon and return to Rome, and knowing the Supreme Pontiff was afraid of being poisoned, Catherine wrote to him, "Be not a timorous child, but manly.

            St. Vincent Ferrer: Championed the Church through The Hundred Years War, the Black Death, and the Western Schism. Everywhere he went, tens of thousands of sinners were reformed; infidels and heretics were converted, and great miracles supported his words. Speaking only his native Spanish, he was understood in all tongues.

            St. Bridget of Sweden: After her husband died, she  practiced every possible kind of charitable work, even reducing herself to begging. Religious, Founder, Patroness of Sweden, Mother of St. Catherine, Co-Patroness of Europe.

            St. Gertrude the Great: The only woman saint given the title, the Great, a Benedictine nun who became a guide in the spiritual life, and a teacher of the most intimate spirit of prayer, one of the earliest promoters of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
                St. Roch: worked tirelessly for plague victims in many countries; patron of plague victims.

Heresies

            John Wycliffe transforms Oxford into the spiritual center of England. For many Protestants he is the Christian hero from this century, commonly hailed as "the Morning star of the Reformation." Looks to the Scriptures for authority and truth. In 1381published his “Confession,” in which he denied that the substance of the bread and wine are transubstantiated in the mass.  Wyclif rejected indulgences, auricular confession, extreme unction and holy orders. He took the Bible alone, without tradition as the sole rule of faith, and taught that the church was composed of the predestined only.

            Lollards of John Wycliffe: Rejected the episcopacy of the Church; denied the authority of the Pope; the universe and God are one; that creation was an emanation of God; believed in predestination; denied the Real Presence; held the veneration of sacred images to be unlawful. The name Lollards applied to the followers of John Wyclife, who was born at Ipreswel (now Hispwell) near Richmond, Yourkshire, England, probably some years earlier than 1324.