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The Twelfth Century:
The Lateran Councils
Four historical highpoints define this century.
Saints Bernard and Hildegard
St. Bernard (1090-1153) joined the Cistercian Order in 1112. His life of prayer, penance and sacrifice not only attracted other young men to join the Order, but eventually led to his nomination as Abbot of the Cistercian monastery at Clairvaux. Bernard was known for his dynamic preaching and his commitment to the spiritual renewal of the Church.
St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a Benedictine Abbess. She had the reputation of being a prophet and visionary as well as a gifted poet and song-writer. Many people, including Nobles, either went to her directly or corresponded with her, seeking spiritual advice or asking for prayers.
Theology Changes
Theology was slowly becoming a science. This in large part was due to the efforts of two men - Peter Abelard who was a professor/theologian and Peter Lombard, the Bishop of Paris. Abelard wrote books on theology using "logic and dialectic" rather than spiritual reflections. Lombard on the other hand wrote a work entitled "Sentences" that organized texts from Scripture, the Church Fathers, and early theologians. Lombard's work became the standard text for studying theology.
The Lateran Councils
The Lateran Councils held in 1123, 1139 and 1179 contributed to the reform of the Church. These Councils were the first ecumenical councils to take place in the West. Lateran I specifically dealt with the abuses of lay investiture (when a king or lord would make someone a bishop without the approval of Rome) and simony (the buying and selling of religious offices) while Lateran II and III continued to push for greater reform throughout the Church. At Lateran III it was decided that a two-thirds majority vote by the College of Cardinals was needed to elect a Pope.
The Birth of the Cathedral
As towns began to grow and populations increased, there was a growing desire among the people to build magnificent churches for God. Therefore, it was not uncommon to see Cathedrals being erected throughout Western Europe. The Cathedrals contained many religious sculptures and paintings that helped to catechize the people in their faith.