What Was Medieval Catholicism Really Like? (w/ Dr. Samuel Klumpenhouwer)

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined by Dr. Samuel Klumpenhouwer, an expert in Medieval Catholicism, to talk about the day-to-day realities of what it was like for Catholics in the Middle Ages?
Did the Catholic Church really keep the Bible out of the hands of average Catholics? Was doctrine, dogma, and theology out of touch with Scripture and the history of the Church? Did Catholicism really go off the rails? Was the Reformation necessary?
We tackle these questions and much more this week on the show with a wonderful guest.
For more from Dr. Klumpenhouwer visit his website:
samuelklumpenhouwer.com
For more, visit The Cordial Catholic. Send your feedback to [e-mail].
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[@emes4788]

I hope I passed my Maryvale Certificate for Cathechesis. Lord please preserve places of worship and learning in England.

[@SurrenderNovena]

AMEN! Becoming Catholic: “even if there is a disagreement, are you willing to trust Her judgment over yours”

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

The Lord speaks thru his church.

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

Welcome home! Have at it in becoming a living saint.

[@fultoneth9869]

The converts brought us a lot nuances & rigour to the Mother Church. Thank you, God bless 🙌 💖

[@bjphillip]

I am a new Catholic this year. What a treasure! Thank you for these podcasts.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Thank you so much for listening!

[@stormygeo]

Find a Latin Mass church! Fssp is great. Trust me it's a much more reverent experience.

[@timboslice980]

I just got confirmed this past Easter too. No chance of a latin mass for me though, closest one is like 4 hours away! Its all good my priest is super traditional and loves to incorporate latin. I think deep down he wishes he was eastern rite

[@clarekuehn4372]

@@timboslice980 Watch on line and do a spiritual communion.

[@contemplatingchrist]

Amen!

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

I’m reading the biography of St Francis of Assisi. An insight look of how the Middle Ages and renaissance Catholicism was like. More renaissance than Middle Ages.

[@TheGariego]

I enjoyed this bit just a small criticism. The interviewer makes the same mistake many KZbinrs make as well as most amateur interviewers which is that when he talks he talks too much and doesn't have succinct questions so the guest can talk as much as possible. But once the guest starts talking he was good at not interrupting. Which is another weakness of many KZbinrs/amateurs.

[@user-rb7cr4me8t]

I love the interviewers enthusiasm!

[@scottmcloughlin4371]

Being "1/2 funny" like crappy TV interview shows is obnoxious.@@user-rb7cr4me8t

[@rosiegirl2485]

Enjoyed Dr. Samuel Klumpenhouwer (Klumpenhimmer)...hee hee hee! 🙂 Some really interesting things. I am just curious... How did his family take the issue of him becoming Catholic? My dad was raised on a small farm (14) children, a Catholic family, who would not have handled it well if someone changed their religion. Thank you both! ⚘️

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Great question! I’m planning to have him back on to tell his full conversion story sometime in the future. I didn’t even know he was a convert until til a few moments before we went to record - it was a happy surprise!

[@kimfleury]

It's been a long long time since I've heard mention of Kirsten Lavransdotter. I probably spelled it wrong, sorry. I read it as a teen, 45 years ago. I don't recall noticing anything about the Church in that novel. I'll have to read it again. As for this whole discussion, it was fascinating to listen to!

[@leylinegoddess]

my mother had to read that book in college in the 1930's and i read it when in high school. . kristen became a nun to care for those who were dying of the plague. that was where i learned they ate onion like apples.

[@mando9362]

Fascinating

[@gdg1963]

Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc) was a Catholic, and very much a true believer. She obeyed the Will of the LORD, in her life. The messengers that were sent to her, being St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret, relayed GOD's messages to her. The common "Protestant" may find that heretical, but, GOD sends whomever HE pleases, to help relay HIS messages. GOD can never be confined in a box.

[@clarekuehn4372]

Age of Light, Age of Faith. Gloria in excelsis Deo and Ave Maria. Festivals of the liturgical year, too, not forced as much as lived. Maria Von Trapp has a book about Catholic family and liturgical year in Germany, when it was still going on. Check it out. But beware of the end-times counter-church.

[@darmat6288]

I love the Church I read about. It’s the current upper leadership that causes difficulties for me. I know that is not unique in the Christian-verse however how does one submit to leaders who are in error or appear to be?

[@virginiacharlotte7007]

I can recommend Michael Lofton’s YT channel’Reason and Theology’ as he goes to source documents from the Magisterium and Pope Francis to show that things are ok. Catholic media and mainstream media can be very misleading. Best wishes for your further studies in the faith

[@vintage53-coversandorigina37]

You don’t have to submit to any error! Only obligation is the Doctrines and Dogmas that have been taught and held by the Universal Church through the centuries!

[@marygunning5121]

Yes, Scripture and Tradition. That is the rock. The Holy Catholic Church has & had its heretics right from the beginning, I am thinking of Arianism.@@vintage53-coversandorigina37

[@imjulie830]

You don't submit to leaders errors.. You submit to God and HIS teachings that this leaders also teach.. You should consider that Church leaders specially in Catholic, before they become leader they undergo succession by laying of the hands.. This responsibility is Not easy, the more u are near or serving the Church the more temptation they have, there's spiritual battle is stronger than those who are already mislead so sometimes u can see errors in they're actions, or maybe there actions have good purpose but its error in your eyes because u don't know.. Likewise to u.. You should see that now u are in spiritual battle..Satan is testing u so u cannot come home to the true Church .. You see the sin of leaders instead of what the teaching they uphold..Look into Jesus teaching through this leaders instead..than them being a human..this tribulation in the Church did not arise today, it has been always for 2k years and glory to God the Church is still standing even if imperfect leaders are the one who manages it.. Glory to Holy Spirit who is working within the Church true this imperfect leaders and thank u for the promise of Jesus that gates of hell will Not prevail on it..

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

Just be the best Catholic you can be and look to God. Don’t give into what’s over your pay grade. Pray for them and trust in Gods will. There’s a self righteous spirit and a gossipy spirit roaming around the Catholic Church. Satan is trying to divide her again since many Protestants are considering converting.

[@leylinegoddess]

in the middle ages, most humans in western civilization were not literate and able to read the scripture. they depended on what they heard in church. and what they saw in the stained glass window stories and in the miracle plays to explain the scriptures. the music written for the church was to be used as a guide to what was going on. only educated humans, ie the fathers of the church were studying and writing about the bible. . printed bibles were not available until after 1400 ce. and they were huge and expensive. the priests in the church did their prayers at the alter. the congregation was not normally included in the actions of the mass. the book ages to ages is a wionderful description of how the celebration of the mass developed.

[@TDL-xg5nn]

Time stamps on videos would be helpful.

[@NuLeif]

What is the book he mentions 1/3 the way in? A good overview of life in the Middle Ages?

[@dsonyay]

@1:40. As soon as that beard type appears, you just know some deep Church history will be discussed

[@yonlee6960]

👍🙏

[@user-mr1um1cg5v]

Can I just say, that statements like “middle ages were very Bible-centered” makes me twitch. It’s a VERY protestant way of describing things. How about Christ-cantered or faith-cantered. That would sound a lot more Catholic. Or saying something like “ the Bible was in the most important thing inside a church” is outright wrong. The Eucharist was, the Mass,,of which, sure, biblican reading is an important part but it’s a pinnacle of the Mass. Or saying that there scenes from the bible in Cathedrals stained glass. Sure enough, that’s a correct way of saying but not necessarily how a catholic would describe it. I would say those are scenes from the life of Christ and the Apostles, and if one would go into details, sure you can mention which Gospel or another book it is taken from but the important thing is that those are their real lives (not book stories). See the difference? I know you guys carry this protestant baggage and it’s hard to see things outside the Bible box constantly mentioning it on ALL occasions. It really sounds weird when a protestant quoting Christ (please not Jesus - Jesus Christ, Christ or our Lord) says “in Matthew Chapter so and so, verse so and so Jesus says...”. Why do you have to mention the book, chapter and verse. Christ didn’t say in the book, he said it in real life. Converts continue doing it and it sound very very odd, unless you are having an exegetical discussion. Just though i’s share this observation.

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

The reformation was the reason why The Catholic Church held onto the Bible and didn’t allow it in the hands of those who would use the Bible for personal gains. Look at how many Protestant churches are out there,33k different interpretations. That is one of the most disrespectful things anyone could do to God,misleading people into the pastors interpretation of scripture.

[@younggrasshopper3531]

I’ve got this bookmarked for later and I’m excited to listen for a new perspective. But as a non-denom it’s hard for me to get past the fact that Christian’s were burned at the stake by the Catholic Church for owning bibles translated into languages they could read

[@91Albertus]

Vernacular translations of the Bible were done by heretics back then, so anyone who would possess such, was suspected of heresy. The church authorities were concerned that giving free access to Scripture reading by the laity without appropriate training will result on one hand in lack of respect for the holy texts, and on the other in errors and false understandings and - in consequence - in heresy. From perspective of time, we can now say that they were sadly right. We have now thousands of denominations, where everyone is reading and understanding the Bible differently which has harmed the true Word of God (which is now often used to promote false teachings) and the Christian unity.

[@sandra4065]

I don’t know if that is true, but it shouldn’t be a stumbling block either way: First, because Protestants have have murdered both Catholics and fellow Protestants with whom they disagreed. (Because humans sin) Secondly, because Jesus himself warned that the Enemy would plant weeds among His wheat, but that His Church would prevail despite it. God bless❤️

[@leylinegoddess]

if a person other than clergy who could read and understand what was written you were accused of being a witch and hence burned at the stake. people were not allowed to know how to swim either

[@stananders2333]

That is straight up untrue, many ppl could read and write, not all clerics, witchcraft trials were more an eay modern phenonenon, and were more or less equally on both sides of the confessional divide. The main reason someone would be handed over to the state to be executed for having a vernacular bible would be if it was one of a bunch of very specific bibles that were mistranslated and adulturated, stuff added or removed to change the meaning. The first vernacular bible was the vulgate, and the 1st german bible was printed in 1468, i believe,. The 1st getman translation is from the 900s, the Heiland bible, in old high saxon. French, Spanish and italian bibles were all translated before the reformation and were not crimes to own. English bibles were 1st translated in the 1300s but by lollard and wyclifite heretics so a good translation was not really done till the 1500s, because specifically english bibles were associated with mistranslated heretical bibles.

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

Have you seen the BBC documentary on the Spanish Inquisition? Protestants were in the business of torturing Catholics. And the Catholic Church per historians from the BBC documentary were seeking witches and the main heretics not the common man heretic which will lead the Inquisition to the main culprits. About 5k died and mainly witches per the BBC documentary.

[@superapex2128]

Have you looked into the concept of Grace? It's pretty central to Catholicism... You'll be amazed to discover that it was significantly DIFFERENT from what we know today as 'Tradition'... Well worth the deep dive: you may just find the Pearl of great price ...at the bottom of an ocean of lies.

[@sandra4065]

Yes - Catholics believe we are Saved by Grace. But we also are the guardians of Apostolic Tradition, as Scripture describes. As you know, Christianity had the Church alone until AD 382. At that point the Church had discerned which writings were inspired & inerrant (only around 1/2 were), vs which were not. Thus, it proclaimed the canon of Scripture. In summary we had the [Catholic] Church centuries before the Church had decided in the Bible. ❤️

[@MichaelJohnson-vi6eh]

I find the arguments not terribly convincing. It was not so much that the peasants were illiterate, it was that there were only so many bibles and they were very expensive. Yes they read the scripture, but priests were mere functionaries. They performed the rites and sacraments of the church. The idea that they were to explain and give life to scripture to the people gathered in a chapel somewhere was not the norm. There were exceptions but I think you only get really exegesis in the university town. Monastic life of course was full of intimacy and structure. That's one out of every 5000 ppl.

[@richardjackson7887]

Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O POPERY, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

[@kimfleury]

"O POPERY"????? That's crazy revision. Beware for your soul.

[@richardjackson7887]

@@kimfleury obviously you have never studied Genesis 3 and come to an understanding of what God is trying to tell you! all scripture is based on Genesis 3! The Serpent, Lucifer, Popery, Satan, devil, demons, leviathan and the dragon are one in the same. Lucifer is not a name but a title, light bearer. Popery is not a name but a title, light bearer for he is known as the vicar of Christ when there is only one Christ and all those born of him bear his light. for we have no light of our own! beware of your soul if you do not have Faith in what Jesus has done on your behalf, the just for the unjust!

[@leylinegoddess]

isaiah does not mention any popery. that is your own interpretation. do not rewrite the holy scriptures to suit yourself

[@richardjackson7887]

@@leylinegoddess Just like you do not read Gods thread you did not read mine in the 2nd reply. obviously you have never studied Genesis 3 and come to an understanding of what God is trying to tell you! all scripture is based on Genesis 3! The Serpent, Lucifer, Popery, Satan, devil, demons, leviathan and the dragon are one in the same. Lucifer is not a name but a title, light bearer. Popery is not a name but a title, light bearer for he is known as the vicar of Christ when there is only one Christ and all those born of him bear his light. for we have no light of our own! beware of your soul if you do not have Faith in what Jesus has done on your behalf, the just for the unjust!

[@richardjackson7887]

@@leylinegoddess revelation 12 is a rehash of the 4 gospels. when you understand what God is telling you then you will understand revelation 13 and the Popery for the guilty can no longer hide what they have done if you have the heart to search it out and understand what God is telling you! we are very close to the end of the sixth day and Daniels 70th week and then we will stand before God for judgment to give an answer to, did we believe him or mans pagan traditions?

[@leylinegoddess]

indulgences were prayers or actions where a person could buy their way out of hell or purgatory. or they could buy them for somebody in their family who was dead and told they were in hell or purgatory

[@sandra4065]

Yes and no. Any penitential act is sanctifying in Christ. So self-sacrificing acts of love will understandably be spiritually healing, as it were, for spiritual crud we’ve accumulated through sinning. God, in his mercy, allows the benefits of which to be offered for souls being purged. Truly amazing! I’m not explaining it very well, but despite the “paying for indulgences” abuse that some german bishops were sinfully practicing, true indulgences are an incredible gift ❤

[@stimmar143]

You can't buy your way or another person's way out of hell. A person that lives can get absolved of their sins through the sacrament of confession. Indulgences are for lessening the temporal punishment (purgatory). While there was abuse (simony, which was and is forbidden), indulgences are separate from it. These can be obtained for the faithful dead, but cannot save them from hell.

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

There was corruption and love of money is the root of all evil. So yes ,alms giving,saying Mass for the deceased,the Rosary with full sincerity of their heart helps the suffering soul in purgatory and move up closer to entering heaven. Penance or asceticism for the souls in purgatory helps out a lot in getting them into heaven.

[@mikebuckley46]

I like your channel but you waffle too much

[@richardjackson7887]

So you do not understand revelation 12 and 13 when it's your history that you people claim to have written!

[@georgefuentes4112]

No Catholic claims that the Catholic Church wrote the bible. Compiled yes. Wrote no.

[@richardjackson7887]

@@georgefuentes4112 That's not what a lot of you guys tell me! Either way, ,you still do not understand revelation 12 and 13 even though its your history!

[@georgefuentes4112]

What denomination are you and what is your understanding of it Revelation? Seems pretty straight forward to me.

[@kimfleury]

​@@richardjackson7887The Apostles were appointed as the heads of the Church by Jesus Himself, and the Church is Catholic, so sure, the Catholic Apostles wrote Epistles that were included in the Canon of Sacred Scripture, and the Gospel writers were Catholic, and so was the author of Revelation. But your reasoning that just because they were Catholic then every Catholic would automatically understand every Scripture just doesn't make sense. That's a claim of Hive Brain, and we're not Hive Brains, we're individuals with free will, different and varying degrees of ability, and different charisms. Anyway, I don't think you're interested in the salvation of souls, I think you just want to pick and peck at people you'll never meet in person. But if you were serious, I could point you to the actuator interpretation of Revelation 12 and 13. Bear in mind that prophecy does not become clear until the events are about to unfold. If it's not your time, then pray for the generation of the future that will live through it.

[@WhiteChocolate74]

What do you mean "you people"?

[@MichaelShafer-td8ew]

Dude, please when you have a guest do not speak over him. Also, share your experiences when you do not have a guest. I was looking forward to hearing your guest's perspective without the host's (your) recapitulation and commentary.

[@NeuKrofta]

The guest was great but this host is a smiling and laughing fool.

[@TheCordialCatholic]

Ha ha ha!

[@NeuKrofta]

@@TheCordialCatholic chill with the laughing and giggling. It was weird and inappropriate. You came across as an imbecile. But thank you for the work you are doing and I hope you continue and grow.

[@MetanoiaCatholicism]

Let the man be. Joy is of the Holy Spirit.

[@0135172990]

St. Andrews University of Scotland, Oxford University and Cambridge University of England, St. Patrick University of Ireland, University of Padua, Florence,Milan of Italy, University of Paris, and many more all these higher learning centers are the products of Medivial Europe. So, the Medivial Catholic was far advance in Faith and Reason than modern liberal or progressive Catholics.

[@rayburton5300]

Its OBVIOUS that Roman is NOT a true church when you simply read the Bible at face value. This coming from someone raised in the Roman Catholic "religion", it is foreign to the scriptures and i am glad to be in the Reformed faith now as a true christian, rather than a brainwashed papist. Just read and atudy prayerfully the Bible please and let it speak.

[@LordDad]

Sola scriptura isn't biblical

[@Catholiclady3]

Do you mean when you read the bible very shallowly?

[@matthewwalker8462]

The story of both of these gentleman and how they made the exact opposite journey as you refutes your claim that it is Obvious to anyone who reads the Scripture that Catholicism is false. I myself was drawn to the Catholic Church out of a Protestant church based on reading of Scripture.