>Has anyone mentioned the Patarini on N. Italy. My memory of the
>literature on them is that they have a tie into the Gregorian attack on
>simony.
>tom izbicki
Patarenes are a classic example of interaction between 11C reformers and
popular pious movements, esp. with involvement of Peter Damian in Milan -
cf. his letter to Nicholas II, encouraging him to take action vs.
Nicolatists since "vulgus" already complaining openly. Obviously the
boundary between orthodoxy and heresy is a question of perspective and
politics - cf. Gregory's sympathy to Ramihrdus of Cambrai vs. the
persecution of Henry of Lausanne and Tanchelm of Utrecht!
The problem is that, while Donatism (or outright rejection of sacraments) is
a standard complaint vs. popular "heretics" - and fairly easy to trace back
ideologically to 11C reformers, if one is inclined to do so - the question
of latent fears among "orthodox" laity about efficacy of sacraments in
following centuries performed by unchaste/simoniacal priest is much harder
to address. It is tempting to argue that empowerment of sacerdotal
functionary in wake of 11C reform, linked with developments in sacramental
theology, could easily lead to conflation of priest and sacrament, and that
neo-donatist "heresies" are simply attested manifestations of fears/beliefs
more widespread among "orthodox" Xians. However, even if I subscribe to this
idea for my own selfish reasons, it is not without accepting that it
involves *a lot* of hypotheses and questionable suppositions...
DARON
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|