The Albigensians: Their Origins and the Action of the Church in the 12th Century

the misfortunes of simonyThe practice of buying or selling church offices or sacred things. and incontinenceIn this context, it refers to members of the clergy failing to maintain their vows of celibacy. in the 11th and 12th centuries.

We have likewise studied the peaceful action of the Church for more than a century, from the year 1100 to the year 1215. This period spans from the time of Robert of ArbrisselAn itinerant preacher and the founder of the Abbey of Fontevraud who lived from 1045 to 1117. to Saint Dominic, from Pope Urban II to Innocent III, and from Cardinal Albéric, the first legate in the LanguedocA historical province in southern France where the Albigensian movement was most prominent., to Pierre de CastelnauA papal legate whose assassination in 1208 served as the immediate cause for the Albigensian Crusade. who fell by the blade of an assassin. Perhaps many readers will consider these numerous details into which we had to enter as superfluous. They might also accuse the Church of delaying the reform of the clergy for too long. This reform was the pretext for the senseless struggle of the AlbigensiansAlso known as Cathars, they followed a dualist belief system in southern France that the Catholic Church declared heretical..

But, on one hand, we wanted to admire the patience of the Church. For 108 years, it used only prayer, eloquence, and debate to serve its cause. We ask what other institution has ever maintained such gentle and strong patience for over a century when facing powerful and irreconcilable enemies.

On the other hand, we reply with the words of BossuetJacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627 to 1704) was a famous French bishop, theologian, and court preacher known for his historical analysis., whose genius depicted this troubled era with striking clarity:

There were two kinds of spirits who demanded reform: some were truly peaceful and true children of the Church,