Cluniac Reforms
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The Cluniac (or Clunian) Reform was a success story among the many attempted, often failed, monastic reforms trying to purify, resource and scourge excessive deviations from pious life within the monastic branches of the Roman Catholic Church. It is named after the Abbey of Cluny in Burgundy, where it started in the 11th century within the old, large and rich Benedictine order.
After a century of corruption and decadence, the Christian church was finally cleaned up. In the 11th century, the Church began a remarkable religious revival in which the popes worked to codify and re-establish church law. Church officials sought to communicate with all the clergy and peoples of Europe through a clearly defined, obedient hierarchy of bishops. The popes wanted the basic loyalty of all the clergy in Europe. Pope Gregory VII's strong assertion of papal power led to profound changes and serious conflict with secular authorities. The revival of the church was manifested in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries by a flowering of popular piety, reflected in the building of magnificent cathedrals.
[edit] Monastic revival
In the early middle ages, the best Benedictine monasteries had been citadels of good monastic observance and centers of learning. Between the seventh and ninth centuries, religious houses such as Bobbio in northern Italy, Luxeuil in France, and Jarrow in England copied and preserved manuscripts, maintained schools, and set high standards of monastic observance. Charlemagne had encouraged and supported these monastic activities, and the collapse of the Carolingian Empire had disastrous effects.
Since the time of Charlemagne, secular powers had selected church officials and compelled them to become their vassals. In the period of political disorder that followed the disintegration of the Carolingian Empire, many religious houses fell under the control and domination of local feudal lords.
In 909, William the Pious, duke of Aquitaine, established the Abbey of Cluny near Mâcon in Burgundy. Duke William declared that Cluny was to enjoy complete independence from all feudal or secular episcopal lordship. The first two abbots at the Cluny, Berno and Odo, set very high standards of religious behavior. They stressed strict observance of Rule of Saint Benedict, the development of a personal spiritual life by the individual monk, and the importance of the liturgy. Cluny was fortunate in having a series of highlightable abbots who ruled for a long time. These abbots paid careful attention to sound economic management. In a disorderly world, Cluny gradually came to stand for religious and political stability.
For the history and results of the reform, see Congregation of Cluny
