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Handout #131 |
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Birth of the Lay Spirit |
| Marsilius of Padua
(1275-1341 A.D.) had been Rector of the University of Paris in 1313 A. D.
He entered the service of King Ludwig IV of Bavaria and clashed with Pope
John XXII of Avignon. The Defensor Pacis, written with John of
Jandun, puts forward a theory of the relationship between church and state
which is completely opposed to the theocratic theories of the popes of
Christendom.
Men gather together in order to live in a satisfying way, which allows them to seek and share among themselves the various products that they need. This gathering together, thus accomplished, with the aim of providing satisfaction, is called a city. We say that the prince, by his action in accordance with the law and the authority conferred on him, is the rule and the measure of every civil act. Of all the definitions given to the word church, the truest and most appropriate, in conformity with the first use of this name and the intention of the first people to adopt it, although it is not the current meaning in modern usage, is that which makes it the totality of those who believe in and call on the name of Christ, the different parts of this whole being found in each community . The ministers, bishops, priests and deacons are not of themselves the church. Christ said, Tell it to the church, and not, 'To the apostle or the bishop or the priest or to one of their colleagues . By this he meant the church 'as the multitude of the faithful, judged to be constituted to this end under his authority ... judicially to declare someone guilty, to cite, enquire, judge, acquit or condemn ... is the role of the whole of the faithful forming the community where a judgment must be given, or for the General Council. It appertains to the authority of the sole human legislator - who has no superior - either to him or to those on whom this power has been conferred by him, to convoke the General Council, to designate the persons who must form part of it. If with the aim of temporal utility it is for the legislator to designate people who are to be promoted to diverse offices in the city . It seems all the more right that the same human legislator, namely the totality of the faithful, should decide on both the promotion of the priestly office and the institution of priests in their functions. Marsilius of Padua, Defensor Pacis, 1324. |