Great Religions of World by -National Geo Society- 3 Para

"I cry, I cry, and I cry again," wrote Pope Gregory Vii. "The religion of Christ, the true faith, has fallen so low that it is an object of scorn not only to the Devil but to Jews and Saracens and pagans... These keep their law, as they believe it, but we, intoxicated with the love of the world, have deserted our law." With the aid of reformers from Cluny and other monasteries and the newly constituted college of cardinals, Gregory struggled to stamp out simony (buying and selling of church offices) and to establish clerical celibacy. To achieve these reforms, the church needed the power to select its bishops. (339:4)

There the reform movement collided with the Holy Roman Empire. Bishops were landed magnates and land spelled power. The emperor, Henry Iv, insisted on putting his man into any vacant bishopric. The investiture controversy waxed so bitter hath Henry demanded Gregory be deposed. Gregory excommunicated Henry, releasing his subjects from allegiance to him. (341:1)

Faced by anarchy in this world, his soul condemned to everlasting damnation in the next, Henry crossed the Alps in the dead of winter in 1077 and came to Canossa, where the pope was staying. For three days he stood at the castle gate, barefoot and in penitential garb, before Gregory absolved him. (341:2)

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