S
Scutum_Fidei
Guest
Hello, Let me just start by saying sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I wasn’t quite sure where to put it and moral theology seemed closest.
I’m currently trying to find some sources to read that provide theological arguments for crusading, especially works that were produced in the High Middle Ages and came from clerics or official Church authorities.
I often see arguments against crusading, but I’m trying to find out what the Church’s actually theological argument for the practice actually was at the time. Some chronicles and epics do have short justifications of crusading, but they tend to be in the form of ‘We’re doing God’s work! We must be right!’ as opposed to actually giving real theological arguments. The records of Urban’s speech are a little more helpful (for example in Fulcher of Chartres’ work), but tend to focus on the immediate causes (i.e. Byzantines being defeated) rather than the theological side of things so much.
On a related note, I’m also looking for Church sources which are in defence of the military orders. For instance, I understand that the official Church position is that the Templars were wrongly persecuted as the Church was forced into it by the French. However, I don’t actually have any idea where this is officially stated.
I’m sorry if this is all a bit much to be asking you all, I’m just hoping for some help on where to look for the Church arguments for these things. The best place I’ve though to look would be the Papal Bulls, but a quick look at (as an example) Pie Postulatio Voluntatis (which gave official backing to the Hospitallers) seems to show a lack of theological discussion. I also can’t find the text for some of the Templar Bulls, rather annoyingly. Quantum praedecessores (calling for the Second Crusade) is a bit more useful, insofar as it says ‘this is why we need to crusade this time’, but I still feel it’s a little short of what I’m looking for.
As a quick aside, does anyone know if you can buy a book/collection etc of all Papal Bulls up until now? I had a look and some can’t be easily found online.
Anyway, I’ve rambled on a bit now and asked a few questions that hopefully someone here can help with. I would awfully appreciate any help.
TLDR Need sources that give official Church theological arguments for the crusades and the military orders.
Thank you!
I’m currently trying to find some sources to read that provide theological arguments for crusading, especially works that were produced in the High Middle Ages and came from clerics or official Church authorities.
I often see arguments against crusading, but I’m trying to find out what the Church’s actually theological argument for the practice actually was at the time. Some chronicles and epics do have short justifications of crusading, but they tend to be in the form of ‘We’re doing God’s work! We must be right!’ as opposed to actually giving real theological arguments. The records of Urban’s speech are a little more helpful (for example in Fulcher of Chartres’ work), but tend to focus on the immediate causes (i.e. Byzantines being defeated) rather than the theological side of things so much.
On a related note, I’m also looking for Church sources which are in defence of the military orders. For instance, I understand that the official Church position is that the Templars were wrongly persecuted as the Church was forced into it by the French. However, I don’t actually have any idea where this is officially stated.
I’m sorry if this is all a bit much to be asking you all, I’m just hoping for some help on where to look for the Church arguments for these things. The best place I’ve though to look would be the Papal Bulls, but a quick look at (as an example) Pie Postulatio Voluntatis (which gave official backing to the Hospitallers) seems to show a lack of theological discussion. I also can’t find the text for some of the Templar Bulls, rather annoyingly. Quantum praedecessores (calling for the Second Crusade) is a bit more useful, insofar as it says ‘this is why we need to crusade this time’, but I still feel it’s a little short of what I’m looking for.
As a quick aside, does anyone know if you can buy a book/collection etc of all Papal Bulls up until now? I had a look and some can’t be easily found online.
Anyway, I’ve rambled on a bit now and asked a few questions that hopefully someone here can help with. I would awfully appreciate any help.
TLDR Need sources that give official Church theological arguments for the crusades and the military orders.
Thank you!
Well, I hope someone answers you! I’d have to google for awhile to answer that one but surly there is someone who will soon be writing you. 
Thanks for taking the time to reply anyway!