5.3.4. THE TRADITIONAL FAITH DEFENDS BRAKES ON GAIN...

"MONEY, THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL..." 

Alms were an essential part of Catholicism: The poor were like Jesus and the wealthy gained points for Salvation by helping them.

Gone from the web

An obligation of queens

                             Distribution of alms, Flanders, end 15th century / zoom

        A Bishop distributes bread to the poor by Willem van Herp, Flanders, mid-17th century / zoom

          The Fight between Carnaval and Lent (detail) by Pieter Bruegel the Younger, 1559 / zoom

Other ways in which the Church limited gain:  

• Belief in Purgatoire leads to financing masses for the dead and leaving one's wealth to the Church.   

The Virgin of the Carmel saves souls in Purgatory, 17th century / zoom

•  Forbidding lending at interest gives kings control of major projects. Columbus and Magellan turn to Spain's Ferdinand and Isabella to finance their expeditions, and give them the treasure brought back.   

Columbus at the Court of Barcelona, 1893 / zoom

• Building and decorating churches disperses huge sums. The superb sanctuaries at the crossroad at Troyes are examples.

Adapted from a Pinterest map / zoom

 

All photos except the last are from TripAdvisor : please click here and here for a series on ten Troyes churches.  

For the change in style, please click back.

Claude Abron

Contesting the Church was contesting the barriers that opposed the search for gain. 

Publication on Troyes

It often came from Protestant craftspeople.

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Next,

5.3.5.

 The new faith shatters them