Country Churches, Clerical Inventories and the Carolingian Renaissance in Bavaria
Carl Hammer
In the early ninth century Bishops Gerbald of Liège and Haito Basel described qualities ideal country priest. 1 Many his virtues were negative. For example, he was to shun all questionable contacts with women; drunkenness condemned, avoid taverns their salacious amusements; not ape laity by bearing arms; commerce usury forbidden him as were, course, simoniacal practices. More positively, admonished be diligent in sacramental functions, especially baptism anointing, well celebration Mass, observe canonical hours. Finally, instruct flock rudiments faith, Apostles' Creed Lord's Prayer, exhort them lead Christian life. The desire attain these modestly ambitious goals during Carolingian period resulted an increased concern for clerical qualifications. Manuscripts from St. Emmeram at Regensburg Freising Bavaria, contain detailed lists subjects ecclesiastical examination, 2 sorts episcopal statutes or capitularies which Gerbald's Haito's works represent seem have been distributed widely throughout Empire 3 .
Church History