The excommunication of Emperor Henry the Fourth
To be excommunicated means to be expelled from the Church. If a person is excommunicated, he or she is not aloud to receive the sacraments and no Catholic would have anything to do with him or her.
During the Middle Ages, an Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, named Henry the Fourth, was excommunicated by Pope Gregory. The emperor had ignored the Pope's decree that only the Pope could appoint bishops, not the emperor.
Henry saw that he was in danger of losing his crown, so even though it was midwinter, he hurried across the Alps into Italy. When the Pope heard of this, he thought that Henry was coming to take revenge on him. The Pope went to Countess Matilda at her castle of Canossa for protection.
The emperor went to the castle. But he did not come with an army, as Pope Gregory expected. Instead, he came dressed as a penitent. At first, the Pope would not allow Henry into the castle. But Henry waited in the snow for three days. Finally, the Pope allowed him to come into the castle.
Henry repented and promised not to interfere in the election of bishops. The Pope removed his excommunication. But after a while, the emperor once again ignored the Pope, and got himself excommunicated. The emperor once again came into Italy, but this time he came with a large army. Pope Gregory was forced into exile. Soon afterward, he died.
During the Middle Ages, an Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, named Henry the Fourth, was excommunicated by Pope Gregory. The emperor had ignored the Pope's decree that only the Pope could appoint bishops, not the emperor.
Henry saw that he was in danger of losing his crown, so even though it was midwinter, he hurried across the Alps into Italy. When the Pope heard of this, he thought that Henry was coming to take revenge on him. The Pope went to Countess Matilda at her castle of Canossa for protection.
The emperor went to the castle. But he did not come with an army, as Pope Gregory expected. Instead, he came dressed as a penitent. At first, the Pope would not allow Henry into the castle. But Henry waited in the snow for three days. Finally, the Pope allowed him to come into the castle.
Henry repented and promised not to interfere in the election of bishops. The Pope removed his excommunication. But after a while, the emperor once again ignored the Pope, and got himself excommunicated. The emperor once again came into Italy, but this time he came with a large army. Pope Gregory was forced into exile. Soon afterward, he died.
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