Page:The history of medieval Europe.djvu/491

 THE CHURCH UNDER INNOCENT III 441 by which penitent persons were offered complete remission of all their past sins upon unusually easy and attractive terms which reduced to a minimum the amount of penance that they would have to undergo both now and in purga- tory. In return for such indulgences or pardons the people were required to contribute generously of their means to the support of the Church. Thus it became a temptation for the Papacy to arrange for the preaching of indulgences whenever it needed money, while the people were liable to conclude that indulgences and money contributions were the surest road to salvation. Yet, strictly speaking, the indulgence freed them only from immediate penance and the pains of purgatory, since by ordinary confession to their priests they could at any time secure forgiveness of their sins and divine pardon of their guilt, leaving only the pen- alty to be worked off either here or in purgatory. These seven sacraments meant everything to medieva l men. Most of them never questioned but that water could be made holy, that there were sacred places Excom- which it did one good to visit as a pilgrim, that Jointer- 11 bones of dead saints had wondrous virtues, and di ct that living priests could perform such miracles as the mass. In their control of these sacraments the clergy had a tre- mendous weapon to use against the laity. By excommuni- anathemas against him. By an interdict the clergy were ordered to cease the celebration of some or all of the sacra- ments in a given locality. Thus, if a refractory lord paid no attention to his own excommunication, his people might i be aroused against him by laying an interdict upon his terri- ' tories. There was one amusing case where, as soon as a cer- tain feudal noble entered the chief town on his domain, the = church bell was rung and all religious services and adminis- I tration of the sacraments forthwith ceased, to be resumed only when the bell again announced his departure. Natu- rally the people soon began to murmur and he found it advisable to make his visits to town brief.
 * cation they cut off an individual from receiving the sacra-
 * ments, besides, perhaps, launching additional curses and