The Medieval Church: From the Dawn of the Middle Ages to the Eve of the Reformation, by Carl A. Volz (TPB, 1997, $2)
Reading this book is like connecting the dots of a children's drawing. After you are finished, the full picture becomes clear. We were always taught that medieval times were a dark age. Turns out this is not true, but a way the Renaissance leaders could glorify themselves.
Medieval times were really a time of growth, especially in the east. Many traditions we associate with Christianity started during the Middle Ages. Large churches, preaching, celibate priests, the veneration of saints, taking communion (on a regular basis), the importance of the laity, and much more. There were even the pre-Reformation ideas of Wycliffe.
The Avignon Papacy has always amazed me. Poor England, even though at war with France, must pay taxes to the French because the Pope now resides in Avignon, France. Eventually the Pope returned to Rome, but alienated the French cardinals, who retaliated by electing their own pope. To solve the problem, both popes were deposed, and a new one elected. Except the other two popes didn't fade away, as expected. So now there were now THREE popes....
Look for this book in the western civ. section, avail. 1/21.
