Introduction: Medieval, Western - Scholastic

Abstract

From the time of the Gregorian reforms of the eleventh century, the Western church began asserting her freedom from being dominated in her own sphere by civil rulers. At first, the highest levels of church governance were one with the prophetic element of the church, the monastic reform movement. But gradually the vital link between the papacy and the spirit of reform dissolved, especially after the death of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.