Can you please explain this quote?
"The monarchy of Rome, as it is now, is a pestilence to Christendom."
-Erasmus
The monarchy of Rome = the rulers of Italy in Erasmus's time
a pestilence to Christendom = a huge threat to the whole of Christianity
First you need to know that Erasmus wrote this about 1500. He was a liberal Catholic priest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderius_Erasmus
Look up the word "pestilence" and see if you can figure out the meaning of this quote.
Remember that the seat of the Catholic church was Rome.
Apparently your quote left out some key words.
" His letters, too, contain caustic indictments. In one, Erasmus says that “the monarchy of the Popes at Rome, as it is now, is a pestilence to Christendom, but I do not know if it is expedient to touch this sore openly.”
http://freethoughtalmanac.com/?p=3603
Ok. Thank you both!
You're welcome.
Certainly! To understand this quote by Erasmus, it helps to have some background knowledge. Erasmus was a Dutch Renaissance humanist and writer known for his critiques of the Catholic Church and his advocacy for reform.
In this quote, Erasmus is referring to the monarchy of Rome, which is a reference to the papacy, or the office of the Pope in the Vatican City. During Erasmus' time, the Papal States were ruled by a system of papal monarchy, with the Pope as the supreme religious and political authority.
Erasmus argues that this system of papal monarchy is detrimental to Christendom, meaning the collective body of Christian believers. He believed that rather than focusing on spiritual matters, the Pope and the papal monarchy were preoccupied with political power and worldly affairs.
To delve deeper into understanding this quote, it would be helpful to examine Erasmus' broader critiques of the Catholic Church during his time, such as his call for the Church to prioritize spiritual and moral teachings over political and materialistic interests. Additionally, studying the historical context of the Papal States and the influence of the papal monarchy would provide further insights into Erasmus' concerns.