A Study of European History Elizabeth I's Policy Stability, Historical Decoding
Queen Mary I was succeeded to the throne by her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth I. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, ** between Catholics and Protestants was a major problem, but the conflict between the two groups actually began in the early 16th century. ** between Catholics and Protestants was a major issue during Queen Elizabeth's reign, but the conflict between the two groups actually began in the early 16th century.
Because of this, Queen Elizabeth I, after ascending the throne, decided to adhere to the line of Protestant reform, reforming the theology and doctrine of Protestantism in order to restore the power of the people and promote the development of England. Elizabeth I came from a famous family and was called"Virgin Queen"。
Soon after Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne in 1558, Protestants in exile were able to return to England and even took up influential positions such as bishops. Those who participated in the first reforms of the Edwardian era wanted to continue theirs"Gospel"Step up your game. But his reforms were considered"Semi-reform"。It is not clear whether he leaned towards Protestantism or Catholicism, but the reforms were considered moderate reforms, a compromise between Protestantism and Catholicism.
Although the tension between the Protestant Reformation and the anti-Protestant Reformation made limited religious tolerance a practical necessity, the desire for religious unity was a common denominator in early modern theory. During Queen Elizabeth's reign, England underwent further reforms, establishing a state religion and moving away from traditional Catholic religious Xi through initiatives such as the Book of Common Prayer, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, and the Uniform Act.
Queen Elizabeth changed the Eucharist Ritual In 1559, Queen Elizabeth passed a new Uniform Act, which included regular sermons and sermons in churches, legalization of clergy marriages, and changes to the Eucharist ceremony. The bill requires all churches to use the Common Prayer Book and penalizes churches that do not use or oppose the use of the Common Prayer Book. This Book of Common Prayer is adapted from two editions of 1549 and 1552 during the reign of Edward VII. The Queen insisted that the terms of the Eucharist be amended.
The Book of Common Prayer of 1559 instructed pastors to say these words when they offered bread and wine in the Eucharist. Catholics may use these words to show that Jesus really exists in the bread and wine, while Protestants may use these words to show that the sacrament of the Eucharist is a liturgical form that is only used for remembrance and celebration. At the same time, Queen Elizabeth, out of respect for the Pope, removed insults to the Pope from her book published in 1552. This practice is ostensibly a sign of respect for the pope, but it is actually a judgment made by Queen Elizabeth in the national interest.
In the Uniform Act, Elizabeth I emphasized the differences between the Catholic and Anglican clergy. For example, the bill does not add anything new to the administration of the sacrament, but it does prohibit priests from using familiar Catholic terms to imply that Jesus really exists in bread and wine. In fact, the draft is completely evasive"Father"word, but tends to be used"Pastor"、"Priest of the Eucharist"or"Parish presiding"and other terms. Catholic and Protestant rituals are Catholic in form, but Protestant in definition and expression. It is a combination of the positions of the two denominations, leaving room for Catholics and Protestants to find their worth in the new environment, and also helping to maintain the relative stability of society.
Elizabeth I against"Disobedience"、"Do not attend services"and other acts that enacted criminal law. People are required to attend church services on Sundays and other specific days or face a fine of one shilling. The first violation of etiquette is punishable by six months' imprisonment and a fine of one year's earnings. The second offence is punishable by one year in prison and the third offence is punishable by life imprisonment. If any priest is found to have failed to comply with the relevant provisions of the Book of Common Prayer of 1559, he will be punished with the same severe punishment.
In conclusion, abuse of orders or any act of disobedience, disrespect, or desecration of church rituals is punishable. From another point of view, this kind"Occasionally"The punishment undoubtedly provides the possibility of leniency for potential offenders. For example, if someone does not attend Sunday Mass, paying a fine of one shilling will solve the problem. This leniency reflects Queen Elizabeth's efforts to reform the country, preventing"Illegal Behavior"Wisdom in causing public panic and maintaining social stability in England.
In addition, Queen Elizabeth also abolished the basic ritual of blessing the ** ring, but always insisted on the ritual of touching**, thus further consolidating the royal power. On the one hand, we can understand that this is a compromise and concession to traditional beliefs so that people can still enjoy the past in times of great change. On the other hand, we can see that in the case of the ring, the king does not have to look directly at the patient, and the ritual of touching the ** still has to be done by the king himself. On the contrary, insisting on the ritual of touching is more conducive to maintaining the sanctity of the king and enhancing the dignity of the king in the hearts of the people.
We can conclude that Queen Elizabeth I pursued a relatively moderate policy, guaranteeing a certain amount of religious tolerance to those who wished to adhere to the old faith. While the decrees issued by the queen required unquestionable obedience and enforcement, the punishment for disobedience was not severe. On the other hand, the punishment for trying to maintain a belief system outside of the Anglican Church was extremely severe, which was enough to ensure the apparent obedience of the Catholic lords. After the Queen proposed the amendments, the Queen feared that if the Uniform Law adopted a traditional and rigid theology, a large number of people would remain outside the church, which would lead to new and more serious conflicts and contradictions.
Therefore, the queen chose the method of direct reconciliation, issuing a decree to reconcile disputes and conflicts between the old and new religions. Elizabethan England allowed Catholics religious freedom but forbade them to worship in public places, so places of worship were mostly limited to private chapels for wealthy Catholics. However, in the state-sanctioned churches, a different set of canons and rituals were retained under the new system of authority. This largely helped to consolidate a sense of community and reflected the gradual maturation of national identity during this period.
In short, the English Reformation brought not only conceptual changes but also ritual changes. Liturgical rites and religious activities are important material symbols for the study of British nation-building. Religious ceremonies are the embodiment of the norms of people's lives. Rituals can reflect the mentality of a nation, have social functions such as cohesion of social groups, and also reflect the cultural characteristics of the nation.
Religion in late medieval England remained a highly visual and ritualized activity. The transformation of religious Xi and the integration of religious rituals in England is a complex and cyclical process, and the cohesion of religious rituals cannot be underestimated. Therefore, religious ceremonies will have a different one"Financial benefits"with"Social benefits"of people come together, and religious practices permeate people's daily lives, connecting individuals, families, and communities, and strengthening their"The social self"。It connects individuals, families, and communities, enhancing awareness of:"The social self"A sense of identity and responsibility.
It has long been believed that Henry VIII's marriage to Queen Catherine sparked the English Reformation, bringing about a slow and gentle religious change that transformed England into a state"Protestant England"。The reforms of the Edward II period were extremely radical and accelerated the modernization of Britain, but they also touched the interests of the Catholic class, exacerbated domestic and foreign contradictions, and caused unrest in England.
Her successor, Queen Mary, abolished both reforms. From this point of view, Queen Mary's measures are like"Gently apply the brakes", controlled"Wheels traveling at high speeds"。The policy of Queen Mary I played a role in the historical development of England"Stable"avoided the recurrence of radical Protestant politics and objectively maintained the stability of British society. On this basis, Elizabeth I carried out profound Protestant reforms, achieved a smooth transition to the state religion, formed a strong sense of national identity, strengthened national cohesion, and advanced the process of national construction.