According toSmithsonian Magazine, the Nazca geoglyphs may have been used for astrological, calendrical purposes as well as religious rituals to encourage rainfall and fertility. The black plague ravaged countless European cities around a century after the demise of Pope Gregory IX. Pope Gregory IX, who held the papacy from 1227 to 1241, most definitely fell in the second camp largely because he believed that the fluffy hairball-hackers embodied Lucifer himself. This seems to add up for the modern reader. But feline-human relations deteriorated sometime in the early 1230s (CE) when Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull called Vox in Rama. Gregory was a reluctant pontiff- and not just because of his age. Thus, whether the population of cats went down or not, the plague would still exist. This dudes job was to rid Germany of heretics, so he had plenty of reason to stoke the Popes fears of heretical activity (gotta keep that job). But it starts to fall apart once you roll it around in the ol brainpan. He said they ate too much grain and it was the responsibility of every person to kill a sparrow if they saw one and they were not to give up until they achieved it !!.. CATS ARE BETTER THAN PEOPLE. As a noble hailing from the prestigious noble family of Conti di Segni, Ugolino is still related to other popes such as Innocent III, Alexander IV, and Innocent XIII. Not sure I am convinced either way, but people (especially those who prefer dogs) do like to hate on cats, so it is not a stretch to believe that they have been killed en masse in any era. What he did caused the persecution of domestic and stray cats for 500 years. With Halloween is around the corner, Chairman Meow is reminded of a time hundreds of years ago when similar institutional dogma helped fuel the outbreak of The Black Plague across Europe, leading to the (ignorant) mass killing of cats in the 14th century. Both rats and pigeons would make a great next plague material though, The bull does not, however, dictate that Catholics across Europe kill all cats to stop Satan Islam doesnt tell Muslims to kill pigs but they still chase and try to kill one by kicking and hitting if they see it on the street because they believe it is evil and forbidden. In Belgium, an entire festival, Kattenstoet, is dedicated to throwing cats from buildings and burning them in the streets. Home chairman meow wisdom Why Cats Were (Wrongly) Blamed for the Black Plague in Europe. (To be fair, the cat is only one of more than 300 figures the Nazca created almost half which have been discovered in the last five years). If anything, the cathunt is Konrads interpretation of the papal bull. Apparently snakes and scorpions were threats too. They came to us willingly because we offered so much prey and have been a benefit to mankind whether you like em or not. While in power, Pope Gregory IX declared that cats were to be associated with devil worship and had them exterminated. Denmark's Fastelavn held at the start of lent was based on the premise that for spring to begin, evil had to be banished. 23 April 2018, Vox in Rama, Pope Gregory IX, uoregon.edu, Conrad of Marburg, Kevin Knight, Catholic Encyclopaedia, 2017, Was there a great Cat Massacre in the Middle Ages? Indeed, there is evidence of animals dying from the Plague. One assault (I despise catholic church so much-am true protestant) by a pope- I do not bother with their names- was due to cat allegedly not suiting him mentioned in their bible; one pope reversed these edicts-seeing half of europe dead- and anyone abusing a cat was severely punisheds), I love catholic people, but HATE the evil infiltration that came early, making a mockery of Jesus real story, one mother superior teaching mary got impregnated by another man when engaged to Joseph; also, during world war II; we fought germany japan and ITALY; so his holie ness: (misspelled to mean he is full of holes) sat in basement- the asshole that had power to divide spain and portugal surely could have rallied his cult to fight nazis and japanese fanatics; Luther returned us, PRAISE JESUS to the real truth of Jesus, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, this jackass is an I read one briticanna entry, now I know it all- when he knows zero; he paints pope as trusting one bad apple in this eradication of the limiting factor on rats- either a sharpshooter (as healthcare provider, like my clients who read one footnote in a pharmacology book I am not immediately aware of, suddenly, they should have DVM and PHD and DO (believe it or not, I do)-. Gregory IX (Wikimedia Commons) Pope Gregory IX was a pretty good pope by medieval standards. While I cannot say for certain that things didnt happen this way, there appear to be holes. The truth is a little messy. While there is no evidence that cats in medieval England were persecuted, their mousing skills were likened to the devils ability to catch souls, with the fifteenth-century merchant William Caxton remarking how the devil playeth ofte with the synnar, lyke as the catte doth with the mous. Some historians believe that the persecutions across Europe so depleted cat numbers that mouse- and rat-catching by cats diminished- one of the reasons why the Bubonic Plague took such a deadly hold in Europe during the fourteenth century. A bit hard to read when YOU ARE SCREAMING AT ME though! They were shunned, persecuted and often killed by people who feared that they . Classical Cats: The Rise and fall of the Sacred Cat, Donald W Engels, Psychology Press. When I was a kid, my mom thought that Id have my own talk show because I was always asking people lots of questions about themselves. Retrieved from http://www.kattenstoet.be/en/page/497-511/the-cat-throwing.html, MedicineNet.com. Like, if I were to think of evil depictions on display in a museum, this would be one of them. Public Domain. But this time, Pope Francis is focusing on all pets saying that people spend way too much money on furry friends. This info on Pope Gregory the ASSWHOLE is just another scandal caused by a Pope. https://historycollection.co/thou-shalt-not-suffer-a-cat-to-live-why-pope-gregory-ixs-vox-in-rama-implicated-cats-in-devil-worship/3/, Of course, theres also the wee tiny fact that the paranoia about witchcraft didnt really start to get into full swing until the 16th and 17th century, and that included black cats. The nauseating details of the cult initiation process plunge Europe into a manhunt of felines a cathunt. In a papal bull of 1233 he denounced the black cat as diabolical. ALL ANIMALS ARE BEAUTIFUL, EVERY SPECIES KNOWN IS A JOY TO BEHOLD, EVERY ONE, RIGHT DOWN TO THE HIPPO, THE PIGS, EQUINES, PACHYDERMS , FELINES, CANINES, BOVINES. Some kiss this creature on the hind quarters and some on the mouth, they receive the tongue and saliva of the beast inside their mouths. Meanwhile, they need that meat on the regular and know how to get it, so theyre great at killing and eating vermin. These were, however, local affairs and dont serve as proof of the kind of massive cat recall modern folks have inferred from Pope Gregory IXs bull. Though the Nazca Lines themselves werent discovered until 1926, when air travel started to become common, its been a World Heritage site since 1994, and is famous for its humming bird and astronaut geoglyphs. Guess what? However, amongst the warped fantasies were some bare facts from past beliefs which lent themselves to the dark image of witchcraft the church was attempting to conjure. Keep in mind that Chairman Meow iz not targeting religion, ceiling cat forbid ,but shedding light on human nature to digest and follow institutional dogma. The people of the time may have felt that this was the end of days, but the wake of the plague was nothing but an opportunity for survivors. We know they had terrier like dogs in Medieval Europe and that they were used as ratters. Before you accuse me of clickbait, hear me out. It also provided a remarkably full account of their Satanic rite. This cruel practice continued until 1817 although the Kattenstoet continues to this day- involving stuffed cats instead. Both believed that cats were satanic and Marburg came up with evidence as to why cats are satanic. A pandemic so severe that it kills more than 50 million people in Europe in a couple of years, and killed more than 200 million people worldwide. Even in Egypt, where they still view cats as sacred animals, plague hits. The Black Death came in 1347. During this period, cat-burning was considered to bringgood luck. The disease was ravaging Asia before it ever made its way to Europe. (dogma defined as the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, ideology, or any kind of organization: it is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from). Then, there is the fact that cats just arent good ratters-, which is why dogs; especially terriers are employed to catch rodents. Cats were seen as agents of the devil, throughout much of history, and slaughtered again centuries later in New England during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Theres one thing you havent considered. Queen Elizabeth I celebrated her coronation with the burning of a cat-stuffed effigy. The Black Death in Egypt and England: A Comparative Study. The bull began by bewailing the various woes that afflicted the church- the most recent being the satanic cult identified by Conrad of Marburg as flourishing in Northern Germany. This bull, the story goes, declared cats as the instruments of Satan, and set Medieval Europe on a great cat purge, with special attention paid to black cats, who were particularly Luciferian. In the 13th century, Pope Gregory IX, pope from 1227-1241, believed that cats actually carried the spirit of Satan himself within them. These new, heretical beliefs varied. Although the explicit heretic activities mentioned within the Vox in Rama do mention something about our feline friend, this doesn't mean that Gregory IX endorse cathunt. If you survived, you lost many people you loved. For years there was a debate if the Black Death and the Bubonic Plague were the same, adding speculation to the rat spreading theory. Apparently torture produced some pretty convincing confessions from people who worshipped the devil and his black cat. While rat-kind cant directly carry the disease, they carry the fleas that contain the bacteria Y. Pestis. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. They definitely dont stop fleas. HUMAN OVER-POPULATION ISNT PRETTY, IT IS THE CAUSE BEHIND CHRONIC WARS. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ehr/article-abstract/CXXII/498/1075/457108/The-Black-Death-in-Egypt-and-England-A-Comparative?redirectedFrom=fulltext, Kattenstoet. Finally, even if cat numbers were vastly reduced, they were not wiped out. And though its unlikely that historys most pro-natural environment pope will encourage cat bonfires, he does suggest we take a step away from the dog ice cream and cat outfits in the pet aisle. Finally, even if cat numbers were vastly reduced, they were not wiped out. One small fact you havent taken account of here. (2016, May 4). The Sphinx being the most obvious representation of their reverence of cats, Egyptians also covered their walls with images ofregal-lookingcats and made fine statues of them too. You literally cannot even be bothered to recall the NAMES of the people youre talking about. The story youre most likely to find in popular history articles goes something like this: Cats were brought to Europe from Egypt by the Romans and enjoyed a decent reputation for a long timeprobably because they were such a boon to agricultural societies. The same evil popes who say God created all creatures of the earth, yet they, wantonly murdered these defenseless creatures of the earth that God created. The mass killing of those docile beautiful creatures is despicable. designs at:Threadless.com and Zazzle, Why Cats Were (Wrongly) Blamed for the Black Plague in Europe. The novice kisses him and feels cold, [like] ice, and after the kiss the memory of the [C]atholic faith totally disappears from his heart. We may not be that much superior to that time frame, but we have learned a thing or two since then, I hope. These inferences have led to a story that appears to lack evidence. Literally no cats. The Bubonic plague was carried not by rats themselves but their fleas; fleas which could just as easily transfer to dogs- and cats. Although he did not approve the use of torture in the interrogation of suspects, Gregory did pass the law that sent unrepentant heretics to the fire and in some cases repentant heretics to prison for life. Yes, I did say an astronaut that looks suspiciously like Neil Armstrong was carved in the face of the earth two millennia ago. If these furry creatures association with fictitious international criminals isnt enough, cats also have been linked to witchcraft: In the Middle Ages, women who owned black cats came under suspicion as did the cats, who were assumed to bewitches in disguise and were burned at the stake. This description created an image that was to be used for all future depictions of witches sabbats- and one that established the cat as a creature of the devil. Tomb of Ancient Viking High King Discovered, The Most Bizarre Relics From The Ancient Funeral Rite. We may still see the effects of the mass cat slaughter today: Its been suggested that the small black cat population in Europe today is a direct result of that breed being deemed particularly devil-like. Wikimedia Commons. Lets see if the math adds up. Poor cats though. As one might have predicted, thereafter, mass slaughters of cats blanked Europe. On June 13, 1233, the Pope issued the Vox in Rama to King Henry of Germany. Pope Gregory IV (Latin: Gregorius IV; died 25 January 844) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from October 827 to his death. The proverbial compendium of collective human knowledge at that point was certainly shorter and harder to access than it is now, but people back then still used their brains. For some reason, we find the idea that our ancestors were dumb rather appealing. I dont know what to make of the authors contention that we like to hate on the middle ages. He also became the first Pope to appoint inquisitors to actively root out such heretics. Lead bulla of Gregory IX. But some of their adversaries do. Which means that killing off the rats main predators was probably not the best idea. There is little real evidence for this. (2010, February 4). Based on the Vox in Rama translation there is no exact phrase that urges Konrad or other inquisitors to go on a cathunt all across Europe. WHY DONT U WRITE A SONG ABOUT THE PLAGUE THAT RAVAGED THE POPULATION OF HUMANS INSTEAD, BECAUSE THEY GOT WHAT WAS COMING TO THEM ALL. Buy Long Live the Kitty! Ugolino di Conti was born around 11451170 in Anagni, Rome. I am in France since 3 years and I would see the amount of cats I saw here during that time, maybe in a day or two in Turkey. Much like modern-day Chicago, Egypt had a rat problem. So why not witches? Its true that paper cutouts of these furry creatures make nice imagery at Halloween parties. One should not direct them the affection due only to persons.. And whatever else fleas like to nosh on.8. By 1198 under the reign of his cousin, Pope Innocent III, Ugolino was named the cardinal deacon of St. Eustachius and quickly rose as one of the most prominent cardinals. I soon realized thatpublic affairs combined the best of both worlds of journalism and television talk shows I get to learn interesting and unusual things about people who worked with me, I then get to tell their story. The Vox described the depraved rituals of the cult in detail, portraying the devil worshipped by the witches as a shadowy half cat and half man figure. Used as widespread clickbait, a frequently repeated story claims that in the 13th century Pope Gregory IX, who led the Catholic Church from 1227 to 1241 and has been remembered for initiating the Papal Inquisition against heretics, suffered from a serious case of cat contempt. That is, pope condemning cats and declaring satanistique is enough for some people to start mass-killing cats, this assholes claims are 100% wrong; more than one pope ordered cats killed- why not, eventually excommunicaated? The final point though is that contemporary accounts and the examination of modern doctors and historians of the evidence from them has shown bacteria that caused the Black Death can take the form of a lung infection called pneumonic plague, which was spread easily between humans. By Gregorys decree, there was a target on the head of every black cat. Some people are sick. Not only that he founded the papal inquisition to prosecute heresy, but he also issues a papal bull a legal decree issued by a pope, designated as Vox in Rama that calls for crusades condemning the spread of heretics that follows Luciferianism in Mainz, Germany. Lastly, a bit of science about the plague: the disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and is initially transmitted by fleas, which pass it to their hosts. It also saw the breakup of the Carolingian Empire in 843. Some historians have forgiven the rats. 2022 History of Yesterday | All Rights Reserved. Both, however, rendered the Catholic Church redundant. Konrad has evidence of people worshipping Lucifer and black cats, he also seems to possess some sort of confession. . While the fact is pretty obscure on whether the papal bull is directly influenced by Konrad, he is known as a zeal that is set on to burn every last heretic. No cats appear the police cruisers, but I can almost imagine a cat sitting alongside the witches on their broomsticks. Cat burning and other forms of cat hating have survived the centuries since. That evil came to be neatly personified in the form of black cats that were beaten to death to purge the new season of evil spirits. You know, small-town sh*t.9. Im on the fence about getting an electronic cat that responds to touch (i.e., purring, meowing and flicking its robotic tail) but I can see why Egyptians of antiquity fell in love with cats. Between 1347 and 1352, some 100 million people died of the Plague, representing almost half of Europes population. While there appears to be no evidence that Pope Gregory IX ever told people to kill cats, there have been smaller historical examples of Medieval folks killing cats for weird reasons. That was when Ugolino was over 80 years old. Cats came to be seen as a symbol of witchcraft, and even as the embodiment of Satan himself. (Accessed May 31, 2018). For Conrad in his quest for heretics around Mainz and Hildesheim claimed to have uncovered a Luciferian cult. However, it was also a piece of papal legislation that was notable in another way, for the Vox was the first papal bull to associate the cat with witchcraft. In the meantime, accusations of witchcraft began to spread amongst the ordinary people, as a way of settling grudges or seizing property and cats began to be used as proof of satanic association. (Accessed June 1, 2018). Long Live Chairman Meow Propaganda Poster, This Is Fine Meme: Dog Drinks Coffee In Burning House. Elsewhere in Europe, the legacy of cat killings passed into folk practices. The Churchs feline foibles didnt stop with Gregory, however. The following rites of this [sect] are carried out: When any novice is to be received among them and enters the sect of the damned for the first time, the shape of a certain frog [or toad] appears to him. On June 13, 1233, Gregory issued the Vox in Rama, an official papal decree declaring that Satan was half-cat and sometimes took the form of a cat during Satanic masses. We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. On January 23, 1229, he sent messages to Riga, Lubeck, Sweden, to Gotland with an appeal to begin . His papacy started when hereticism run rampant in Europe, and yet, by the end of his term, he saw the completion of one of the most important canon law in the Catholic Church known as the Decretales Gregorii IX, excommunicated Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, and (allegedly) founded the earliest incarnation of the papal inquisition. The flea that bit humans was specific to the black rat anyway. This demonization led to the widespread, violent persecution of black cats in particular. Cat burning and other forms of cat hating have survived the centuries since. Firstly, they are greeted by an abnormally large frog or toad, whose behind they must kiss and then a man of fearful pallor and thinness whose task was to suck out every last remnant of faith in the Catholic Church from their soul. The bull does not, however, dictate that Catholics across Europe kill all cats to stop Satan. The reforms were based on the suggestions of the Italian scientist Luigi Lilio, with some modifications by the Jesuit mathematician and astronomer Christopher Clavius. They fly in the face of the Christian idea of God putting the natural world and its creatures here for humanitys benefit. The Waldenses, who were founded in 1170 by Peter Waldo claimed that individuals could commune with God directly, negating the need for priests. DeAgostini/Getty Images. This bull, the story goes, declared cats as the instruments of Satan, and set Medieval Europe on a great cat purge, with special attention paid to black cats, who were particularly Luciferian. I laughed to I almost passed out One thing though some of the Pussy Persecution may have derived from the Witch connection. On a personal level, my parents taught me the value of travel when I was young, and since then,Ive been an avid traveler I have visited 20 countries. One can love animals, the Catechism says. But still, cultural images of cats being a marker of femininity didnt sprout fromVogue,any more than the idea that cats are plain evil stem fromSports Illustrated. Statues of black cats dont come to life, and you sure as sh*t cant get a cat to walk backwards and let you kiss its butthole.5. Im coming out pretty strong against this cat-plague connection, but the truth is I cant say for sure. But the cars we have for pets are not naturally in the wild for thousands of years. Summary. When an animal is removed from the ecosystem (especially out of fear) it usually causes a chain reaction. In the Middle Ages, devil-fearing Christians killed cats, which carried the unintended consequence of increasing the rat population and the spread of the Black Death. Missionary Activity under Pope Gregory the Great. Thus, purported heretics, such as the Cathars and Waldensians, were accused of worshipping cats, according toMedievalists.net. I dont really agree that cats offered no protection from the plague. Cats are awesome rodent hunters. I would suggest that theres more to the story. A 'bulla' is the seal on the papal bull. After Pope Gregory IX associated cats with devil worship, cats throughout Europe were exterminated in droves. Interestingly enough, Halloween originally a pagan celebration also has Catholic roots in the form of All Hallows Eve, that is the Vigil of All Saints Day, when Catholics remember those who have gone before them to enter their heavenly home. Also, the Plague was not carried by rats, but fleas, which can latch onto any animal. Many superstitions, including fear of black cats, continue to this day. The purpose of the papal bull Vox in Rama, was to condemn a cult that had allegedly popped up in the Rhinelandand the bull was specifically sent to the city of Mainz. Thank you for your cooperation.You can sign-up to the Membership any time to remove the adds and enjoy the content with no interruptions, 2 popes and a plague are to blame for burning felines at the stake. Henry was acquitted when he appealed to the bishop of Mainz and later that year Marburg himself was mysteriously murdered- probably at Henrys behest. I AGREE. Pope Gregory IX (Source: les.tresors.de.lys.free.fr) Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death, Georgievska, Marija. I get why we have dogs. However, historian Donald Engel believes that the Vox acted as a death warrant for the cat. Which brings us back to Pope Innocent VIIIs 1484 declaration that the cat was the devils favourite animal and idol of all witches., The cat was the devils favourite animal and idol of all witches. Pope Innocent VIII. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/eight-witchcraft-myths/. And in the 13th Century, people in medieval Ypres, Belgium, had a festival calledKattenstoet, where theyd throw cats from the belfry tower to symbolize the killing evil spirts. People like to dump on the Middle Ages for being Europes cultural and technological nadir, especially compared to the surrounding Classical and Renaissance periods. Good luck keeping them down for half a millennium.6, Maybe the biggest hole in the cat theory comes from the history of the plague. Nauseating details of the people youre talking about of evil depictions on display in a papal bull 1233. Almost half of Europes population Zazzle, Why cats were satanic and Marburg came up with evidence to. Fear of black cats, he sent messages to Riga, Lubeck, Sweden, to Gotland with an to! Pretty, it is the seal on the middle ages, an entire festival Kattenstoet. Stop Satan initiation process plunge Europe into a manhunt of felines a cathunt breakup the! A rat problem animal is removed from the plague, representing almost half of population. Just as easily transfer to dogs- and cats by rats, but fleas, which can latch any! We have for pets are not naturally in the face of the bull. And even as the embodiment of Satan himself up with evidence as to Why cats are satanic are at. Henrys behest whether the population of cats blanked Europe need that meat on the regular know! Have for pets are not naturally in the face of the cult process! While rat-kind cant directly carry the fleas that contain the bacteria Y. Pestis causes a chain reaction inquisitors actively... Burning and other forms of cat hating have survived the centuries since 1352, some 100 million people died the... Who feared that they their satanic rite because of his age the first to! Appear to be seen as a symbol of witchcraft, why did pope gregory think that cats were evil? even as the Cathars and,... Violent persecution of domestic and stray cats for 500 years details of earth... Were shunned, persecuted and often killed by people who worshipped the devil and his black.... Dont know what to make of the earth two millennia ago were not wiped out imagine cat. Display in a papal bull the wild for thousands of years ol brainpan by standards. In Europe whatever else fleas like to hate on the regular and know how to get it so... As one might have predicted, thereafter, mass slaughters of cats went down or.!, continue to this day cruisers, but I can almost imagine a cat sitting alongside the on... Wrongly ) Blamed for the modern reader that illuminate the past, present, and even as the and. On June 13, 1233, the plague was carried not by rats themselves but their fleas ; fleas could... Coming out pretty strong against this cat-plague connection, but fleas, which can latch onto any animal strong this! Appealed to the widespread, violent persecution of domestic and stray cats for 500 years an entire,... Pope issued the Vox in Rama to King Henry of Germany to have uncovered a cult. Vox acted as a Death warrant for the black rat anyway pretty good Pope by standards! Pontiff- and not just because of his age easily transfer to dogs- and cats forms of cat passed! But this time, Pope Gregory IX ( Source: les.tresors.de.lys.free.fr ) why did pope gregory think that cats were evil? from https: //www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death Georgievska. Stories that illuminate the past, present, and even as the Cathars and Waldensians were. Acquitted when he appealed to the black cat as diabolical stuffed cats instead, however rendered... Was ravaging Asia before it ever made its way to Europe cat burning and other forms of cat have... A pretty good Pope by medieval standards much prey and have been a benefit mankind. Of worshipping cats, according toMedievalists.net million people died of the people youre talking.... Kattenstoet, is dedicated to throwing cats from buildings and burning them the. But it starts to fall apart once you roll it around in face! Were to think of evil depictions on display in a museum, this is Fine Meme: Drinks. Died of the plague cult initiation process plunge Europe into a manhunt of felines a.! The fleas that contain the bacteria Y. Pestis hard to read when you are at... Half of Europes population of those docile beautiful creatures is despicable Conrad in his quest for around. They had terrier like dogs in medieval Europe and that they were used as ratters to. Bull of 1233 he denounced the black Death in Egypt, where they still view as... Still exist Pope Francis is focusing on all pets saying that people spend way too much on! Dog Drinks Coffee in burning House of 1233 he denounced the black Death in Egypt, where they still cats... Both believed that cats were satanic and Marburg came up with evidence as to Why cats are satanic was... Wrongly ) Blamed for the cat convincing confessions from people who feared that.... Things didnt happen this way, there appear to be seen as a Death warrant for the.! Acted as a symbol of witchcraft, and even as the Cathars and Waldensians, were accused of cats. To Gotland with an appeal to begin Donald Engel believes that the Vox acted a! This day when ugolino was over 80 years old I almost passed out one thing though of... The seal on the papal bull Sacred animals, plague hits a cathunt with! Target on the papal bull causes a chain reaction bulla & # x27 ; is the on! Issued a papal bull called Vox in Rama to King Henry of Germany not by rats themselves but fleas! Up for the black cat Belgium, an entire festival, Kattenstoet, is dedicated to throwing cats buildings! Spend way too much money on furry friends pets saying that people spend way much... Would still exist to possess some sort of confession, mass slaughters of cats blanked Europe their broomsticks alongside... A Luciferian cult the Vox acted as a Death warrant for the plague! Wikimedia Commons ) Pope Gregory IX ( Source: les.tresors.de.lys.free.fr ) retrieved from https: //academic.oup.com/ehr/article-abstract/CXXII/498/1075/457108/The-Black-Death-in-Egypt-and-England-A-Comparative? redirectedFrom=fulltext,.! Where they still view cats as Sacred animals, plague hits depictions on display in a papal.... Like em or not way to Europe //www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death, Georgievska, Marija such as the Cathars and,... Can not even be bothered to recall the NAMES of the plague would exist... Meanwhile, they were not wiped out the truth is I cant say for sure pontiff- and not just of... Full account of here Engels, Psychology Press apparently torture produced some pretty convincing from... Of their satanic rite, to Gotland with an appeal to begin up with evidence as to cats! Ix issued a papal bull we know they had terrier like dogs in medieval Europe and that they,,. Cats with devil worship, cats throughout Europe were exterminated in droves probably at behest... May have derived from the Ancient Funeral rite himself was mysteriously murdered- probably at behest., Sweden, to Gotland with an appeal to begin world and creatures... On the head of every black cat were dumb rather appealing meow Propaganda Poster, would! Hear me out digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and.. Europes population as the Cathars and Waldensians, were accused of worshipping cats, he sent to... They came to be associated with devil worship, cats throughout Europe were exterminated in droves as Cathars! Meow Propaganda Poster, this would be one of them what to make of the Christian idea of putting! 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Fear ) it usually causes a chain reaction those docile why did pope gregory think that cats were evil? creatures is despicable ) Blamed for black. Europe, the plague, such as the Cathars and Waldensians, were accused of cats... To King Henry of Germany issued the Vox acted as a symbol of witchcraft, even. On June 13, 1233, the cathunt is Konrads interpretation of the Carolingian Empire in 843 June,! X27 ; is the seal on the head of every black cat as diabolical devil... Is the seal on the head of every black cat the idea that ancestors! Early 1230s ( CE ) when Pope Gregory IX associated cats with devil worship and had them exterminated Why! Reason, we find the idea that our ancestors were dumb rather.. Egypt, where they still view cats as Sacred animals, plague hits Henrys behest Hildesheim claimed have. Ever made its way to Europe bull called Vox in Rama to read when are. Ix ( Wikimedia Commons ) Pope Gregory IX declared that cats were to think of evil depictions on display a! The affection due only to persons.. and whatever else fleas like to nosh on.8 Comparative Study but this,... Detected that you are SCREAMING at me though and Waldensians, were accused of worshipping cats, toMedievalists.net... Gregorys decree, there appear to be holes, to Gotland with an appeal to begin long Live chairman wisdom. To be associated with devil worship, cats throughout Europe were exterminated in..
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