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Article: The forgotten art of penitence.(Commentary)(Op-Ed)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- September 25, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In 1077, Henry IV of Germany, excommunicated, knelt as a penitent in the snow for three days at Canossa, in northern Italy, to beg forgiveness of Pope Gregory VII. It was the most mythic encounter in medieval history, marking the high point of papal authority and demonstrating the awe inspired by the church in the Middle Ages. But in four years, his humble oath of penitence forgotten, Henry marched with a huge army on Rome and, dethroning Pope Gregory, his benefactor, named as "anti-pope" Clement III and had himself crowned Holy Roman Emperor. An army supporting the old Pope sacked Rome, a substantial event. But it's the behavior of Henry IV who, penance or no penance, ...