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. The purpose of Vox in Rama, rather, was to condemn a cult that had allegedly popped up in the Rhinelandand the bull was specifically sent to the city of Mainz. The nauseating details of the cult initiation process plunge Europe into a manhunt of felines a cathunt. So as you say, cats couldnt have contained bubonic plague. In my home, I use cat statuettes as bookends, and have various other representations of these felines throughout my home. Even in Egypt, where they still view cats as sacred animals, plague hits. When I graduated college,I began living my own dream as a reporter for a news media outlet. Cats were later blamed for the Black Death (1346-1352), though rats were actually the culprit. Of course, the Bubonic Plague also motivated the kitty killings, as many believed that cat germs contributed to the plagues spread. Further down the line, his influence grew larger and larger, and by 1217 he was named the papal legate and Honorius chief representative in Liguria and Tuscany. That, or he was a true believer, or both. Why did Pope Gregory IX issue Vox in Rama in the first place? Afterwards, they sit down to a meal and when they have arisen from it, the certain statue, which is usual in a set of this kind, a black cat descends backwards, with its tail erect. They catch cockroaches, snakes, and scorpions too. . Denmarks Fastelavn held at the start of lent was based on the premise that for spring to begin, evil had to be banished. 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. Cat burning became a favorite medieval pastime in France, where cats were suspended over fires in cages or doused and set alight- even chased on fire through the streets by cat chasers. Does the dwindling population of cats indirectly cause the infamous Black Death? Denmark's Fastelavn held at the start of lent was based on the premise that for spring to begin, evil had to be banished. The Remains of Dead US Presidents Will Be Sent Into Space, The Man Who Surgically Brought Back Unicorns. 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. Retrieved from https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/02/06/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/, Horrox, Rosemary. These inferences have led to a story that appears to lack evidence. However, history shows that the Black Death, which ravaged Europe in the mid 1300s, was actually caused by rats and the fleas on them. Wierd Tales, Vol 36. This timeline stretched from 1346 to 1353, a little more than a century after Gregory. While I cannot say for certain that things didnt happen this way, there appear to be holes. (Accessed June 1, 2018). Lets see if the math adds up. After all, the devil was already at work through heretics. 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. His condemnation of cats may not be responsible for the spread of black death, but its definitely connected to the decline in cat populations at the time, andthe proliferation of rat populations. Its also true that there was a pope at the time who was not a fan of cats, who banned them. Retrieved from http://www.kattenstoet.be/en/page/497-511/the-cat-throwing.html, MedicineNet.com. Cats were later blamed for the Black Death (13461352), though rats were actually the culprit. So Gregory began to formalize and promote practices that formed the basis of the later medieval inquisition. For one, rate outnumber cats by a huge margin, like everywhere, and always have. And whatever else fleas like to nosh on.8. Pope Gregory XII (Latin: Gregorius XII; Italian: Gregorio XII; c. 1327 - 18 October 1417), born Angelo Corraro, Corario, or Correr, was head of the Catholic Church from 30 November 1406 to 4 July 1415. 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. (2017, February 6). 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. I do support single mothers though, especially those willing to give me 2 for 1 lapdance specials, but I digress. People banged drums and kept the sparrow in the air not permitting them to land until they died of exhaustion! Missionary Activity under Pope Gregory the Great. Cats dont generally take on rats. However, historian Donald Engel believes that the Vox acted as a death warrant for the cat. Cat burning and other forms of cat hating have survived the centuries since. (Accessed 2018, June 1). Wages rose fast in the absence of labor. All this was about to change. There are holes in your arguments as well. Exterminating cats during the black plague epidemic in the 14th century: Cat owners were often accused of witchcraft, and often murdered along with their pets. 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. Share this article your friends will love it too! Once the initial hysteria died down, cats, like the would-be witches were left alone for a time, giving them time to repopulate- and remained prolific enough to continue to be culled. Besides, it mutated into septicemic and pneumonic forms, thus spreading even faster. For example, 79 medieval cats were mysteriously slain in Cambridge, England, by the townsfolk in the 13th century. April 1st was originally celebrated as the New Year day, until in 1582 Pope . Those arrested by Conrad, therefore, had only two options: admit to heresy and spend the rest of their lives as a known former heretic or burn. 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. As one might have predicted, thereafter, mass slaughters of cats blanked Europe. On June 13, 1233, he issued a papal decree, Vox in Rama, based on bogus evidence provided by a Spanish Inquisitor. The black plague ravaged countless European cities around a century after the demise of Pope Gregory IX. 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. Wierd Tales, Vol 36. If the Nazca thought enough of cats to etch a 37-meter geoglyph of one into the mountain that persists 2,000 years later, they must have thought highly of them. Further, the plague wasnt a one-off event in Europe. ps. Potential infected flea hosts include: rodents, humans, dogs, and cats. Reigning during the Western Schism, he was opposed by the Avignon claimant Benedict XIII and the Pisan claimants Alexander V and John XXIII.Gregory XII wanted to unify the Church and . Pope Benedict died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in his residence at the . In an era when unknown phenomena seemed like they could only be explained by powerful deities, it seemed only natural to the Egyptians to worship kitty cats. *Coupons: Check out our coupons for stores like Checks Unlimited and CheapOair! For example, 79 medieval cats were mysteriously slain in Cambridge, England, by the townsfolk in the 13th century. 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, Decretales Gregorii IX, In Belgium, an entire festival, Kattenstoet, is dedicated to throwing cats from buildings and burning them in the streets. 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. 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. After years of consultation and research, Pope Gregory XIII signed a papal bull in February 1582 promulgating the reformed calendar that came to be known as the Gregorian calendar. Pope Gregory IX (1147-1241). No cats appear the police cruisers, but I can almost imagine a cat sitting alongside the witches on their broomsticks. It mentioned Pope Gregorys hate on for cats. For Conrad in his quest for heretics around Mainz and Hildesheim claimed to have uncovered a Luciferian cult. 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. While there were no immediate effects of the unjust cathunt, Europe will be affected in the years to come, with the rise of the Bubonic Plague. Reply . Terriers were also used for that purpose, in fact they were bred specifically for it. As it went into the fourth and fifth years ! I AGREE. It was his distaste for cats that penned the Vox in Rama. 1999. How then could he have impacted the good people of the 1300s? Cats just arent dogs, and I respect and love them specifically for that reason. Some believed that the disappearance of those cats helped rats spread the bubonic plague aka the Black Death that killed millions of people in the 1300s. The PBS documentary pointed out that cats dont have the musculature in their faces to reproduce human-like facial expressions the way dogs do, which is probably the main reason people think they are aloof and why they think dogs are so much more companionable (cause we love things that are more like us). People in medieval Ypres, Belgium, had a festival called Kattenstoet where theyd throw cats from the belfry tower to symbolize the killing of evil spirits. The Black Plague did happen. Cats are natural hunters. By rough estimates, as many as 200 million people died. Actually, the murder of cats in Europe continued for hundreds of years, and another Plague swept through Europe again in the 17th Century. On June 13, 1233, the Pope issued the Vox in Rama to King Henry of Germany. Indeed, there is evidence of animals dying from the Plague. Home; About; Contacts; Location; FAQ In the 13th century, Pope Gregory IX, pope from 1227-1241, believed that cats actually carried the spirit of Satan himself within them. Such heresies could not be left unchecked to spread around the population and thus undermine the Churchs authority. 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. He believed that cats were evil creatures because they were related to Satan. February 8, 2013. The Vox in Rama encouraged Conrad of Marburg to overreach himself and that same year he accused Henry II, Count of Sayn of taking part in satanic orgies. NASA is launching the DNA of some of the most prolific presidents in US history, The 1985 story of a bear that ate 77 pounds of Plabo Escobar's finest cocaine. Granted, Im sure it was easier to get into back then, but thats right in the Medieval period. designs at:Threadless.com and Zazzle, Why Cats Were (Wrongly) Blamed for the Black Plague in Europe. BELIEVE! But today, the association between cats and Halloween persist, perhaps ironically because spurious associations between cats and Satan worshiping that the Catholic Church pushed, some 800 years ago. For example, ever heard of Oxford University? Gregory believed him. Fewer cats, more rats, more fleas, and more plague. The reforms were based on the suggestions of the Italian scientist Luigi Lilio, with some modifications by the Jesuit mathematician and astronomer Christopher Clavius. I suppose its possible that Vox in Rama simply set the stage for a cat-killing trend that would, generations later, result in the Black Death. But it starts to fall apart once you roll it around in the ol brainpan. In the ensuing years huge numbers of cats (especially black cats) and even their owners were killed across Europe in fear that they were evil witches and linked to Satan. Pope Gregory IX How did this come about? Your email address will not be published. (Ive decided not the repost the link here). 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. Classical Cats: The Rise and fall of the Sacred Cat, Donald W Engels, Psychology Press. Cats came to be seen as a symbol of witchcraft, and even as the embodiment of Satan himself. 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. Gregory IX (Wikimedia Commons) Pope Gregory IX was a pretty good pope by medieval standards. 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. (2010, February 4). So, Im not so sure cats stop the plague. Cats, dogs, horses, humans. Since the reign of Gregory, folks at the time had taken a disliking for cats, especially the black ones. Then each [returns] to his place and, speaking certain responses, they incline their heads toward to cat. Pope Benedict XVI acknowledges pilgrims during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Nov. 4, 2009. It is also doubtful that one papal bull sent to Mainz can influence the whole European stage. Oh and I like dogs but dog people kind of irritate as they always say or think negative stuff about cats, like cats are arseholes. In the decree, he declared that Satan is half cat and claimed that there were . So, rather than being a document banning cats from Europe, it was a letter sent to a city warning them about a cult. Welcome to BELIEVE.art, home of Revolutionary Artist & Warrior-Poet, Chairman Meow. The novice then feasted with the rest of the congregation, after which they assembled to pay homage to a black cat which emerged from a kind of statue which normally stands in the place where these meetings are held., The whole coven was required to kiss the cats behind, and once they had done this, a wild sexual orgy occurred. OVERPOPULATION OF HUMANS IS THE RUINATION OF THE PLANET. Check out France, rats on the street, brave-pigeons without flight reflex, but no cats. The Black Death or Black Plague was the original zombie apocalypse. Locusts and every other kind because the sparrow not only ate grain but also insects the great 3 year famin followed and the official Chinese records showed 15 million people died of starvation but later studies done by experts from outside of China say the official numbers are fudged badly in an optimistic attempt to cover the true death toll of around 45 million plus some even say as high as 70 million!! Although witch trials did occur on a local scale, they were mainly for the practice of pre-Christian beliefs and tried in secular rather than ecclesiastical courts. Not only were they a source of companionship they were also a status symbol and source of worship., Egyptians have had a long love affair with cats. First the novice, then the master, then each one of the order who are worthy and perfect, kiss the cat on its buttocks. The Churchs feline foibles didnt stop with Gregory, however. Before the prospect of burning at the stake for having contact with the purring pets, Catholics around the the continent began slaughtering any feline that entered their property. But the cars we have for pets are not naturally in the wild for thousands of years. He tended to treat all those accused as guilty until proven innocent and threatened all those who would not confess with the flames. As people began to get sick and the Black Plague began spreading, more and more cats were killed. Buy Long Live the Kitty! For a lot of folks, everything you need to know about the Middle Ages you can find in Braveheart or Monty Pythonit was a simple, stupid period when superstition ruled the land, heads rolled daily, and people were covered in sh*t all the time. A witch and her cat. If you survived, you lost many people you loved. Dog lovers, please get over it. While I dont have any cats my allergist says owning a cat for me is worse for my lungs than chain smoking Ive long revered cats. 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. 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. The Vox in Rama encouraged Conrad of Marburg to overreach himself and that same year he accused Henry II, Count of Sayn of taking part in satanic orgies. (Accessed June 1, 2018). STOP W/ THE BABIES ALREADY. 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. But cats? 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