- Also spelled:
- Valdenses
- Also called:
- Waldensians
- French:
- Vaudois
- Italian:
- Valdesi
- Areas Of Involvement:
- Christianity
- Protestantism
- Related People:
- Henri Arnaud
- Valdes
Waldenses
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Who were the Waldenses?
The Waldenses were members of a Christian movement that originated in 12th-century France, whose members sought to follow Christ in poverty and simplicity. The movement is viewed by some as an early forerunner of the Reformation because of its rejection of various Catholic tenets.
Little is known about the founder, Valdes (also called Peter Waldo), but he preached in Lyon, France from 1170–76. He and his followers continued to preach, but the archbishop of Lyon condemned him, and Pope Lucius III placed the Waldenses under ban in 1184. Thereafter, the Waldenses departed from the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church by rejecting some of the seven sacraments. By the end of the 15th century, they were confined mostly to the French and Italian valleys of the Cottian Alps.
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When and where did the Waldenses movement begin?
The Waldenses movement originated in 12th-century France, devotees sought to follow Christ in poverty and simplicity. The movement is sometimes viewed as an early forerunner of the Reformation for its rejection of various Catholic tenets. Little is known about the founder, Valdes (also called Peter Waldo), but he preached in Lyon, France, from 1170–76. The archbishop of Lyon condemned him, and Pope Lucius III placed the Waldenses under ban in 1184.
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What were the main beliefs of the Waldenses?
The Waldenses were members of a Christian movement that originated in 12th-century France who sought to follow Christ in poverty and simplicity. As laymen, they preached without theological training and used a non-Latin version of the Bible, which disturbed ecclesiastical authorities.
Over time, the Waldenses departed from the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church by rejecting some of the seven sacraments, the use of indulgences, the notion of purgatory, and prayers offered for the dead. They accepted the Bible as the sole authority for all doctrine. They also believed that a formal church building was unnecessary to worship God, and thus many held services in their homes.
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Why did the Waldenses come into conflict with the Catholic Church?
The Waldenses clashed with the Catholic Church because they preached without theological training and used a non-Latin Bible version, alarming church authorities. Though Valdes was initially confirmed in his vow of poverty by Pope Alexander III, he didn't get the ecclesiastical recognition he wanted and continued to preach. Consequently, Pope Lucius III banned the Waldenses in 1184.
Subsequently, the Waldenses diverged from Catholic teachings by rejecting some sacraments, confession to priests, indulgences, infant baptism, transubstantiation, purgatory, and prayers for the dead. They saw the Bible as the ultimate authority and didn't think formal church buildings were needed for worship.
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How did the Waldenses practice their faith differently from other Christians at the time?
The Waldenses, a Christian movement from 12th-century France, sought to follow Christ through poverty and simplicity. They differed from other Christians by rejecting some Catholic tenets, including the need for priests in confession, the use of indulgences, and infant baptism.
They believed in full immersion baptism and understood the Eucharist elements as symbols only, denying transubstantiation. They also rejected purgatory and prayers for the dead, basing their views on simplified biblicism and criticism of church abuses. Waldenses accepted the Bible as the sole authority and often held services in homes or unconventional locations, considering formal church buildings unnecessary. They also repudiated the veneration of saints and refused to recognize secular courts because they did not believe in taking oaths.
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What impact did the Waldenses have on later religious movements or reforms?
The Waldenses, originating in 12th-century France, sought to follow Christ through poverty and simplicity, rejecting some Catholic tenets. Their emphasis on a simplified biblicism, moral rigor, and criticism of church abuses, along with their acceptance of the Bible as the sole authority, can be seen as an early forerunner of the Reformation.
In 1532, the Waldenses adopted Reformation theology, accepting only two sacraments and the doctrine of predestination. By adapting to Genevan worship practices, they became a Swiss Protestant church. Today, the Waldenses are governed by a seven-member board and have established communities in the United States.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Waldenses, members of a Christian movement that originated in 12th-century France, the devotees of which sought to follow Christ in poverty and simplicity. The movement is sometimes viewed as an early forerunner of the Reformation for its rejection of various Catholic tenets. In modern times the name has been applied to members of a Protestant church (centred on the Franco-Italian border) that formed when remnants of the earlier movement became Swiss Protestant reformers.
Early history
Early Roman Catholic and Waldensian sources are few and unreliable, and little is known with certainty about the reputed founder, Valdes (also called Peter Waldo, or Valdo). As a layman, Valdes preached (1170–76) in Lyon, France, but ecclesiastical authorities were disturbed by his lack of theological training and by his use of a non-Latin version of the Bible. Valdes attended the third Lateran Council (1179) in Rome and was confirmed in his vow of poverty by Pope Alexander III. Probably during this council Valdes made his Profession of Faith (which still survives); it is a statement of orthodox beliefs such as accused heretics were required to sign. Valdes, however, did not receive the ecclesiastical recognition that he sought. Undeterred, he and his followers (Pauperes, “Poor”) continued to preach; the archbishop of Lyon condemned him, and Pope Lucius III placed the Waldenses under ban with his bull Ad abolendam (1184), issued during the Synod of Verona.
Thereafter, the Waldenses departed from the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church by rejecting some of the seven sacraments. The confession of sins was guided by their leaders but did not require a priest; they rejected the use of indulgences. Baptism was to be by full immersion in water and was not administered to infants. Eventually, the elements of the Eucharist (bread and wine) were understood as symbols only, and the Waldenses denied the doctrine of transubstantiation. They also rejected the notion of purgatory and of prayers offered for the dead. Their views were based on a simplified biblicism, moral rigour, and criticism of abuses in the contemporary church. They accepted the Bible as the sole, total authority of all doctrine. Additionally, a formal church building was not viewed as necessary to worship God, and thus many Waldenses held services in their homes, stables, or other locations.
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Their movement, often joined to and influenced by other sects, spread rapidly to Spain, northern France, Flanders, Germany, and southern Italy and even reached Poland and Hungary. Rome responded vigorously, turning from excommunication to active persecution and execution. Though the Waldenses confessed regularly, celebrated Communion once a year, fasted, and preached poverty, they repudiated such Roman practices as the veneration of saints, and, because they did not believe in taking oaths, they refused to recognize secular courts.
In the early 13th century a number of Waldenses returned to orthodoxy. By the end of the century persecution had virtually eliminated the sect in some areas, and for safety the survivors abandoned their distinctive dress. By the end of the 15th century they were confined mostly to the French and Italian valleys of the Cottian Alps.
Influence of the Reformation
A second period in their history began when the French reformer Guillaume Farel introduced Reformation theology to the Waldensian ministers (barbes) in 1526. The Waldenses raised questions concerning the number of sacraments, the relationship between free will and predestination, and the problem of reconciling justification by faith with the scriptural emphasis on the necessity of good works. At a conference at Cianforan in 1532 most Waldenses accepted secular law courts and celibacy for their barbes and agreed to accept only two sacraments (baptism and Holy Communion) and the doctrine of predestination as presented by the Protestants in attendance. By further adapting themselves to Genevan forms of worship and church organization, they became in effect a Swiss Protestant church. Years of persecution continued, however, before they received full civil rights in 1848.
During the second half of the 19th century, Waldensian emigrants arrived in Uruguay and later moved from there to the United States. Strengthened by arrivals from France and Switzerland, they established small communities in Missouri, Texas, and Utah and, most importantly, around Valdese, in Burke county, North Carolina, now a thriving industrial town whose population of about 4,500 is still largely Waldensian.
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Today the Waldenses are governed by a seven-member board, called the Tavola (“Table”), elected annually by a general synod that convenes in Torre Pellice, Italy.