    29

    Control and the Urge to Pray

    Religious leaders in the distant past capitalized far more avidly

    than doctors on man's addiction to control.  During the 11th century, a

    battle raged over who would hold supreme authority in Europe.  The

    leading contenders: the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope.  The

    Emperor commanded massive armies and treasuries overflowing with

    wealth.  He had the loyalty of noblemen spread over a vast distance.

    The Pope, too, had his treasury and armies.  But he possessed a tactical

    weapon of a kind no emperor  could match: the illusion of control.

    In the 200 years since Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperors

    rulers had lorded it over the Popes.  To ascend the papal throne, a

    candidate was forced to obtain the Emperor's permission.  And just to

    make his subservience crystal clear, the newly-elected Pope underwent

    a solemn ceremony in which he was handed his symbols of power by

    the Emperor himself.  The ceremony telegraphed the message that in

    heaven the Pope may derive his authority from God, but on earth, he

    receives it from the Holy Roman Emperor.

    In 1073, a gentleman won the Papal election who was not willing

    to take this procedure lying down.  His name was Hildebrand (now

    known officially as Pope Gregory VII).  Hildebrand  wanted to make

    the church answerable only to the dictates of God.  In other words, he

    was dead set on elevating the church's power over that of the Emperor.

    Hildebrand had a reputation for never sidestepping a good fight.

    The new Pope started his reign with a virtual slap in the face to Holy

    Roman Emperor Henry IV.  The Pontiff never bothered to arrange the

    elaborate ceremony in which he would humbly accept his crown from

    Emperor Henry.  Instead, the new Holy Father simply took the throne

    himself.  Then he sent a curt message to the Emperor informing his

    abashed majesty of this fait accompli.  Two years later, the pugnacious

    Pope added insult to injury.  Rulers had long enjoyed the privilege of

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