Hearth Money (Noun)
Meaning
An annual contribution made by Roman Catholics to support the papal see.
Classification
Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession.
Examples
- The parish priest encouraged all Roman Catholic churchgoers to contribute their hearth money as a means of supporting the papal see.
- Every year on St. Peter's Day, Roman Catholics were obligated to pay hearth money as a way of showing their loyalty and dedication to the Church.
- The tradition of paying hearth money, also known as the "Peter's Pence", dated back to the 8th century and was an essential source of revenue for the papal see.
- Failure to pay hearth money could result in severe consequences, including excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.
- The amount of hearth money paid by churchgoers varied according to their financial means and social status.