Legal Definitions - quaesta

Quaesta (pronounced kwees-tuh) is a Latin term that refers to the remissions of penance granted by the Pope to those who made a certain contribution to the church. These contributions were usually monetary in nature and were seen as a way to reduce the amount of time a person would spend in purgatory after death.

During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church used the practice of quaesta to raise funds for various projects, such as the construction of cathedrals and the financing of military campaigns. For example, in the 13th century, Pope Innocent III authorized a quaesta to fund the Fourth Crusade, which aimed to recapture Jerusalem from Muslim control.

Another example of quaesta can be seen in the sale of indulgences, which were essentially certificates that granted the bearer a reduction in the amount of time they would spend in purgatory. These indulgences were often sold by the church to raise money for various projects, and were a major source of controversy during the Protestant Reformation.

The examples illustrate how quaesta was used by the Catholic Church to raise funds for various projects and to grant remissions of penance to those who made contributions. The practice of quaesta was controversial, as it was seen by some as a way for the church to profit from people's fear of purgatory and their desire to reduce their time there. Nevertheless, it remained a common practice in the Catholic Church for many centuries.