Download The Catholic Reformation

The Catholic
Reformation
Pope Paul III
initially presided
during the
Counter-Reform
period and the
Council of Trent.
Council of Trent objectives:
Stop Protestant gains and
reform the Catholic Church
Pope Paul III feared the loss of authority
and financial advantages, and like many
popes, was not enthusiastic about reform.
Ultimately, the Council of Trent
convened three sessions that dealt with
reform and doctrine matters. Popes did
not attend but sent their representatives.
The 3 sessions of the Council of
Trent met over a period of 18 years
and 4 Popes.
Voting at the Council was
limited to higher clergy
Italian domination of
the proceedings at the
start:
• 4 out of the 5
attending archbishops
• 21 out of the 23
attending bishops
First Session Results (1545-7)
•Scripture and tradition were to
be of equal authority
• Good works were upheld
• Seven sacraments were
considered necessary
Internal Church Discipline:
• Curtailed selling of offices
and religious goods
• Bishops required to
actually live in their diocese
rather than Rome
Priests were required to improve their images
by dressing neatly, being well educated,
strictly celibate and active in the parish.
Seminary construction was to take
place in every diocese to ensure
improvement in the quality of priests.
Charles V was angered that
the first session did nothing
to limit the power and
position of the pope. It
merely highlighted differences
between Catholicism and
Protestantism.
Second Session (1551-2)
•
Charles V insisted that Protestants attend the
session.
• Protestant Demands:
1)All bishops should be relieved from an oath of
obedience to the Papacy.
2) The authority of the councils should be made
superior to the Papacy.
Doctrine of
transubstantiation was
affirmed
Pilgrimages and
penances were to be
upheld
The Pope’s power
remained absolute
and the Protestants
were snubbed.
Third Session (1563-4)
• clerical celibacy was upheld
• the veneration of images and
relics was upheld
• bishops were to ordain only
suitable men and supervise
their moral life
What emerged from the
Council of Trent?
1)Pope was supreme in the Catholic
Church. (Only those reforms agreed
to by the pope were passed).
2) No allowances for Christian
Humanism or liberal Catholicism.
3) Great improvement of the
quality of bishops and clergy.
4) Clearly defined Catholic doctrine and
greater centralization of government.
St. Peter’s Basilica represented the
resurgence of the Catholic Church after
their reformation.
Gianlorenzo
Bernini’s,
Ecstasy of
St. Teresa
1647-52
St Francis of
Assisi, founder of
the Franciscan
religious order, was
adopted as an icon
of the CounterReformation.
The
Calling of
St.
Matthew,
1599-1600
Portraits of saints, painted as if from life, brought
Catholics face to face with their spiritual heroes.
The
Martyrdom of
St. Peter,
1601
Ignatius of Loyola:
Founder of the
Society of Jesus,
a.k.a. Jesuits
Jesuit Traits:
Strict Discipline
Devotion to Pope
Simple Lives (Monks)
Help the Poor
Jesuits set up schools and taught
secular as well as theological subjects.
Jesuits were
known for their
dedicated
missionary work
all around the
world.