CATHOLIC COUNTER REFORMATION

The Catholic Church in 1500

 The Catholic Church was the most powerful institution in Europe.

 Mass performed in Latin in charge of education and held the

monopoly on information held a great deal of property Corruption in
the church.
Germany in 1500 Not one nation
 A patchwork of independent states of the Holy Roman Empire

 Ruled by figurehead Emperor - Charles V

 Martin Luther’s Problems with the Catholic Church
 Luther had two major problems with the Catholic church:
• Indulgences
• Justification
 Other problems
• Communion
• Services in Latin
• Celibacy among the clergy
• Role of Scripture
Indulgences
 Are ways to get out of punishment in Purgatory.

 In the Catholic Church, even after going to the priest for absolution at confession,
people enter Purgatory after they die.

 Purgatory is neither Heaven nor Hell, but a place of temporary punishment where
souls go before entering Heaven. Indulgences were suppose to shorten that time in
Purgatory by prayers or good works.

 However, by 1500, indulgences were abused and turned into cash donations to the
Church.

 Rich people gave lots of money for forgiveness of past and future sins.

 Basically, indulgences became a fundraising activity for the Catholic Church.

Justification
 The Catholic Church believes that in order to be saved, i.e., go to
Heaven, a person had to do good works, go through the seven
sacraments, etc.

 However, Luther came to the conclusion that because God is perfect,

nothing we do can ever be good enough for God.

 So, instead, he came to the conclusion that it was not by good works
that we earn God’s favor, but by believing and trusting in God.
Communion: Transubstantiation vs. Consubstantiation
 The Catholic Church believes that during communion, which recreates the Last
Supper, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ, made
possible by the priest.

 Protestants believe in consubstantiation, that Jesus is present during

communion, but the bread and wine are only symbolic of the Last Supper.
Luther’s Showdown with the Catholic Church

 Luther’s writings in 1520 gain the attention of the religious and political authorities.

 On June 15, 1520 Pope Leo X issued a Papal Bull Luther declared a heretic.

 The Address to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation called upon the German nobility to make
reforms in the Catholic Church and to end the Church’s influence in Germany.

 The Babylonian Captivity attacked the seven sacraments and argued that only baptism and holy
communion were biblical.

 The Babylonian Captivity argued that Scripture has the final authority over the Pope. Freedom of a
Christian argued for justification by faith alone.

 On January 1521, the Pope excommunicated Luther

 April 1521, Diet of Worms

 Luther declared an outlaw on May 26, 1521

The Protestant Reformation Spreads
 Luther’s ideas inspire Peasants’ Revolt in Germany in 1525

 Reformers begin to rise in other countries

 John Calvin - French Reformer, wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion

 Protestants begin public education, on the idea that in order to gain salvation, everybody
must learn to read the word of God.

 Political consequences of the Reformation: European rulers convert to Protestantism

 Peace of Augsburg in 1555 - It is important to note that the Lutherans were recognized
but not other Protestant denomination like the Calvinists.
 Effects of Reformation
 Religion no longer unites Europe.

 Church power declines; while the power of kings increased

 More people questioned the teachings of the Church

 Protestantism further divides as people come up with many

different interpretations of the Scriptures
 The Counter Reformation
Counter Reformation
 This movement to reform the Catholic church from within is known as
the Catholic Reformation or the Counter Reformation.

 The key purpose of this response was to limit the spread of

Protestantism

 Reunify the Western Church by convincing people to return to the

Catholic Church

 Spread the Catholic Faith to other areas

The Council of Trent
 The Council of Trent between 1545 and 1563 to make reforms.

 The Council convened to discuss and consider Luther's Theses, The threat of Protestantism,
Corruption and Immoral behavior by clergy

 Reaffirmed Catholic doctrines

 It wrote a defense against the charges made by critics of the Catholic Church

 It restated the Catholic Faith against Protestant claims and the rules of behavior for Catholic
clergy

 Made Catholic beliefs clears, set up strict rules for behavior of bishops and priests

 Required seminary education

(school for training and educating priests)
Pope St. Paul III
 Had Cardinals investigate corruption within the Church

 Gave approval to the Jesuits, focusing on education

 Used the Inquisition(group of institutions) to identify and punish

heretics convened the Council of Trent
The Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
 The Society of Jesus was begun by Ignatius of Loyola
• Born to wealthy parents in Loyola, Spain.
• Severely wounded during war with France (1521)
during his recuperation he gave serious examination
to his spiritual life by reading lives of the saints
• Dedicated his life as a soldier of Jesus Christ
• Wrote a book called Spiritual Exercises - this daily
meditation guide attracted many followers over the
next 18 years.

 With those who gathered, Ignatius formed a new religious order, the Society of
Jesus commonly known as the Jesuits given official status by Pope Paul III
The Main Activity of the Jesuits

• Educate Catholics in Europe

• Later spread to America and all over the world
• Known for rigorous Catholic education
• Defend the Catholic Faith against heresy
• Stop the spread of Protestantism
• Tried heretics in the Inquisition
• Spread the Faith with Missionary work
• Sent missionaries all over the world
Known Mostly for their Schools (High School and University)
Jesuits in America
- Known Mostly for their Schools (High School and University)
 UD Jesuit
 Loyola High School
 UD Mercy
 Marquette University
 St Louis University
 Georgetown University
 Xavier University
 Gonzaga University
 Boston College
 Loyola Marymount Univ. in Los Angeles
 Loyola University in Chicago
 University of San Francisco
 Fordham University
Jesuits in America Early Missionary work Elsewhere
 Arrived with the Spanish conquerors
 Worked to convert native Americans, establishing missions and schools
elsewhere:
• Japan
• Philippines
• Vietnam
 The Catholic Reformation (KEY
INFORMATION)
Catholic Reformation
 In response to Protestant Reformation, Catholicism began to renew itself. Pope
Paul III called the Council of Trent between 1545 and 1563. The Council of Trent
clarified Catholic teaching on important issues and addressed how to prevent
abuses of church offices.
 The Council affirmed the importance of the teaching tradition in the Church as a
necessary interpretation of the scriptures, affirmed the importance of the seven
sacraments, responded to Luther’s insistence that people need faith for salvation,
but rejected his idea that faith “alone” without good works was all that was
needed.
 Insisted that priests needed improved education so they would be better
equipped to instruct and serve the people. The Council of Trent and the reform of
the Catholic Church did not succeed in restoring unity in Christianity.
 The main effort was to convince the Protestants of their error and bring them to
conversion. Sometimes this worked, but in many countries Catholics and
Protestants fought each other.