The Counter-Reformation

The Council of Trent

The Catholic Churchs response to the Protestant challenge is known as the Counter
Reformation or the Catholic Reformation.
The Catholic Church needed to figure out
how to deal with Protestantism hordes of
people were converting, and the Catholic
Church needed to stop the flow.
The Church began a series of meetings in
1545 in the Italian
city of Trent that
would last nearly 20
years. These meetings
were held to address
the Protestant threat to the Church.
The Church had to evaluate doctrine (core
beliefs) as well as traditional practices in
the wake of Protestant challenges, and thus,
this Council is considered to be one of the
most important in Church history.
Ignatius Loyola & The Jesuits
Ignatius Loyola was originally a soldier in
Spains army, but was severely wounded,
and while he recouperated, read a
number of religious texts.
Ignatius decided to become a
priest, and eventually, he founded
a monastic order known as the
Society of Jesus or the Jesuits.
The Jesuits were an important part of the
Counter Reformations attempt to reestablish Catholicisms dominance. They
were a fiery order determined to spread
Catholicism, thus they became the
missionary and teaching wing of the
Catholic Church. Most priests who spread
Catholicism in New World colonial
possessions were Jesuits.

SLMS/13

Decisions on Doctrine & Practice

Few, if any, doctrinal (fundamental belief)
changes were made by the Council of Trent.
re--affirmed by the
Doctrine that was re
Council included:
The necessity of both
faith and works for
salvation (in response to
Luthers doctrine of
faith alone).
The Bible and Church Tradition were
equally authoritative (in response to
Luthers claim of the authority of scripture).
The authority of the Pope was reaffirmed,
and the necessity of confession (in response
to Luthers challenge of a personal salvation
through direct prayer).
The Churchs interpretation of the Bible
was final anyone who sought their own
interpretation was a heretic (in response to
Luthers challenge of personal reading of
scripture).
Decisions on Practice
Indulgences were reaffirmed as a method to
gain salvation, but the sale of indulgences
was forbidden.
Some of the most notorious abuses such as
simony were abolished, and in order to
discourage nepotism, Church
appointments were scrutinized.
Reforms were established
concerning the education and
moral conduct of priests, monks
and nuns.
The Inquisition (Church Court)
was revived to help combat heresy.
The Index was created which was basically a list of books banned by the Church.

Global History
The Counter-Reformation
1. What was the Counter-Reformation?

Name _____________________________________
c.

d.
2. Why did the Church feel the need to address the Protestant threat?
7. Which practices were addressed?
3. What was the Council of Trent? How long
did it last? Why did the Church call it?

a.
b.
c.

4. What did the Church evaluate at the

Council?

d.
e.

5. What doctrinal changes were made?

8. Who was Ignatius Loyola? What did he

do?

6. What doctrine was re-affirmed?

a.

b.

9. What role did/do the Jesuits play in the

Catholic Church?

Results of the Reformation?

The Peace of Augsburg

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The Peace of Europe?

A lot of religious warfare broke out in

Germany following Luthers challenge to
Catholicism. Catholics and Lutherans fought
throughout Germany for decades.
In 1555, the Catholic Church signed the
Peace of Augsburg with the
league of Lutheran German
Princes.
The Peace of Augsburg
essentially legitimized
Lutheranism by offering
official recognition.
It also negotiated a religious compromise
for the German Princes. It stated that the
Prince could choose the religion of his state.
Common people who found themselves in
the minority could either convert, or move
to a different state.

Christian unity in Europe was hopelessly

fragmented. Not only was there a split
between Catholics and Protestants, but
Protestantism itself fragmented into dozens
(eventually hundreds) of different sects.
Religion became the primary
cause of European wars for
the next 150 years. In many
countries in Europe, religious
minorities (both Catholic &
Protestant) were persecuted.
The power of the Catholic
Church declined, despite the
efforts of the Counter Reformation, and the
power of secular monarchs rose.
Separation of Church and State was still
centuries away, but the Church began to be
absorbed by the State, as monarchs seized
land and power from Churches.

The Inquisition

The Protestant North?

The Inquisition was the Catholic Church

court that was established in the Middle
Ages to prosecute heretics. It was revived
with intensity after the
Protestant Reformation to
try to prevent the spread of
Protestantism, and to
enforce Catholic ideas.
The three major Inquisition
tribunals were the Roman, the Spanish and
the Portuguese Inquisitions.
Nowhere was the Inquisition more active
than in the country of Spain. The Spanish
Inquisition was used to rid the country of
minorities. They forced the conversion of
Jews and Muslims (generally not done by
the Inquisition). Those who refused to
convert were forced from the country.

In general, northern European nations became Protestant, while southern European

nations remained Catholic.
This is a generalization, because of course,
Poland remained a staunchly Catholic nation in northern Europe. However, Sweden,
most of Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and England were all predominantly
Protestant nations. Italy, Spain, Portugal
and Austria remained Catholic. France was
mainly Catholic, but had a large
Huguenot (Calvinist) minority.
Because Protestant nations had
broken from Catholic ideas, they
were more tolerant of new math
and science discoveries. Scientists
felt safer and freer working in
northern European nations.

Global History
Results of the Reformation?
1. What happened in Germany following Luthers challenge to the Church?

Name _____________________________________
7. What was the Inquisition?

8. Why was it revived after the Reformation?

2. What did the Peace of Augsburg (1555) offer? (At least 2 things )
9. What were the three major Inquisitions?

3. What happened to common people who

became minorities in German states?

4. How was Christian unity hopelessly fragmented?

5. What impact did religion have on Europe

for the next 150 years?

10. How did the Inquisition operate in Spain?

11. In general, which region of Europe became

Protestant, which remained Catholic?

12. Specifically, which nations became Protestant?

Which remained Catholic?

6. What was the political impact of the Reformation on Europe?
13. Why did scientists feel safer and freer
working in northern Europe?