Humanities Unit 5 Module 6

What is the Catholic Reformation?

What is the Catholic Reformation?

It is a movement of religious reform in the Catholic religion conducted by popes in the early 16th century who called councils and promulgated decrees aimed at reform.

How did Protestants view the Catholic Reformation?

They viewed it as the Counter-Revolution because they saw these reforms as a response to the Protestant challenge.

What did many of the religious reflections of the Catholic Reformation grow out of?

Many of these religious reflections grew out of a continuing Catholic discussion that followed the Great Schism, the Conciliar movement, and the rule of the politically active Renaissance popes.

Why did popes face a tough challenge in implementing reforms in the 16th century?

They faced a tough challenge in implementing reforms because the Habsburg-Valois Wars occupied the attention of the Catholic kings Charles V and Francis I, who in normal times would have backed the papacy. These wars also carried a high financial price for the popes.

In the 15th century, what did Spain emerge from?

Spain emerged from its medieval decentralization and became a strong, unified kingdom.

Whose marriage ended up joining the Spanish kingdoms of Leon-Castile and Aragon?

Isabella and Ferdinand's marriage joined the kingdoms of Leon-Castile and Aragon.

Upon marrying, what did Isabella and Ferdinand immediately set about reducing?

They immediately set about reducing the power of the nobility and establishing a centralized power.

As part of their consolidation of royal authority, what did Isabella and Ferdinand obtain the permission to do?

As part of their consolidation of royal authority, they obtained permission from the pope to establish their own inquisition, directed against converted Jews and former Muslims who were suspected of secretly practicing their old faith. This newly established court brought great suffering to many of Spain's loyal citizens.

What did Ferdinand and Isabella become known as?

They became known as the "Catholic monarchs", emphasizing their faith and the degree to which they believed they carried the banner of an invigorated Catholicism.

As part of their goal of a centralized and religiously homogeneous Spain, what did Ferdinand and Isabella do?

As a part of their goal of a centralized and religiously homogeneous Spain, they resumed the conquest of the peninsula that had dominated the history of medieval Spain.

As part of their drive to unify Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella did what?

As a part of their drive to unify Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella obtained permission from the pope in 1478 to establish an Inquisition to try to ensure religious homogeneity in their newly conquered territories. This court was different from the medieval Inquisition, for it was under the control of the monarchy instead of the papacy.

In Spain, who was the Inquisition run by?

In Spain, the Inquisition was run by a royal council and was charged with examining converted Muslims and Jews to see if they continued secretly to practice their old religions. Under the control of the secular authorities, these trials led to suffering and public executions.

When did the Catholic reconquest (Inquisition) of Spain end?

The reconquest ended in 1492, when Ferdinand and Isabella besieged Grenada, the last Muslim stronghold in the south of Spain.

What happened at the same time the Catholic reconquest (Inquisition) of Spain ended?

At the same time, all Jews were expelled from Spain.

By 1492, what was Spain well placed to take the lead for?

By 1492, Spain was well placed to take the lead in fostering Catholicism against the forces of Protestantism.

As part of their dynastic aims, what did Ferdinand and Isabella do?

As part of their dynastic aims, they had arranged marriages for their children to the leading families of Europe.

What did Joanna, one of the daughters of Ferdinand and Isabella, become?

Joanna became the wife of the Habsburg archduke, and her son Charles V became heir to both Spain and the Habsburg lands.

Who was Cardinal Ximenez de Cisneros?

He was the most influential religious figure in Spain. He was confessor to the queen, bishop of Toledo, Grand Inquisitor, and regent of Spain after Ferdinand's death.

Who brought humanist ideas into Spain?

Cardinal Ximenez de Cisneros brought humanist ideas into Spain.

Regarding humanism, what was Ximenez particularly impressed with?

Ximenez was particularly impressed with Erasmus; emphasis on scholarly study of scripture and the works of the church fathers, and he wanted to strengthen this kind of education in Spain.

In 1498, what did Ximenez receive permission from the Borgia pope Alexander VI to found?

In 1498, he received permission from the Borgia pope Alexander VI to found a new university at Alcala de Henares that would feature humanist approaches to theological and ecclesiastical studies.

How did the high quality of the scholarship at Ximenez's university get noticed?

The high quality of the scholarship at the school drew notice with the publication of the "Complutensian Polyglot Bible", an edition of the Bible written in three columns that compared the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin versions.

What did the scholarship at Ximenez' university represent?

The scholarship represented a high point in humanistic learning and new critical techniques in the study of the Bible.

What pattern continued into the 16th century?

The pattern of the Catholic Church being reformed by monastic and mendicant orders that infused new life and ideas into the church continued into the 16th century.

Who were the Jesuits?

They were members of the Society of Jesus, established by Ignatius of Loyola.

True or false: Ignatius of Loyola, after being injured in battle, read stories of Christian saints and decided to dedicate himself as a soldier of Christ.

True.

True or false: Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, was influenced by Thomas a Kempis' "Imitation of Christ" and wrote his own book, "The Spiritual Exercises", that offered a Catholic version of the personal search for God.

True.

What did Ignatius of Loyola teach in his widely read work, "The Spiritual Exercises"?

In "The Spiritual Exercises", Loyola taught how spiritual discipline could satisfy people's desire to reach up to God while obeying the orders of the Catholic Church. Here was the perfect combination of Catholic orthodoxy and the longings expressed by Protestant reformers.

In 1540, what did the pope establish the Society of Jesus as?

In 1540, the pope established the Society of Jesus as a religious order.

When the pope established the Society of Jesus as a religious order, what did the Jesuits become?

Jesuits, who vowed perfect obedience to the papacy, became the vanguard of reformed Catholicism. These men devoted themselves to education, sharing Cardinal Ximenez's belief that a Christian humanist education would combat the threat of Protestantism.

Were the schools of the Jesuits good schools or bad schools?

They were good schools, among the best in Europe. They drew even some Protestants who were willing to risk their children's conversion to Catholicism in exchange for the fine education.

What did Jesuits serve as missionaries for?

They served as missionaries to bring Catholicism to the New World.

Did the new Jesuit shock troops of the papacy become controversial?

Yes, they became controversial. The vigor with which they pursued their aims and the vehemence of their support of the papacy alienated some Catholics and Protestants alike.

What did baroque art serve to do?

It served to forward the ideas and spirit of reformed Catholicism.

What was baroque art characterized by?

It was characterized by passion, drama, and awe. It was designed to involve the audience.

True or false: Catholic patrons, in particular, spurred the new baroque art that spoke as eloquently of Catholic doctrine and passion as a Jesuit sermon.

True.

With the conclusion of the Habsburg-Valois Wars, what could the Catholic monarchs focus on?

With the conclusion of the Habsburg-Valois Wars, the Catholic monarchs could focus on the divisive religious questions of the day.

After the treaty of 1544 that ended the Habsburg-Valois Wars, where did church leaders from all over Europe gather?

Church leaders from all over Europe gathered in northern Italy at Trent, and the council met intermittently from 1545 to 1563. They became the Council of Trent.

What did Charles V want the Council of Trent to concentrate on?

He wanted the council to concentrate on reforming abuses of the church.

How did the Council of Trent confront the issue of abuses of the church after Charles V brought it up?

It confronted this thorny issue honestly, establishing stern measures to clean up clerical corruption, ignorance, and apathy. They even banned the selling of indulgences and the office of indulgence-seller.

When did the real work of the Council of Trent take place?

The real work of the council took place when it confronted the theological debate that had driven the Protestants from the Catholic church. As these leaders clarified their beliefs, it became obvious that there would be no compromise with Protestant Christianity.

What did the Council of Trent determine regarding the standing that Catholics had with God?

It determined that Catholics did NOT stand alone before God. Rather, it claimed, the community of the faithful, both living and dead, could help a Catholic to salvation. Thus prayers to the saints and to the Virgin Mary did matter.

What did the Council of Trent claim that the Catholic Church affirmed?

It claimed that the Catholic Church affirmed the existence of purgatory and the power of prayer, and even indulgences to free souls from their punishment.

How did the churchmen at the Council of Trent reject Protestants?

They rejected Protestants by reaffirming their position that Christians needed both faith and good works to go to heaven. For Catholics, the sacraments by their very nature conveyed grace, so the council reaffirmed the existence of all 7 rites.

In further rejection of Protestant criticism, what idea did the Catholics at the Council of Trent retain?

In further rejection of Protestant criticism, Catholics retained their idea of transubstantiation, by which priests presided over the transformation of the wine and host into the blood and body of Christ.

Who was El Greco?

He was a Spanish baroque painter who reaffirmed Catholic theology.

What is El Greco's painting "Burial of the Count of Orgaz" about?

It is about the theological stance of the Council of Trent, visually reaffirming it. The painting depicts heaven as filled with saints and the souls of other saved individuals, who also pray for the count and help him enter their community.

While debating and refining their beliefs, what did the churchmen of the Council of Trent use?

While debating and refining their beliefs, the churchmen used principles that had guided previous councils and looked to 2 authorities-scripture and tradition. Armed with these pillars of Christian thought, they prepared to answer Luther and the other Protestants, who recognized only their own consciences and the complete authority of the Holy Book.

Catholics, the Council of Trent argued, could draw strength from?

Catholics, they argued, could draw strength from the body of practices that the faithful had accumulated over the course of a millennium.

In 1557, what did the papacy begin to publish?

In 1557, the papacy began to publish an Index of Prohibited Books, a list of works that theologians had determined contained errors.

Who did the Index of Prohibited Books intend to protect?

The Index of Prohibited Books intended to protect the faithful from "incorrect" ideas in an age that was not yet used to the flurry of publications made available by the printing press.

True or false: Throughout this period, as we have seen with baroque art, Catholics expressed their faith with more passion and mystical emotion than they had shown in centuries.

True.

Who was Teresa of Avila?

She was a Spanish 16th-century mystic who quickly became a saint. She was also an active Catholic reformer, establishing new convents for women as part of her dedication to a reinvigorated Catholicism.

Why did Teresa of Avila's mystical writing, "Way of Perfection", ensure her influence?

"Way of Perfection" ensured her influence because it inspired the pope to declare her a Doctor of the Church (which means that her writings were worthy of study). Soon she became the patron saint of Spain.

The example of Teresa and other Catholic mystics offered the church what?

It offered the church a strong weapon to show skeptics the deep and passionate faith that came with Catholic worship.

Besides Catholic mystics, where else did the Catholic Church look to for championing the Catholic cause?

Besides Catholic mystics, the Catholic church also looked to the Spanish king to champion the Catholic cause in the political and military arena.

Who was Philip II?

He was Charles V's heir to the kingdoms of Spain and the Netherlands, and also had an unparalleled zeal for both the Catholic religion and empire.

Where did Philip II move his capital?

He moved his capital from Toledo, a cramped medieval city, to the newly built city of Madrid, chosen because it was the geographical center of the Iberian peninsula (Spain).

What two threats to the Catholic faith did Philip II face?

Philip II faced two dire threats to the Catholic faith: the Turks in the eastern Mediterranean and the Protestants in the north.

What did Philip II do to challenge the Turks' supremacy in the Mediterranean (as they were one of the two threats to the Catholic faith)?

To challenge the Turks' supremacy in the Mediterranean, he assembled a league that included a number of Italian city-states.

Who was particularly eager to join Philip II's navy when he was challenging the Turks' supremacy in the Mediterranean?

The Venetians, who had a large fleet and were highly motivated by their trading interests in the eastern Mediterranean, were particularly eager to join Philip's navy.

In what battle did Philip II's navy confront the Turks?

The Battle of Lepanto, which took place off the coast of Greece.

What was the result of the Battle of Lepanto?

The result of this battle was that Philip II's coalition had scored a decisive victory.

Why did the success at the Battle of Lepanto raise Catholics' spirits throughout the west?

The success at this battle raised Catholics' spirits because the navy had proved that Turkish power in the Mediterranean was not invincible after all.