Counter Reformation

What were they responding to?

Martin Luthers theses and the growing support for Protestantism- 1517

Stated that salvation should be through faith alone and not depend on religious works or be transactional

That the bible has ultimate authority, not the papacy

It called for removing the saints, reducing the bible and reducing the sacraments.

Why did they delay response?

There was a lack of cooperation between church state and secular powers.

The emperor of the holy roman empire had died and one of the electors was Frederick the Wise, a protector of Luther.

When did they finally respond?

The diet of worms in 1521, which saw Luther excommunicated and labelled an outlaw.

Did everyone oppose Luther inside Catholicism?

There were some, such as Giberti Bishop of Verona, secretary of the Pope, who sympathised with some of the issues raised by Luther.

Working to reform policies in Verona which would see greater education and observance of clergy to ensure theological accuracy.

What did Giberti bring about?

Introduced the confessional box, a more personal and grounded form of faith and repentance less about show, in line with his Humanist views.

Why did the Council of Trent finally happen?

Emperor Charles wished to unite Christiandom against the Ottomans and saw the Council of trent as an opportunity to establish law of the land.

When Did the meeting of the Council of Trent take place?

There are four main sessions across 1543-1563

Attendance to these councils grew overtime from 28 bishops to 255

What were the clerical and secular aims of the Council of Trent?

Papacy want to fix doctrine

Secular want a well behaved and standardised clergy

Who would take primary control?

What did the Council of Trent do? (9)

-Re-established full original canon with texts that Protestants removed, ADDED Biblical context

-peace of Augsburg: no Holy Roman infighting if territories are cath/prod

-Re-enforced Latin as sufficient within church

-That good works are justified and a response to grace

-Truth of the transubstantiation

-ALL Sacraments retained

-Local saints queried but often not highly policed

-Reducing number of Bishops and a new Catechsim

-Artwork being recognised as devotional but encouraged to be more naturalistic

Why was religious unity important?

Dutch wars setting example of danger of religious unrest, cautionary tale

To be unified against invasive powers

Relationship between religion and identity

Titian painting of Spain coming to the aid of religion, demonstrates the sense of victory through protecting Europe under God.

National identity being tied to and bolstered by Catholicism.