Medieval Church, Reformation, and Counter-Reformation: Key Terms (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering medieval Church ideas, key reform movements, and Counter-Reformation responses.

Salvation of the soul

The most commanding medieval theme; salvation was believed to come only through the Church.

Laity

Ordinary laypeople, i.e., non-clergy in Europe.

Mediator between God and man

The Church and its hierarchy were viewed as the divinely appointed intermediary between humans and God.

Heresy

Questioning the Church’s authority; considered a crime punishable by death.

Avignon Papacy (1309-1377)

Papal residence in Avignon, France, which weakened the papacy’s reputation.

Great Papal Schism (1378-1417)

A period of rival papal claims that divided the Church and weakened authority.

Clerical immorality

Moral corruption among clergy.

Clerical ignorance

Undereducated priests and lack of biblical/scriptural knowledge.

Clerical pluralism

Holding more than one church office at a time, often leading to absenteeism.

Absenteeism

Clergy members neglecting duties because they hold multiple offices.

Indulgences

Pardons sold by the Church to raise money; a major target of reform.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Rome church whose construction began in 1506 and finished in 1626.

Sacraments

Rituals that teach, strengthen, and express faith; seven in Catholic practice.

Baptism

Sacrament of initiation; infants often baptized immediately after birth.

Eucharist

Sacrament of communion; Catholic belief in the real presence (transubstantiation).

Confirmation

Sacrament of initiation and strengthening of the faith.

Reconciliation (Confession)

Sacrament of healing; confession of sins to a priest.

Anointing of the Sick

Sacrament of healing for the seriously ill or dying.

Holy Orders

Sacrament of ordination for clergy.

Marriage (Sacrament of Service)

Sacrament concerning the union of spouses.

Sola fide

Salvation through faith alone.

Sola gratia

Salvation through grace given by God alone.

Sola scriptura

Authority of the Bible alone.

Diet of Worms (1521)

Luther’s trial; he refused to recant; declared an outlaw; protected by Frederick the Wise.

Martin Luther

German monk who posted the 95 Theses, emphasized justification by faith and Bible as authority.

Printing press

Technology that accelerated the spread of reform ideas.

95 Theses

Luther’s criticisms of Catholic practice, especially indulgences; sparked debate.

Reformation

Religious movement challenging the Catholic Church and creating Protestant churches.

German Peasants’ War (1524-1525)

Peasant uprisings; Luther did not approve of the revolt.

Ulrich Zwingli

Swiss reformer who stressed the Bible over tradition; disagreed with Luther on some points; supported peasants’ revolt.

Anabaptists

Radical reformers who advocated adult baptism and the separation of Church and State.

Consubstantiation

Lutheran belief that Christ is present in the Eucharist alongside the elements.

Transubstantiation

Catholic belief that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ.

John Calvin

French-Swiss reformer who emphasized predestination and Bible authority; led Geneva (Calvinism).

Huguenots

French Calvinists.

Presbyterians

Scottish Calvinists.

Puritans

English Calvinists advocating further reform within the Church of England.

Dissolution of Monasteries (1536)

Henry VIII seized church lands and wealth in England.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

England’s Parliament declared the king the supreme head of the Church of England.

Act of Succession (1534)

Legitimized the children of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Book of Common Prayer (1549)

English liturgy that standardized Anglican services.

Thomas Cranmer

Archbishop of Canterbury who helped shape the Church of England’s doctrine; executed by Mary I.

Wartburg Castle

Luther’s hiding place where he translated the New Testament into German.

Frederick the Wise

Elector who protected Luther from execution after the Diet of Worms.

Council of Trent (1545-1563)

Catholic council that defined Catholic beliefs, reformed abuses, and reaffirmed seven sacraments; initiated Counter-Reformation.

Jesuits (Society of Jesus)

Religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola to defend Catholicism through education and missions.

Inquisition

Catholic tribunal to coerce and root out Protestantism and heresy.

Index of Prohibited Books

Catholic list banning books that contradicted Church teachings.

Baroque Art

Counter-Reformation art and architecture designed to inspire faith and piety.

Cuius Regio Eius Religio

Latin phrase meaning "Whose realm, his religion"; principle of the Peace of Augsburg.

Frederick the Wise’s protection

Key moment when Luther was kept safe from execution after the Diet of Worms.

Defender of the Faith

Title awarded to Henry VIII by the Pope in 1521 for supporting Catholic doctrine against Luther.

Key Causes of the Protestant Reformation

A combination of clerical abuses (immorality, ignorance, pluralism, absenteeism), the sale of indulgences, political challenges to papal authority (Avignon Papacy, Great Schism), and intellectual movements like Humanism.

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

A treaty signed in the Holy Roman Empire that officially recognized Lutheranism and allowed princes to choose either Catholicism or Lutheranism as the religion of their territory, based on the principle of Cuius Regio, Eius Religio.

Predestination

he Calvinist doctrine that God has foreordained all events, especially that salvation is granted by God to a select few (the "elect") and that others are destined for damnation.

Justification by Faith (Lutheranism)

Martin Luther's central theological principle that salvation is a gift from God, received solely through faith in Jesus Christ, not through good works or rituals.

Counter-Reformation

The period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent (1545-1563) meant to address Protestant criticisms, reform abuses within the Church, and reaffirm Catholic doctrine.