Protestant & Counter Reformation: Key Figures, Ideas, and Impact

Martin Luther

A German Augustinian monk, ordained a priest, and made a doctor of theology.

Indulgences

Churches asking for money from people using propaganda for example pay to get your family member out of purgatory.

Johann Tetzel

German Dominican friar and preacher best known for his aggressive marketing of indulgences.

Simony

The act of buying or selling church offices, sacraments, or other sacred and spiritual things for money or temporal gain.

Corruption within the Clergy

The misuse of power by church officials.

Pope Leo 10th

Authorized the selling of indulgences and did not support Martin Luther.

Pope Julius II

Known as the warrior pope; he started the rebuilding of St. Peter's basilica.

Financial costs of the Renaissance

Building St. Peter's Basilica was a massive expense for art and architecture.

95 Theses

A list of arguments against the Catholic Churches practices made by Martin Luther.

Gutenberg's Printing Press

Helped spread new ideas throughout Western Europe by allowing mass production of books.

Vernacular language

Translation of the Bible in German, French, English, Spanish which led to an explosion of individual thought.

Frederick the Wise

Luther's political protector who always tried to save Luther.

Sola Scriptura

Latin for 'scripture alone'; belief that the Bible is the only authority of the faith.

Faith Alone

Luther's belief that salvation is a free gift from God and not earned by good works or sacraments.

John Calvin

Swiss Reformer known for his theory of predestination.

Predestination

John Calvin's theory on Salvation.

Transubstantiation

The Catholic belief that during mass the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ.

Consubstantiation

The Lutheran belief that Christ is present with the bread and wine but not a changed substance.

Sacraments Comparison

Lutheran: only baptism and the Eucharist are valid; Catholic: all seven sacraments are valid.

Counter Reformation

A series of meetings where the Catholic Church clarified doctrines against Protestant challenges.

Institute of Seminaries

A mandate made during the Council of Trent to create schools for educating priests.

Society of Jesus - Jesuits

Founded by Ignatius of Loyola to bring back the 'lost sheep' to the Church.

Inquisition

A powerful office within the church set up to root out heresies, using torture to maintain Catholic orthodoxy.

Peace of Augsburg

A landmark treaty ending legal conflict between Catholics and Lutherans in the Holy Roman Empire.

Calvinism

A major branch of Protestantism that emphasizes the absolute sovereignty of God and predestination.

Council of Trent

A series of high-level meetings where the Catholic Church condemned Protestant doctrines and launched reforms.

Reformation

a movement during the 16th century that was meant to reform the church but ended up splitting it. Reformation is where you make something better by fixing its flaws.

Outcomes of the council of Trent

1.) Suppressed the practice of Simony

2.) reestablished the celibacy of priesthood

3.) Affirmed that salvation comes by faith and works

4.) Affirmed the doctrine of transubstantiation

5.) cleaned up the practice of sale of indulgences