Catholic Counter Reformation

Warm-Up Activity

  • The Protestant Reformation is influencing Central Europe, England, and Scandinavia.

  • Prompt: As an advisor to the Pope, propose three ideas to prevent believers from converting to Protestantism, emphasizing urgent action.

Strategies of the Counter-Reformation

Two Main Tactics

  1. Internal Reform of the Church

    • Council of Trent as a central element.

  2. Suppressing Protestantism

    • Inquisition and punitive measures.

Key Figures and Events

Reformists Within the Church

  • Girolamo Savonarola

    • Criticized church abuses.

    • Advococated for reform, leading to public bonfires of excess belongings.

    • Executed by the Pope for his radical reform attempts.

The Jesuits

  • Founded by Ignatius of Loyola, a former soldier.

  • Aims: Renew spirituality and provide education to counter Protestantism.

  • Organized like a military to maintain order and structure.

Council of Trent (1545-1563)

  • Purpose: Address church reform and solidify Catholic dogma.

  • Major outcomes:

    • Training for priests emphasized.

    • Financial abuses targeted.

    • Reformed practices surrounding indulgences.

    • Rejected Protestant doctrines, stressing faith and works for salvation.

Implementing Council Reforms

Influential Reformers

  • Charles Borromeo

    • Archbishop of Milan, focused on priest education.

  • Francis de Sales

    • Worked to convert Calvinists and founded a teaching order for women.

  • Teresa of Avila

    • Established significant spiritual practices and communities for nuns, promoting Catholic adherence.

Inquisition

Objectives and Procedures

  • Aimed to identify heretics, especially from Jews, Muslims, and Protestants, while asserting church doctrine.

  • Timeline: 1400s-1800s, primarily in Spain and Italy.

  • Due process: Accused individuals were presumed guilty and faced torture methods for confessions.

Torture Techniques Used

  • Breast Ripper: Inflicted severe injury to breasts.

  • Lead Sprinkler: Boiling substances poured on the body.

  • Heretic's Fork: Caused internal pain to elicit confessions.

  • Thumb Screw: Crushed fingers and toes as a method of torture.

Index of Forbidden Books

  • Established in 1559 by the Pope.

  • Aimed to prevent heresy by restricting access to certain literature, notably Protestant texts and works by intellectuals like Erasmus.

Religious Conflicts and Wars

Prompting Factors

  • Italian Wars (1494-1559): Charles V's invasion led to the trend of Renaissance spread.

  • Peasants' War: Inspired by Luther's teachings, leading to uprisings that were suppressed by nobility.

  • War Against Protestantism: Initiated by Charles V in 1546 with the signing of the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, allowing princes to choose their regions' religion.

France's Religious Turmoil

  • Huguenots: French Protestants, faced violent suppression during clashes with Catholics.

  • St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572): Thousands of Protestants killed.

  • Edict of Nantes (1598): Granted religious freedom to Protestants under King Henry of Navarre, transitioning towards tolerance.

Conclusion Notes

Major Branches of Christianity

  • Roman Catholic

  • Eastern Orthodox

  • Protestant

Notable Protestant Branches

  • Lutheran

  • Anglican/Episcopal

  • Methodist

  • Presbyterian

  • Reformed

  • Baptists

  • Pentecostal

  • Nondenominational

  • Independent

  • Common belief in justification by faith; differing views on governance, sacraments, and Holy Spirit role.