TheCounter-Reformation,alsocalledtheCatholicReformationortheCatholicRevival,wastheperiodofCatholicresurgenceinitiatedinresponsetotheProtestantReformation,beginningwiththeCouncilofTrent(1545–1563)andendingatthecloseoftheThirtyYearsWar.

Inspiration for the Counter Reformation • ManytheologiansandCatholicpractitionerswereengaginginself-analysisquestioningtheirownChristianity.• SecularcriticsoftheChurchalsomadetheirvoicesheardandcriticizedmanyoftheChurchespositions.• TheProtestantReformationalsodrewmanymembersawayandamajorgoaloftheCounterReformationwastobringbackthoselostmembersincountrieslikeSwedenandEngland.

The Council of Trent • WasanecumenicalcouncilorconferenceofecclesiasticaldignitariesandtheologicalexpertsconvenedtodiscussandsettlemattersofChurchdoctrineandpractice.Theymet25timesoveraperiodof18yearsbetweenDecember1545andDecember1563.• Issuesconfrontedinclude:Scripture,SacredTradition,OriginalSin,Justification,Salvation,Sacraments,MassandtheVenerationofSaints.• TheCatholicChurchaffirmedasitsofficialLatinBible,theVulgatetranslatedbySt.Jerome.• ProtestantviewswereconsideredHeresy.

Heresy • Heresyisdefinedasbelieforopinioncontrarytoorthodoxreligiousdoctrinethatisgenerallyaccepted.• IncertainhistoricalChristian,IslamicandJewishcultures,amongothers,espousingideasdeemedhereticalandinsomecasesstillissubjectednotmerelytopunishmentssuchasexcommunication,buteventothedeathpenalty.• CatholicsandProtestantsinflictedthedeathpenaltyforheresy.

The 4 Elements of the Counter Reformation

• Structuralreconfiguration• Religiousorders• Spiritualmovements• Politicaldimensions

Structural Reconfiguration

• Seminarieswereinstitutedtohelpbringunitytotheteachingandtrainingofpriests.

Religious Orders • ReligiousOrdersincludedtheFranciscans,Jesuits,Capuchins,DiscalcedCarmelites,DiscalcedAugustinians,AugustinianRecollects,CistercianFeuillants,Ursulines,Theatines,Barnabitesandyetothers.• Theseordersfocusedonahighlevelofpersonaldevotionandself-sacrifice,servicetothepoorandexactcompliancewithdoctrine.

Spiritual Movements • SpanishmysticsTeresaofAvilaandJohnoftheCrosswerereformersoftheCarmeliteOrder,• TheirministryfocusedoninteriorconversiontoChrist,thedeepeningofprayer,andcommitmenttoGod'swill.• TeresawasgiventhetaskofdevelopingandwritingaboutthewaytoperfectioninherloveandunitywithChrist.• IgnatiusofLoyolaformedtheJesuitOrderwhoactedasmissionariesthatwerecompletelyloyaltothePope.

Political Dimensions • TheCatholicChurchrejectedallcompromisewiththeProtestantsandfocusedonmissionarywork.• TheysoughttosolidifytheirrelationshipwithGovernments.

Inquisitions • TheRomanInquisitionwasasystemoftribunalsresponsibleforprosecutingindividualsaccusedofcrimesrelatingtoreligiousdoctrineoralternatereligiousdoctrine.• ItwasoneofthreedifferentmanifestationsofthewiderCatholicInquisitionalongwiththeSpanishInquisitionandPortugueseInquisition.

Penalties for Heresy in the Inquisitions • Mostsentencesconsistedofpenancelikewearingacrosssewnonone'sclothes,goingonpilgrimage,etc.• Thoseconvictedofunrepentantheresywererequiredbylawtobehandedovertosecularauthorities.Thepenaltywasusuallyburningatthestake.

Charles V • CharlesIofSpain,whobybirthalreadyheldswayovermuchofEuropeandSpanishAmerica,iselectedthesuccessorofhislategrandfather,HolyRomanEmperorMaximilianI.• Charles,whowasalsothegrandsonofFerdinandIIandIsabellaofSpain,hadbribedtheprincesofGermanytovoteforhim,defeatingsuchformidablecandidatesasKingHenryVIIIofEngland,KingFrancisIofFrance,andFredericktheWise,thedukeofSaxonyin1519.

Charles V • CrownedasEmperorCharlesV,thenewHolyRomanemperorsoughttounitethemanykingdomsunderhisruleinthehopeofcreatingavast,universalempire.• However,hishopeswerethwartedbytheProtestantReformationinGermany,alifelongdynasticstrugglewithKingFrancis,andtheadvanceoftheOttomanTurksintoEurope.• CharlesopposedtheProtestantReformationbutwasunabletodefeattheGermanprincesandGermanyremainsdividedtothisdaybetweenCatholicismandProtestantism.• In1558,afternearlyfourdecadesasHolyRomanemperor,Charlesabdicatedthethroneinfavorofhisbrother,Ferdinand.

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre •  TheSt.Bartholomew'sDaymassacrein1572wasatargetedgroupofassassinationsandawaveofCatholicmobviolence,directedagainsttheHuguenots(FrenchCalvinistProtestants)duringtheFrenchWarsofReligion.•  SparkedbyCatherinede'Medici,themotherofKingCharlesIX,themassacretookplacefivedaysaftertheweddingoftheking'ssisterMargarettotheProtestantHenryIIIofNavarre(thefutureHenryIVofFrance).ThismarriagewasanoccasionforwhichmanyofthemostwealthyandprominentHuguenotshadgatheredinlargelyCatholicParis.

St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre • ThekingorderedthekillingofagroupofHuguenotleadersandtheslaughterspreadthroughoutParis.Lastingseveralweeks,themassacreexpandedoutwardtootherurbancentersandthecountryside.• ModernestimatesforthenumberofdeadacrossFrancevarywidely,from5,000to30,000.• ThemassacrewastheworstreligiousmassacreofthecenturyandconvincedProtestantsthatCatholicismwasabloodyandtreacherousreligion.

The Thirty Years War • TheThirtyYears’War(1618-48)beganwhenHolyRomanEmperorFerdinandIIofBohemiaattemptedtostopreligiousactivities,sparkingrebellionamongProtestants.• ThewarcametoinvolvethemajorpowersofEurope,withSweden,France,SpainandAustriaallwagingcampaignsprimarilyonGermansoil.

• Knowninpartfortheatrocitiescommittedbymercenarysoldiers,thewarendedwithaseriesoftreatiesthatmadeupthePeaceofWestphalia.• ThefalloutreshapedthereligiousandpoliticalmapofcentralEurope,settingthestagefortheoldcentralizedRomanCatholicempiretogivewaytoacommunityofsovereignstates.

The Thirty Years War