Unit Eight

The Counter-Reformation

AD 1545 – AD 1650

Unit 8:Lesson 1

Objective: To discover the ways the Council of Trent responded to the

Protestant Reformation

Papal Reaction to the Protestant Reformation

Phases in papal reaction to Protestantism:

1. Ignoring the problem (up to mid 1530s)

2. Defensive (up to 1560s)

3. Forward-looking, proactive (after 1560s)

Early 16th Century Popes

Leo X (1513 - 1521) and the “Luther affair”

Early 16th Century Popes

Adrian VI (1522-23), Dutch, starts serious reform efforts but dies after just 13 months

Early 16th Century Popes

Clement VII (1523-34). Great patron of the arts and learningNo attempts at reform. “He had no more sense than his uncle Leo X of the urgency and magnitude of what was happening in Germany.”

Early 16th Century PopesPaul III (1534-49), the first “Counter-Reformation” pope

Viewed the church “as a fortress to be guarded, defended, and kept on the alert”

Early 16th Century Popes

Convenes the first session of the Council of Trent in 1545

The Council of TrentGeneral Councils are held by the Church in times of crisis.

Protestant Reformation was one of the greatest crisis the Church ever faced.

It took almost 40 years from the time of Martin Luther’s protest until the Council began.

The delay was due to:

Worries that a Council would revive conciliarism

Fight over where to hold the council

Achievements of TrentCouncil of Trent defined Catholic teaching and beliefs.

Jesus is present during the EucharistAll 7 sacraments are validStandardized the LiturgyReaffirmed Papal Authority

Eliminated abuses with in the Church

Sale of indulgences

Role of bishops and priests• Bishops must live in their Diocese • They must visit parishes and preach regularly• Seminaries are established

Unit 8: Lesson 2

Objective: To explore the ways the popes dealt with the Counter-

Reformation.

Trent and the Papacy

Pope Paul III established a committee to tell him what was wrong in the Church.

Since many of the abuses were a result of past popes, Paul III surrounded himself with Cardinals who were also interested in reform

The Council of Trent did not solve all the problems in the Church

The first three Popes that followed the Council of Trent are called Tridentine Popes

The First Tridentine Popes

Pope Pius V (1566 - 1572)1566, the Roman Catechism, Catholic response to all the Protestant catechisms

1570, the Roman Missal, a uniform liturgy for the Mass that would be used in every Catholic church throughout the world

The First Tridentine Popes

Gregory XIII (1572 - 1585)

Had a deep interest in Catholic education and in foreign missions

Set up the modern Gregorian calendar that we still use today

The First Tridentine Popes

Sixtus V (1585 - 1590)

Rebuilt Rome

Completed St. Peter’s Basilica

Unit 8: Lesson 3

Objective: To explore the ways new religious orders and saints enriched the Counter-Reformation Church.

DVD

Henry VIII section of 2000 Years of Christianity DVD

Loyola and the Society of Jesus

Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Son of poor Basque nobleman, becomes a soldier until wounded at age 30.

Religious conversion as he recovers from his war wound.

1522, becomes pilgrim and plans to travel to the Holy Land

Ends up at a monastery

Ignatius of Loyola

In monastery, has a vision 8 days long!Spiritual Exercises the result: meant as a devotional handbook for a ChristianOne exercise: a month of isolation and self-examination of sinPublished 1548The fundamental source of Jesuit spirituality

Ignatius of Loyola

Ignatius of Loyola

1537, Paul III ordains him as a priest, and he works preaching and helping people in Rome

Jesuits

1540, Formation of the Society of JesusPaul III decides they should be allowed to start a new religious order.Very strict rules and obedience to superiorsJesuits

Did not wear habitsWere not required to pray together in groups

Jesuits

Jesuits quickly gain a reputation for being the finest teachers in EuropeThey also become famous missionaries in Europe, China, Japan, north and south America, and beyond.Their letters are often the first European perspectives on other peoples of the globe

Jesuits

Other New OrdersSaint Vincent de Paul (1581 - 1660)

Began the Congregation of Mission to bring the gospel to the neglected peasants of France

Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)Headed the Carmelite nunsCloistered order that devoted themselves to prayer

Saint Louise de Marillac (1591 - 1641)With Saint Vincent de Paul began the Daughters of Charity

Unit 8: Lesson 4

Objective: To explore the reasons why the reign of Elizabeth I was the

golden age of the priesthood in England.

Elizabeth the I and the Church

Elizabeth I and the ChurchElizabeth wanted to get rid of the Catholic Church in EnglandInstead of killing those who would not convert she:

Arrested Bishops so no more priests could be ordainedOrdered priests to convert to Church of EnglandThreatened to tax those who did not attend Protestant Church services every Sunday

Douai PriestsWilliam Allen left England and began a seminary in Douai to train English priestsAllen sent newly ordained priests back to England to secretly celebrate the Mass, hear confessions and anoint the sick.Elizabeth was furious and ordered Catholic priests to be executed for treason.In the last 30 years of Elizabeth’s reign Douai ordained 440 priest, 98 died as martyrs.