1. Class 10 : Trent, and Three Sons of Trent
Dr. Ann T. Orlando
8 February 2017

2. Introduction 16th C Rome Calling the Council Structure and Results
Sons of Trent

3. Popes of Later 16th Century
Paul III ( ) called Council of Trent; approved Jesuit Charter, suspended council of Trent because of animosity with Charles V
Julius III ( ) restarted, then suspended Council of Trent
Paul IV ( ) opposed to Council
Pius IV ( ) restarted Council of Trent; closes Council of Trent
St. Pius V ( ) published Catechism of Council of Trent
Gregory XIII ( ); reformed calendar; Charles Boromeo administrator
Sixtus V ( )
Clement VIII ( )

4. Rome in Later 16th C Center of Catholic Spiritual Power
Combined with Spanish military might, world-wide reach
“Stubborn” emphasis on (reformed) discipline and doctrine rejected by Protestants
Sacraments
Tradition
Saints
Importance of Papacy
Art in service of religion: the Baroque

5. Catholic Response: Council of Trent
Called by Pope Paul III
Lengthy, intermittent ( )
Pope initially reluctant to call council because of bad experiences with councils (especially Council of Constance) in 15th C
Purpose was both to address reform of practice and to uphold Catholic doctrine
Developed in several sessions
Jesuits play a major theological role at Trent; encouraged explicit statement of Catholic doctrine in opposition to Protestant views
Letter 14

6. Politics Behind Council
Charles V wanted control of Council; insisted that it occur in his territory, and control over bishops
Also, successors of Paul III, Julius III and Paul IV, not in favor of council
Limited control over French bishops
Not in favor of some reforms
Structure of Council in 25 Sessions scattered across 3 Periods
Period I ( )
Period II ( )
Period III ( )

7. First Period 1545-1547 Key Results
Includes Bull of Convocation, Sessions 1-10; Pope Paul III
Emphasis on Nicene Creed and Tradition
Definitive statement concerning books of NT and OT; Latin Vulgate declared adequate for doctrinal proofs
Number of sacraments fixed at 7
Justification: man cooperates with God’s grace

8. Second Period (1551-1552) Includes Sessions 11-16; Pope Julius III
Degree on Eucharist that defined Real Presence;
Transubstantiation
Sacrament of Penance revised

9. Third Period (1562-1563) Sessions 18-25; Pope Pius IV
Resolution that bishops should live in their diocese
Catechism of Trent
Revised missal and breviary
Mass as true sacrifice
Reform decrees on clerical behavior and revision of seminary rules

10. Key Theological Statements from Trent
Scripture and Tradition
Sacraments are effective through performance of sacramental action, ex opere operato
Affirmed Mass as sacrifice and transubstantiation
Affirmed 7 sacraments
Good works together with faith brings about salvation
Affirmed indulgences and intercession of saints

11. Trent and Seminaries
Recall that universities had been the primary locus for clerical training
By the 13th C, run by academics, not bishops
Included a broad cross-section of students
Emphasis increasingly on intellectual but not moral formation
By 16th C increasingly tied to monarchies
Trent Session 23 on Seminaries
Every bishop should establish a seminary in his diocese; the bishop is directly responsible for the seminary
Seminary dedicated to education of clergy

12. Seminarian Formation
Seminarians should wear clerical dress at all times
To keep always in mind that they are ecclesiastics
Seminarians should study a range of skills including
Biblical studies
Philosophy and theology
Homiletics, especially studying homilies of the Fathers
Practical skills such as accounting
Seminarians should develop a strong spiritual life
Daily Mass
Spiritual director and confessor
Attend to parish or diocesan assignments on feast days

13. St. Charles Borromeo (1538-1584)
From northern Italy, parents placed him in a monastery school as a young boy
Studied for priesthood at university in Pavia
Quickly rose to be Archbishop of Milan and Secretary of State
Charles was a key intermediary between Pius IV (Charles’ uncle) and the Council
Significantly contributed to Tridentine catechism
As Archbishop of Milan
Instituted the seminary directives from Trent
Encouraged lay spiritual formation
Beloved in Milan for having personally cared for sick during a plague

14. St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
Born in Italy; attended schools run by Jesuits
Entered Jesuit order 1560
Writes De Controversiis 1576
Systematic work based on Council of Trent
As chief theologian in Curia, he was able to ensure degrees of Trent were implemented
Declared saint and doctor of Church in 1930

15. St Francis de Sales ( )
Born in eastern France, educated by Jesuits
As a young man studying theology, was very concerned about predestination
In prayer before a statue of Mary, his fears were relieved
Decided to lead a celibate life
Over his father’s objection entered ecclesial life
As a priest he was known for the insight of his confessions, and the force of his preaching
He was named bishop of Geneva (in absentia) in 1602
Lived a very simple life as bishop
Great care for poor
Known for kindness
Along with St, Jean de Chantal founded Visitation sisters
Started catechetical programs for lay people
Died praying “God’s will be done; Jesus my God and my all”
Canonized 1665; declared doctor of Church 1877

16. Introduction to the Devout Life
Widely influential in his own time
Introduction was translated into every European language almost immediately
Why such an impact then (and now)
Written for layman (really woman)
Written in a spirit of understanding and gentleness with the human condition
Nothing really new, but repackaged in the light of Reformation and Trent
Emphasis on Confession
Emphasis on authority of Fathers

17. Impact of Trent Catholicism in Early Modern World
Reiterated tradition
Defined Catholicism as opposed to Protestants
Gave the Church a unified teaching program against the Protestants
Made Jesuits the theologians of the Church at beginning of modern period
Note, Jesuits not tied to local bishops
But don’t count the Dominicans out…
Relation between Trent and Vatican II still being worked out

18. But Theological Debates On Justification Within Church Continue: Dominicans and Jesuits
A continuing discussion within the Church on grace and works
Dominicans of 16th, 17th C tended more toward grace; interested in universals
Jesuits toward works, interested in particulars
Congregatio de Auxiliis called by Clement VIII in 1598 to settle dispute
On the advice of St. Francis de Sales, in 1607 Pope Paul V degreed that the Jesuits could not call the Dominicans Calvinstis; nor were the Dominicans Jesuits allowed to call the Jesuits Pelagians
In renewed sacrament of penance, Jesuit development of casuistry
De-emphasize universal moral principles
‘Sinfulness’ dependent on particulars of the agent and his circumstances
In early 17th C Bishop of Ypres, Cornelius Jansenius ( ) will write massive Augustinus published in 1640
Opposition to Jesuits (Molina in particular), but also some aspects of Dominican position
Strongly anti-Pelagian, but also questioned value of philosophy (Aristotelianism) to lead to the truths of faith

19. The Ursulines
Founded in Italy by St. Angela Merici ( ) in 1535
Named for St. Ursula, 4th C martyr
Original Ursulines
Lived with families
Committed to various charitable activities, especially education of young girls
St. Charles Borromeo encouraged Ursulines in Milan to live in community as a congregation
Emphasis on education
St. Angela Merici was canonized in 1807

20. Congregation of the Visitation
Founded by St. Jean de Chantal ( )
Married to a Baron and had 4 children; her husband a and 2 children died by 1601
St. Jean dedicated herself to charitable works
In 1604 she met St. Francis de Sales, who became her spiritual director
Visitation Sisters established in 1610
Focus on hospital work and education
St. Jena de Chantal canonized in 1767

21. Assignments
1. Trent Decrees on Scripture, Sacraments, Justification, Indulgences in Bettenson ed. Documents of the Christian Church Third Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2. Francis De Sales Devout Life, Prayer, Preface and First Part of Introduction in Introduction to the Devout Life, available at