1. The Counter Reformation 1530s-1648
The Catholic Church’s Response to the Protestant Reformation

2. No Protestant inroads into Spain or Italy
Protestantism succeeded only where it was urban and supported initially by the nobility
After 1540, no new Protestant territories outside of the Netherlands
Most powerful European nations were Catholic
Protestants were feuding with each other

3. I. Convergence of Unique Circumstances

4. Cultural
Better educated, urban population was more critical of the Church than rural peasantry
Renaissance monarchs were growing impatient with the power of the Church
Society was more humanistic and secular
Growing individualism
--John Wycliffe

5. Technological: Printing Press
Invention of movable type was invented in 1450 by Johann Gutenberg
Manufacture of paper becomes easier and cheaper
Helped spread ideas before Catholics could squash them
Intensified intellectual criticism of the Church
Protestant ideals appealed to the urban and the literate

6. Agencies of Reform The chief agencies in carrying out this work were:
The papacy
A group of religious orders, especially the Society of Jesus or Jesuits
The Council of Trent
The Inquisition
The Index of Prohibited Books

7. The Counter Reformation
The Church had two tactics:
Reform the Church from within

8. The Counter Reformation
The Church had two tactics:
Stop the Spread of Protestantism

9. I recognize the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church as the Mother and Mistress of all churches; and I vow and swear true obedience to the Roman Pontiff. (Pope)

10. Reform Within the Church
The Council of Trent ( )
Purpose: The Church held three meetings to discuss reform AND define official teachings
Some areas were actually reformed
Called for the education of priests
Improved discipline and administration among the clergy
Indulgences banned after the Council finished its meetings

11. Reform Within the Church
The Council of Trent ( )
Many teachings were not changed, and were instead reinforced; the ideas of the Protestants were rejected
Pope is supreme leader
The Latin Vulgate official Bible
Church tradition and Church fathers were equal in authority to Protestant Bible

12. Reform Within the Church
The Council of Trent ( )
Many teachings were not changed, and were instead reinforced; the ideas of the Protestants were rejected
Man has free will, Protestant justification by faith alone and the doctrine of predestination rejected
Faith and good works necessary for salvation
All seven of sacraments were declared true sacraments instituted by Christ

13. Reform Within the Church
The Council of Trent ( )
The Council revitalized the Catholic Church, as did the creation of new Catholic groups
New religious orders focused on performing charity and good works
Reaffirmed the Catholic tradition that one needed more than just faith to be saved
Lived among the poor and sick
Strengthened rural parishes
Encouraged pious and simple living

14. Reform Within the Church
The Council of Trent ( )
Absenteeism forbidden- bishops required to reside in their dioceses
Pluralism forbidden
Simony forbidden
Nepotism forbidden
Bishops exercise careful supervision over his clergy, ordaining only worthy priests and severely disciplining those guilty of misconduct
Theological seminary in every diocese
Priests exercise care for their flocks, explain the Bible, the sacraments, and the liturgy

15. Stopping the Spread of Protestantism
The Church tried to prove that it was a powerful institution, as in the Middle Ages
Stressed its orthodox teachings during the Counter-Reformation
Usually very intolerant of different ways of thinking
The Church also took measures to reassert its authority:
The Jesuits
The Inquisition
The Index of Prohibited Books

16. Stopping the Spread of Protestantism
The Society of Jesus: The Jesuits
Religious group founded by Ignatius Loyola in 1540
Promoted education
Famous for missionary work
Strived to gain political influence
Countered the populist Protestant Reformation by working top-down and counseling kings and princes
Also a bit fanatical in their devotion…“We should always be disposed to believe that that which appears white is really black, if the hierarchy of the Church so decides.”

17. Stopping the Spread of Protestantism
Index (List) of Banned Books
Created in 1559 by the Pope
Purpose was to prevent heresy and ensure books were moral
Banned both Protestant literature and texts by some intellectuals, like Erasmus

18. Stopping the Spread of Protestantism
The Inquisition
General purpose was to discover heretics (mostly Jews and Muslims, but also Protestants), reinforce Catholic doctrine, and prove the power of the Church
1400s-1800s
Mostly Spain and Italy
Different variations took place across Europe, but it was most notorious in Spain
Ironic! (These places were strongholds of Catholicism)
The accused were put on trial and were guilty until proven innocent…
Torture was used to elicit confessions

19. Religious Revival
Genuine revival of Catholic piety led by men and women of outstanding devotion and sanctity- Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross
Renewal and revival of Christian feeling

20. Religious and Social Effects
Policies of the Catholic Church influenced governments and societies wherever the church existed
Religious changes:
Jesuit influence softened harsh colonial rule in North America, elsewhere
Protestants broke away from Catholic Church, split into many factions
Religious turmoil increased
Catholics persecuted non-Catholics,
non-Catholics persecuted Catholics,
non-Catholics persecuted one another

21. Religious and Social Effects
Policies of the Catholic Church influenced governments and societies wherever the church existed
Conflict and Turmoil:
Rifts opened among various Protestant churches
Martin Luther, followers, denounced radical ideas of Anabaptists, Zwingli’s followers
Calvinists disapproved of ideas on which Lutheranism based
Martin Luther’s theses had opened door to religious freedom
Religious freedom brought equal proportion of conflict, turmoil

22. Religious and Social Effects
Policies of the Catholic Church influenced governments and societies wherever the church existed
Persecution and Hysteria:
Catholics and Protestants viewed Jews, Muslims as heretics
Jews in 1492, Muslims in 1500, forced to convert to Catholic Christianity or leave Spain; many Jews resettled in eastern, southern Europe
Some places, Jews forced to live in ghettos, walled in, gates closed
Jews who had converted, were members of educated elite, stayed in Spain

23. Religious and Social Effects
Policies of the Catholic Church influenced governments and societies wherever the church existed
Witchcraft:
Many Europeans feared witches roamed land, killing children, cattle
Fears increased in times of poor harvests, other hardships; fears inspired hysteria in which accused witches tried for alleged wrongdoing
Penalty for practicing witchcraft, death; many innocent victims executed
Majority of executions between 1580 and 1660; thousands, mostly women and poor, killed

24. Religious and Social Effects
Policies of the Catholic Church influenced governments and societies wherever the church existed
Political Effects:
Protestant Reformation indirectly encouraged formation of independent states, nations
Rulers, merchants both wanted church less involved in state, business affairs
Political power became separated from churches
Nations, churches still often aligned with one another to increase influence in a region