The Catholic Reformation

• It would be easy to think the Catholic move for the reform was just a reaction to the success of Luther but such is not the case

• While the Catholic Reformation responded to the issues raised by Protestantism and the criticisms it leveled at the Church, the seeds of the movement were already in place before Luther’s thesis hit the door of the Wittenberg church.

• There were many strong voices within the Catholic Church urging for essential changes

The Council of Trent• The council of Trent took place in

1545• Who called the council?– Pope Paul III

• The purpose of the council was to reform the Catholic Church and to face the issues with Protestantism – The council highlighted 3 main

topics 1. The authority of Scripture and

Tradition2. Doctrines and sacraments3. Organizational Reforms

The Authority of Scripture and Tradition• This topic was at the heart of the disagreements between

Protestants and Catholics. • Protestant Reformers held that Scripture alone was the true

guide for Christian belief• Catholics then and now accept the authority of Scripture but

also believe that early Christian writings, the statements of popes, and documents from Church councils- collectively known as Tradition- are part of the divine revelation to humanity

• The Council of Trent reaffirmed that the Holy Spirit continues to lead the Church- that revelation did not end with the final book of the Bible.

• The council said that bishops are the ones given authority over interpretation because they are in the line of apostolic succession, which guarantees that they maintain the wisdom and knowledge of the early Church and of succeeding generations– Protestants said that every believer could interpret Scripture.

• This led to many different interpretations and much fragmenting among Christians.

Doctrines and SacramentsProtestant Reformation

• The Protestant Reformation hit hard at he sacraments– Argued that only baptism and

Eucharist can be shown from the NT to be valid

– Rejected transubstantiation • Argued that the purpose of

the Eucharist was to serve as a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice, not a reenactment of it

• Grace – God Justifies people because of their faith

Catholic Reformation at Trent

• The Council of Trent reaffirmed that each of the 7 sacraments was instituted by Jesus during his ministry on earth.

1. Mass is a true sacrifice2. Marriage is a true sacrament- is

indissoluble 3. Penance is the only ordinary means used to

forgive mortal sin committed after Baptism – and it’s a good way to grow in virtue

• Trent continued the Catholic understanding that the bread and wine are truly changed into the body and blood of Christ- meaning that the Mass is a continuation of the work of Christ

• Grace- the believer plays a role in cooperating with God’s grace. – God justifies people not only based on what

they believe but also on what they do with that belief- the works. • Means that belief must result in action in order

for it to be effective• Purgatory exists-

– The souls in purgatory benefit from our prayers

Organizational Reforms • The council decided that Reforms

need to begin with the local parish priest– Priest were poorly educated – Priest were required to attend

seminaries and be well trained in the Catholic faith

• Church leaders were made to stop the disturbing practices of simony and nepotism

• The bishops were required to attend meetings often with their parishes

• Guidelines were laid out to ensure that people viewed relics and images with the proper reverence but not in a magical or superstitious way

• Indulgences are to be used for devotional purposes and the Church should not make money on them

• The council reaffirmed many important Catholic teachings and clarified issues for the believers.

• What the council could not do is heal the divisions among Christians and bring them into unity once again. – Their interpretation of Theology is different

The Industrial Revolution • During the late 18th and early 19th

centuries technology was developing very rapidly.

• The industrial revolution changed working life dramatically.

• The rich got richer by producing and selling more good while paying starvation wages. – Some people began arguing that

society had a responsibility to help these workers, and these voices grew stronger as the plight of workers worsened.

– It took awhile for the idea that workers have rights to make any headway.

• Much of the social turmoil in 19th-century Europe resulted from a set of ideas inspired by the Enlightenment, known as Liberalism.

• Liberals wanted the state to secularize functions previously handled by the Church, including marriage, charitable efforts, and education.

• The Catholic Church in modern times embrace many ideas promoted by the Liberals such as defending human rights and human freedom.

• However, in the 19th-century many Liberalism's ideas were revolutionary and often violently anti-religious. – Liberal thought was human-centered and often

atheistic, holding that humans and societies are not bound by any divine law.

– Believed power and authority come from the people, not from God.

– Social reformers like Karl Marx went as far as to teach that religion was the “opposite of the people”

• He tried to abolish religion altogether.

• Times were troubled and many Catholics wanted a strong leader to guide them through the chaos

• The official Church was out of step with the liberal movements of the 19th-century.

• The Church greatly feared the violence, social upheaval, and suppression of religion

• During this time Pope Pius IX was elected as pope of Rome.– Longest reigning Pope in history- 32 years. – He called the first Vatican Council (1869-

1870)– He wanted to reaffirm papal authority in

spiritual matters– He also wished to clarify Church teachings in

light of attacks by Enlightenment thinkers.

Vatican I• The council began in December 1869• No laypeople or representatives from other

Christian denominations were invited • The major accomplishment of the council was the

declaration of papal infallibility. • The Pope is preserved from error when teaching

dogmatically or ex cathedra ( meaning “from the chair”) on matters of faith and morals– From the chair means from the chair of Peter-

as the one appointed by Jesus to be the foundation of His Church

• Infallibility is: – The doctrine that the pope can issue certain

kinds of statements that can never be wrong – Literately means “not able to be wrong”– It means that the pope has a special gift of the

Holy Spirit that protects him from error when he is solemnly defining matters of faith and morals

– An infallible statement is guaranteed to be free from error but is not guaranteed to be the best or fullest expression of the issue

Vat I accomplishments1. Infallibility 2. Emphasis on spiritual

authority of the church – The Pope is not meant

to be a political ruler but a spiritual leader