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The Counter-Reformation or the Catholic Reformation was a strong reaffirmation of the doctrine and structure of the Catholic Church, climaxing at the Council of Trent, partly in reaction to the growth of Protestantism.Even before the posting of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, there had been evidence of internal reform within the Church, combating trends that heightened demands for radical demands to fundamentally alter the doctrine and structure of the Medieval Church and even contributed to anticlericalism of figures such as John Huss and John Wycliffe in the late fourteenth century. The Catholic Reformation, aimed at correcting the sources of the Reformation, and pronounced since the pontificate of Pope Paul III, was both retaliatory, committed to protecting Catholic institutions and practices from heresy and Protestantism, but also reformist, committed to reform the Church from within to stem the growing appeal of Protestantism. Broadly speaking, the Catholic Reformation, which climaxed in the Council of Trent, the nineteenth of twenty-one ecumenical councils, represented a three-sided strategy: an autocratic church at the top linked to the individual by the parish church. (The first Ecumenical Council was the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325; the 21st and latest was the Second Vatican Council, which convened in the mid- 1960s under Pope John XXIII.) The Catholic Reformation was a strong reaffirmation of the doctrine and structure of the Medieval Church, presiding over reforms that would improve its effectiveness.
1 The Council of Trent
The pontificate of Paul III ( 1534Events May 10 Jacques Cartier explores Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. June 9 Jacques Cartier is the first European to discover the St. Lawrence River. July 7 First known exchange between Europeans and natives of the Gulf of St.- 1549Events July Kett's Rebellion Francis Xavier arrives in Japan. Salvador established, first capital of Brazil Petrus Canisius starts the Counter-Reformation in Bavaria Births Deaths November 10 Pope Paul III December 21 Marguerite of Navarre, Queen of Navar) culminated in the Council of Trent, who appointed a commission of cardinals to look into the need for institutional, but certainly not doctrinal, reform, uncovering the appointment of corrupt and worldly bishops and priests, traffic in indulgences, and other financial abuses. The Council of Trent, meeting in three sessions between 1545Events December 13 Official opening of the Council of Trent (closed 1563) Births Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza Deaths October 18 John Taverner, composer 1545. and 1563Events February 18 The Duke of Guise is assassinated while besieging Orleans March Peace of Amboise. Negotiated between the Prince of Conde and Anne de Montmorency, it accords some toleration to the Huguenots, especially to aristocrats. The combined Hugue, was the climax of the Catholic Reformation. The Council clearly repudiated specific Protestant positions and upheld the basic structure of the Medieval Church, its sacramental system, religious orders, and doctrine. It rejected all compromise with the Protestants, restating basic tenants of Catholicism. The Council clearly upheld the dogma of salvation by faith and works and unwritten tradition. TransubstantiationAccording to Roman Catholic dogma, transubstantiation is the change of the substance of the Eucharistic elements — bread and wine — into the body and blood of Jesus Christ (although they retain the physical accidents — i. appearance, taste, texture, etc., during which the consecrated bread and wine were held to become (substantially) the blood of Christ, was upheld, along with the Seven SacramentsThe practice of the Roman Catholic Church includes seven sacraments . As defined by Catholics, a sacrament is a material and spoken action which confers divine grace upon a person, especially what is called sanctifying grace. There are seven sacraments: B. Other Catholic practices
that drew the ire of liberal reformers within the Church, such as indulgences, pilgrimageA pilgrimage is a journey by a religious person to a place that is sacred according to his or her religion. Pilgrimage in Hinduism There are several holy places with great significance to Hindus. Some of these (in India) include: Badrinath Kedarnath Gangos, the cult of saints and relics, and the cult of the VirginBlessed Virgin Mary A traditional Catholic picture displayed sometimes in homes. It is sometimes displayed as part of a set. For accompanying image, see the Sacred Heart. The Blessed Virgin Mary sometimes shortened to The Blessed Virgin is a traditional t were strongly reaffirmed as spiritually vital as well.
