The Catholic Reformation

The Catholic Reformation

• In response to Protestant Reformation, Catholicism began to renew itself.

• Pope Paul III called the Council of Trent between 1545 and 1563.

• The Council of Trent clarified Catholic teaching on important issues and addressed how to prevent abuses of church offices.

• The Council

  • affirmed the importance of the teaching tradition in the Church as a necessary interpretation of the scriptures.

  • affirmed the importance of the seven sacraments.

  • responded to Luther’s insistence that people need faith for salvation, but rejected his idea that faith “alone” without good works was all that was needed.

  • insisted that priests needed improved education so they would be better equipped to instruct and serve the people.

• The Council of Trent and the reform of the Catholic Church did not succeed in restoring unity in Christianity.

• The main effort was to convince the Protestants of their error and bring them to conversion.

• Sometimes this worked, but in many countries Catholics and Protestants fought each other.