CCSS2 The Crisis in the Church: The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation

4.1 The Causes of the Reformation

            A. Loss of prestige of the Pope and clergy.

                        1. Most hadn’t lived up to the spiritual principles they were supposed to represent

                                   a. The Bishops and Abbots were living a life of luxury, more concerned with power and politics than religion.

                                   b. The lower clergy had little formal training and did not always have good moral behavior, very often ignoring their own pledge of chastity.

            B. Abuse of power.

                        1. The church hierarchy consisted almost exclusively of nobles.

                        2. Other positions were bought with money.

                        3. Indulgences (the pardoning of sins) could also be paid for.

4.2 The Reformations

            A. The Lutheran Reformation

1.       It began in 1517 in Germany.

2.      The Augustinian Monk Martin opposed the fact that Pope Leo X had paid for the building of the Vatican with indulgences.

3.      He published his Ninety-Five Thesis against clerical abuses.

4.      As a result, the Pope excommunicated him.

B. The  doctrine’s principles spread with help from the printing press.

            1. Individual interpretation of the Bible without priests

            2. Rejection of the Pope's infallibility

            3. Acceptance of only 2 sacraments (Baptism and Eucharist)

5.      Abolition of the cult of the Virgin and the Saints.

C. The Calvinist Doctrine

            1. It was preached by John Calvin

            2. It was based on the idea of predestination

                        a. It says that people’s lives are predetermined by God as to who will be saved and who will be condemned, regardless of their actions.

                        b. It spread widely among the middle classes in the Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Scotland. 

D. The Anglican Church

            1. It began when King Henry VIII broke his allegiance to the Pope when his divorce from Catharine of Aragón was not accepted.

            2 . Initially, its principles did not differ much from Catholicism.

            3. Gradually, it brought in doctrines of Protestantism. 

4.3 The Catholic Church Reformation

            A. The Church redefined itself.

                        1. The Council of Trent (1545- 1563) reaffirmed the Church’s doctrines.

                                   a. Only the church can interpret the Bible.

                                   b. Salvation through faith and works (not faith alone, as Protestants believed).

                                   c. The Pope is infallible.

                                   d. There are 7 sacraments.

                                   e. The saints and virgins should be venerated. 

            B. The Company of Jesus: The Jesuits

                        1. It was founded by Ignacio de Loyola in 1540.

                        2. It was important to the Counter-Reformation because their members made a special pledge of obedience to the Pope.

                        3. Jesuits were devoted to preaching and education.