S1E11: The Catholic Reformation & The Council of Trent

What is the historical background for the Protestant Reformation? 

Was Martin Luther actually right about some things, and if so, how much?

How did the Catholic Church respond to these problems?

What is the Catholic Reformation, and what does the Council of Trent have to do with all of this?

All this and more in this month’s episode of Catholicism 101!

Resources:
Did the Church Ever Sell Indulgences? | Fr. Mike Schmitz
Why the Reformation Was Necessary—But Protestantism Was Not | Catholic Answers
Not a Reformation but a Revolution | Catholic Answers
The History of the Council of Trent | Catholic Answers
From Great Evil God Brought Great Good | Catholic Answers
The Compact History of the Catholic Church | Dr. Alan Schreck

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Transcript

·         Things leading up to the Reformation

o   Popes were faced with the rise of nationalism—princes would only allow the reform of the Church in their territories for a price. Therefore, the Church was forced to negotiate with governments and manipulated into boosting various nations’ revenue. 

§  This led to a difficult financial situation in the Church and the selling of Church offices to secular rulers. 

§  To add to the building chaos, the pope offered a special indulgence to those who gave alms to go towards the building of St. Peter’s Basilica. This was misinterpreted and then miscommunicated on a wide scale, leading those who had no real qualifications to be in positions of authority to capitalize on this and begin selling indulgences.

§  “So, the bishops of the Church were often the wealthy or the nobility who had little care for the Church of God’s people but used their office to their own advantage. When they needed to raise money, they would collect it from fees at pilgrimage sites or through the selling of indulgences.” (Schreck, A Compact History of the Catholic Church, pg. 69)

§  Indulgences are in themselves a good thing, but the practice of selling and buying them that became rampant during this time was highly immoral. (There’s a really great video from Fr. Mike Schmitz in the resources for more on this) 

§  You might find yourself asking, how could they not understand that this was not a good thing to do? This is where reform in the Church was especially needed—in the education and formation of our clergy. This, of course, greatly effected the faithful laity as they were also uncatechized or even wrongly catechized by uneducated priests and deacons. 

o   All of these elements caused tension and chaos to build over time, with many calling for an ecumenical council to reform the Church. The 5th Lateran Council was finally called in 1512 and was concluded in 1517 on the eve of the Protestant Reformation.

§  “The council passed many needed reform decrees that might have prevented the Protestant Reformation, but because of the shortsightedness and worldliness of Pope Leo X, most f the council’s reform decrees were never put into effect. Also, some of the Church’s bishops has little interest in reform.” (Schreck, A Compact History of the Catholic Church, pg. 71)

·         The Protestant Reformation

o   Martin Luther

§  Suffered from severe scrupulosity that eventually led him to find solace and peace in the conclusion of sola fide—that we are saved by faith alone. He renounced the Catholic teaching of faith and works, and therefore rejected the entire idea of indulgences. (Episode 2 of the Podcast covers what Catholics actually believe and mean when we talk about Faith & Works, and episode 8 on Purgatory will be helpful to understand background information on the effects of sin that indulgences address)

§  “The irony of the Protestant Reformation is that much of what Luther believed and taught was authentic Catholic doctrine that had been distorted by abuses and incorrect practices in the Church…Unfortunately, Luther’s criticism of real abuses was not heeded.” (Schreck, A Compact History of the Catholic Church, pg. 72)

§  After a hearing where he vehemently denied the authority of the popes and ecumenical councils and proclaimed Scripture as the only source of Divine Revelation, as well as his burning of some of his Catholic books and a bull issued as a warning of his serious doctrinal errors, he was excommunicated in January 1521.

o   Jean Calvin

§  A Frenchman who converted to the principles of the Reformation led by Luther and formed a theocracy in Geneva, Switzerland—this further influenced John Knox to develop his own form of Calvinism in Scotland which became known as the Presbyterian Church.

§  Calvin’s most debated belief was that of predestination—God determined who would be saved and who wouldn’t at the beginning of time; free will doesn’t matter.

o   Huldreich Zwingli

§  1519 in Zurich – Swiss priest’s beliefs who not only himself compounded further from the truth than Luther—to the point where Luther deeply disagreed with him on Zwingli’s belief and teaching that The Eucharist is a mere symbol, but whose followers went even further to proclaim that only adult baptisms were valid—with which Zwingli disagreed (and actually ordered them to be drowned) These men became known as Anabaptists (re-baptizers) (see  episode 4 on the sacraments for why re-baptism is actually a sacrilege)

o   Clearly, things got bad and steered further and further away from Catholic beliefs rather quickly. “Once the Catholic principle of ‘unity of faith’ was replaced by the protestant principle of ‘purity of faith,’ more and more splinter groups or Churches formed, each claiming to be more pure and faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ than other groups.” (Schreck, A Compact History of the Catholic Church, pg. 75)

·         The Catholic Reformation and the Council of Trent

o   People didn’t take the reform efforts of the Church seriously until all of these Protestants started falling like dominoes, leaving the unity of the Church. 

o   The founding of religious orders such as the Jesuits, the Capuchins, the Ursuline sisters, and the Congregation of the Oratory was KEY for reform and return to authentic Catholic Teaching as the Council of Trent was preparing to be convened. 

o   The Council of Trent opened in 1545 after many delays, and began by clarifying and reaffirming the core dogmas and doctrines of the Catholic Church

§  Seven Sacraments as instituted by Christ

§  Justification by faith shown by the fruits of faith in good works

§  Scripture AND tradition

§  Christ’s ONE sacrifice at Calvary (listen to episode 10 for more on this)

o   Corrected abuses rightly criticized:

§  Selling of indulgences

§  Restoration of proper devotion to Mary and the Saints (there had been a growing idolatry of the devotions in and of themselves rather than something that is used to bring us closer to Christ)

o   Development of Seminary System for Priests 

§  The clergy of the Church were becoming reputable for corruption, lax morals, and being incompetent of the authentic teachings of the Church.

§  St. Ignatius of Loyola especially influential– founded the Jesuits where humanistic education thrived alongside religious instruction – revitalization and reaffirmation of Catholic Theology!

o   The reforms of Trent, unlike the 5th Lateran Council, were actually put into effect!

·         Great Saints came out of this period such as St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross—whose mystical prayer experiences provided a beautiful, tender balance to the rigidity that often accompanied the implementation of the reforms of Trent which focused on devotion, discipline, and doctrine.

o   A reminder for all of us that when the Church and world is in utter chaos, the Lord writes straight with our crooked lines and raises up some of the greatest Saints in times of great trial.