Counter Reformation Research Paper

399 Words2 Pages

The beginning of the 16th century brought with it the Reformation. The Catholic Church became challenged by Martin Luther and John Calvin. With nailing of the 95 theses on the Church doors, Luther began the Protestant Reformation. The counter-reformation was introduced in Europe to weaken the Protestant Reformation and rebuild the power of the Catholic Church through education, clergy reform, and spreading of the Catholic faith. In order for the Roman Catholic Church to regain its power, the R.C.C. had created laws for priests with the help of the Council of Trent and Loyola. Additionally, Catholic Priests had to be educated in theology. With the Jesuits traveling throughout Europe and foreign lands, they were spreading the ideas of the Catholic …show more content…

Luther states in his 95 theses #21 , “Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;” and #27 “They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].” Here, Luther asserts that the Church has no real power over the souls of the dead in purgatory. Indulgences were highly criticized by many, since they served no real purpose, other than making more profit for the church. (s: i cleaned up this sentence jsyk) According to Document #5 “In granting them, however, moderation must be observed; The abuses which have caused Indulgences to be the target of blaspheming heretics must be amended and corrected, and all evil gains for the obtaining thereof,-be wholly abolished.” The excerpt depicts how the church acknowledges Luther through the creation of new laws by the Council of Trent that made selling indulgences for personal gain illegal. With Ignatius Loyola, the R.C.C. made new rules that corrupt priests had to follow. According to Document #2 it states, “We must praise highly religious life,virginity, and contingency.” Catholic priests were accused of gambling, drinking, and having sex. Priests that broke these rules risked punishment by excommunication, or even death. After addressing the internal problems of the Catholic Church, the Counter Reformation began to build back the power of the

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