The Catholic The Catholic ReformationReformationReform and RenewalReform and Renewal

Internal ReformInternal Reform

During the 16During the 16thth century, the century, the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church undertook to reform itself. undertook to reform itself. This reform movement:This reform movement: Raised the standards of the Raised the standards of the

clergyclergy Inspired the church with a Inspired the church with a

renewed zeal and moralerenewed zeal and morale Contributed significantly to Contributed significantly to

producing the Catholic Church producing the Catholic Church as we know it today.as we know it today.

Agencies of ReformAgencies of Reform

The chief agencies in The chief agencies in carrying out this work carrying out this work were:were: The papacyThe papacy A group of religious A group of religious

orders, especially the orders, especially the Society of Jesus or JesuitsSociety of Jesus or Jesuits

The Council of TrentThe Council of Trent The InquisitionThe Inquisition The Index of Prohibited The Index of Prohibited

BooksBooks

Spirit of the Catholic Spirit of the Catholic ReformationReformation

The spirit of the The spirit of the Catholic Reformation Catholic Reformation was:was: A spirit of zeal and A spirit of zeal and

ardor for the faithardor for the faith A recognition of A recognition of

abuses in the Churchabuses in the Church A dedication to the A dedication to the

work of reformwork of reform An attitude of An attitude of

intolerance toward intolerance toward heresyheresy

Against All CompromiseAgainst All Compromise

The forces in the church that The forces in the church that desired conciliation with the desired conciliation with the Protestants and that might Protestants and that might have been willing to make have been willing to make concessions to secure unity concessions to secure unity were defeated by those who:were defeated by those who: Set their minds against all Set their minds against all

compromisecompromise Rejected any thought of Rejected any thought of

concessionconcession Suppressed heresy where they Suppressed heresy where they

couldcould

IntoleranceIntolerance Despite its Despite its

achievements, the period achievements, the period of reform and renewal of reform and renewal was tarnished by was tarnished by widespread intolerance:widespread intolerance: Of Catholics toward Of Catholics toward

ProtestantsProtestants Of Protestants toward Of Protestants toward

CatholicsCatholics Of the various Protestant Of the various Protestant

groups toward one anothergroups toward one another

The PapacyThe Papacy

The first agency of The first agency of Catholic reform was Catholic reform was the papacy. Paul III’s the papacy. Paul III’s pontificate (1534-pontificate (1534-1549) witnessed the 1549) witnessed the founding of the Jesuit founding of the Jesuit order, the opening of order, the opening of the Council of Trent, the Council of Trent, and the revival of the and the revival of the Inquisition. Inquisition.

The Society of JesusThe Society of Jesus

The second agency of The second agency of Catholic reform was Catholic reform was religious orders, most religious orders, most notably, the Society of notably, the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits were Jesus. The Jesuits were the creation of St. the creation of St. Ignatius Loyola. He was Ignatius Loyola. He was a Spanish soldier, a Spanish soldier, injured in battle, who injured in battle, who experienced a experienced a conversion during his conversion during his convalescence. convalescence.

St. Ignatius LoyolaSt. Ignatius Loyola

As a consequence, he felt a new desire to devote his life to the service of God and carried his military ideals with him. Henceforth, he would be a Soldier of Christ.

New Religious OrderNew Religious Order After obtaining baccalaure-After obtaining baccalaure-

ate and graduate degrees, ate and graduate degrees, Loyola decided to found a Loyola decided to found a new religious order. In new religious order. In 1540, Pope Paul III officially 1540, Pope Paul III officially recognized the Society of recognized the Society of Jesus. In addition to the Jesus. In addition to the vows of poverty, chastity, vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they took and obedience, they took an additional vow of an additional vow of special obedience to the special obedience to the pope.pope.

Purposes of the OrderPurposes of the Order The original purpose of the The original purpose of the

Jesuits was to reach and Jesuits was to reach and convert the masses of convert the masses of people who had strayed people who had strayed from the church. Thus from the church. Thus preaching was their preaching was their fundamental task. They also fundamental task. They also stressed the instruction of stressed the instruction of children in Christian children in Christian doctrine and urged more doctrine and urged more frequent confession and frequent confession and communion.communion.

EducationEducation In addition to being spiritual

advisers, Jesuits devoted themselves to teaching, fighting heresy, and converting the heathen. The Jesuits came to be the most successful educators in the church. They were interested primarily in higher education, and came to dominate many universities and seminaries.

Institute of the Blessed Virgin Institute of the Blessed Virgin MaryMary

A new religious order for A new religious order for women, the Institute of the women, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was Blessed Virgin Mary, was founded by Mary Ward in founded by Mary Ward in Belgium in 1609. Her dream Belgium in 1609. Her dream was to begin a new kind of was to begin a new kind of community of women community of women religious – an independent, religious – an independent, self-governing congregation self-governing congregation patterned after the model of patterned after the model of the Society of Jesus, free of the Society of Jesus, free of the confines of the cloisters, the confines of the cloisters, and responding to the urgent and responding to the urgent needs of her time. needs of her time.

Venerable Mary WardVenerable Mary Ward Mary Ward (1585-1645), the Mary Ward (1585-1645), the

English woman from Yorkshire who English woman from Yorkshire who founded the Institute, spent many founded the Institute, spent many years in Rome asking the Pope for years in Rome asking the Pope for recognition of the new order, but recognition of the new order, but in 1631 the Institute, considered in 1631 the Institute, considered too advanced for its time, was too advanced for its time, was abolished and Mary Ward was abolished and Mary Ward was personally accused of heresy. The personally accused of heresy. The Church ultimately recognized the Church ultimately recognized the congregation in 1877 and Pope congregation in 1877 and Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged Mary Benedict XVI acknowledged Mary Ward’s “heroic virtue” in 2009 Ward’s “heroic virtue” in 2009 when he conferred the title when he conferred the title “Venerable.”“Venerable.”

Pioneer for Women in the Pioneer for Women in the Church Church

During the early years, During the early years, Mary Ward and her Mary Ward and her companions educated companions educated young women, helped young women, helped persecuted and imprisoned persecuted and imprisoned Catholics, and spread the Catholics, and spread the word of God in places word of God in places priests could not go. The priests could not go. The Sisters lived and worked Sisters lived and worked openly on the continent, openly on the continent, but secretly in England to but secretly in England to nurture the faith. nurture the faith.

Ministries of the InstituteMinistries of the Institute Inspired by Mary Ward's vision, Inspired by Mary Ward's vision,

members of the Institute have members of the Institute have contributed to a wide variety of contributed to a wide variety of ministries. Around the world, they have ministries. Around the world, they have served in schools, social service centers, served in schools, social service centers, shelters for the abused and homeless, shelters for the abused and homeless, retreat and spiritual life centers, rural retreat and spiritual life centers, rural and urban parishes, as development and urban parishes, as development workers, as prison chaplains, as home workers, as prison chaplains, as home visitors, as spiritual caregivers for visitors, as spiritual caregivers for persons with HIV/AIDS, in advocacy and persons with HIV/AIDS, in advocacy and lobbying at the local/national levels and lobbying at the local/national levels and the United Nations, and wherever the United Nations, and wherever contemporary needs arise. contemporary needs arise.

Council of TrentCouncil of Trent The third agency of Catholic The third agency of Catholic

reform was the Council of Trent reform was the Council of Trent which met over a period of which met over a period of eighteen years (between 1545-eighteen years (between 1545-63). It met the challenge of the 63). It met the challenge of the Protestant Reformation by Protestant Reformation by clarifying doctrine and by clarifying doctrine and by instituting reforms that instituting reforms that improved the quality of the improved the quality of the clergy. It also helped the church clergy. It also helped the church to hold on to what it had to hold on to what it had retained, regain much of what it retained, regain much of what it had been in danger of losing, had been in danger of losing, and remain a powerful force in and remain a powerful force in the life of Christendom. the life of Christendom.

Split RemainedSplit Remained

The council failed to reunite the church. Reconciliation with the Protestants proved impossible. Even after the abuses had been corrected, the split remained.

Doctrinal DecreesDoctrinal Decrees In the meetings of 1545-47, important doctrinal In the meetings of 1545-47, important doctrinal

decrees were passed:decrees were passed: The Latin Vulgate was accepted as the official text of The Latin Vulgate was accepted as the official text of

the Bible.the Bible. The Protestant doctrine that the Bible was the sole The Protestant doctrine that the Bible was the sole

basis for religious authority was superseded by the basis for religious authority was superseded by the doctrine that church tradition was equal in authority to doctrine that church tradition was equal in authority to Scriptures. Scriptures.

The Protestant doctrines of justification by faith alone, The Protestant doctrines of justification by faith alone, the bondage of the will, man's utter depravity and the bondage of the will, man's utter depravity and helplessness, and the doctrine of predestination were helplessness, and the doctrine of predestination were rejected. Faith and good works were declared rejected. Faith and good works were declared necessary for salvation.necessary for salvation.

All seven of sacraments were declared to be true All seven of sacraments were declared to be true sacraments instituted by Christ. sacraments instituted by Christ.

Reform DecreesReform Decrees The council insisted on the duty of Bishops to The council insisted on the duty of Bishops to

reside in their dioceses. They must never be reside in their dioceses. They must never be absent for more than three months, and not at absent for more than three months, and not at all during advent and lent. all during advent and lent.

Pluralism (multiple offices) was forbidden. Pluralism (multiple offices) was forbidden. Bishops were required to preach every Sunday Bishops were required to preach every Sunday and Holy Day, and to visit every church within and Holy Day, and to visit every church within their diocese at least once a year. their diocese at least once a year.

Each bishop was to exercise careful Each bishop was to exercise careful supervision over his clergy, ordaining only supervision over his clergy, ordaining only worthy priests and severely disciplining those worthy priests and severely disciplining those guilty of misconduct. guilty of misconduct.

Priestly ResponsibilitiesPriestly Responsibilities Priests also were held to Priests also were held to

the obligation of residence the obligation of residence and were required to and were required to preach. To improve the preach. To improve the level of priestly education, level of priestly education, the council proposed the the council proposed the establishment of a establishment of a theological seminary in theological seminary in every diocese. Priests every diocese. Priests were to exercise care for were to exercise care for their flocks, explaining the their flocks, explaining the Bible, the sacraments, and Bible, the sacraments, and the liturgy. the liturgy.

Outcome of DecreesOutcome of Decrees The decrees were not

adopted universally, enthusiastically, or unanimously. Nevertheless, the work of the council eventually succeeded in infusing a new spirit in the church, which strengthened it immensely and made it capable of defense and further conquest.

Suppression of HeresySuppression of Heresy The fourth agency of Catholic reform was the Holy The fourth agency of Catholic reform was the Holy

Office of the Roman Inquisition intended to Office of the Roman Inquisition intended to suppress heresy. suppress heresy.

It had six Inquisitors-General independent of the It had six Inquisitors-General independent of the Bishops in their jurisdictionBishops in their jurisdiction They could degrade priests from their officesThey could degrade priests from their offices They could exercise censure, call in the aid of the They could exercise censure, call in the aid of the

secular arm, and delegate powers. secular arm, and delegate powers. While they could punish, only the pope could pardon.While they could punish, only the pope could pardon.

The Dominicans, long associated with the The Dominicans, long associated with the suppression of heresy, were put in charge of the suppression of heresy, were put in charge of the courts of the Inquisition. courts of the Inquisition.

Persecution and RepressionPersecution and Repression The states of Europe were asked to facilitate The states of Europe were asked to facilitate

the work of the Inquisition. the work of the Inquisition. In France, the request was denied. In France, the request was denied. In Spain, however, the activities of the Inquisition, In Spain, however, the activities of the Inquisition,

long vigorous, were stimulated even further. long vigorous, were stimulated even further. Persecution reached a new peak. Persecution reached a new peak. Even St. Teresa came under suspicion, and the Even St. Teresa came under suspicion, and the

archbishop of Toledo was arrested. archbishop of Toledo was arrested. In 1562, two thousand Waldensian heretics were In 1562, two thousand Waldensian heretics were

massacred. massacred. Burnings were common in Rome, and cardinals Burnings were common in Rome, and cardinals

and ambassadors were compelled to attend. and ambassadors were compelled to attend. Throughout Italy the same policy of repression Throughout Italy the same policy of repression

was carried out. was carried out.

The IndexThe Index The fifth agency of Catholic The fifth agency of Catholic

reform was the Roman Index reform was the Roman Index of Prohibited Books, another of Prohibited Books, another means of suppressing means of suppressing heretical doctrines. heretical doctrines. It included a wide variety of It included a wide variety of

books, including not only books, including not only heretical ones but also obscene heretical ones but also obscene books and books on witchcraft.books and books on witchcraft.

In addition, the pope appointed In addition, the pope appointed a Congregation of the Index, to a Congregation of the Index, to keep the Index up to date and to keep the Index up to date and to publish revised editions publish revised editions periodically. periodically.

Religious RevivalReligious Revival In addition to these In addition to these

agencies of Catholic agencies of Catholic reform, both positive and reform, both positive and negative, there was a negative, there was a genuine revival of Catholic genuine revival of Catholic piety led by men and piety led by men and women of outstanding women of outstanding devotion and sanctity (e.g., devotion and sanctity (e.g., Charles Borromeo, Teresa Charles Borromeo, Teresa of Avila, and John of the of Avila, and John of the Cross). Throughout Cross). Throughout Catholic Europe, inspired Catholic Europe, inspired by such leaders as these, by such leaders as these, there was a renewal and there was a renewal and revival of Christian feeling. revival of Christian feeling.