The Counter-Reformation

The Counter-Reformation Chapter 15 Section 4

Key Terms • Counter-Reformation • Jesuits • Ignatius of Loyola • Council of Trent • Charles Borromeo • Francis of Sales • Teresa of Avila

Reforming the Catholic Church • Protestants not the only ones dissatisfied • Catholics also upset • Counter-Reformation- series of reform in the Catholic Church

Early Reformers • Girolamo Savonarola- monk preached fiery sermons against the church in the 1400’s • Called on church to melt down its gold and silver to buy bread for the poor

Early Reformers • Convinced people to burn jewelry and trinkets • “The bonfire of the vanities” • First allowed by the pope • Pope Alexander excommunicated Savonarola • 1498 executed in Florence

Jesuits • Jesuits- society of Jesus, religious order to reform the church • Ignatius of Loyola founded Jesuits in 1534 • Nobleman, soldier • While recovering from an injury read books on saints • Became a soldier of God

Jesuits • Father general- ran it like a military institution • Emphasized obedience to the church • Concentrated on education to combat the Protestants • Established missions, school, and universities • Effective organization, gained ground on Protestants

Council of Trent • Paul Pope III in 1545 called the council • Need to redefine the doctrines of the church • Examined criticisms by the Protestants and Catholics • Clarified Catholic teachings on certain points

Council of Trent • Reforms addressed the corruption of the clergy • Training of priests • Financial abuses • Indulgences were abolished • Rejected Protestant’s emphasis on self-discipline and individual faith

Council of Trent • Church could help believers achieve salvation • Using mystery and magnificent ceremonies to inspire faith • Consistent with the belief of millions • Majority of Europeans remain Catholic

Council of Trent • No compromise between Catholics and Protestants • Bold action boost to Catholicism in Poland • Other parts of Europe return to the Church • Catholics felt renewed energy

Council of Trent • By 1700 Jesuits operated 699 colleges in Italy, Germany, and other places • Future leaders educated in Jesuit schools • Order had an influence over public affairs • Worked in India, China, and Japan

Reforming Catholics • Charles Borromeo Archbishop of Milan • Decisive steps to implement reform • Build new schools to educate priests • Francis of Sales • Founded a religious order for women • Returned Calvinists to the church through missionary work

Women and the Church • Women took on more roles • Before Renaissance they lived in secluded convents • 1543-Italian nun Angela Merici began Saint Ursula Company for teaching girls

Women and the Church • Jane of Chantal formed an order to teach girls to become teachers • Schools throughout Europe • Work denounced by anti-Jesuits and the Church as dangerous

Women and the Church • Teresa of Avila • Age 20 ran away to a convent • Thought rules were too lax • Followed her own strict rules fasting, sleeping, and prayer • Reformed the Carmelite order • Had visions of Christ • Her faith inspired many to stay in the Church

The Inquisition • Roman Inquisition in 1542 to fight Reformation • Popes increased the Inquisition’s powers • Accused Protestants of witchcraft and breaking the law • Spanish monarchs set up a tougher one in 1478

The Inquisition • Used it to convert Jews, Muslims and later Protestants • Index of Forbidden Books- to stamp put rebellion • People not to read books on the list • Lose their souls • Torture and execution damaged the Church’s image

Changes in Religion • Renewed zeal spread Catholic faith to other continents • North America- and elsewhere softened the harsh colonial rule • Protestants broke away from the Catholic Church and formed many factions

Changes in Religion • Discord and rifts between Protestants • Luther and followers denounced Anabaptists and Zwingli’s followers • John Calvin disapproved of some of Luther’s ideas • Luther’s these opened the door to religious freedom

Persecution and Hysteria • Luther and Catholics viewed Jews as heretics • Spain forced conversion or they had to leave • Jews resettled in eastern and southern Europe • Some areas they were forced to live in certain areas • Called a ghetto

Persecution and Hysteria • Ghettos were walled and their gates closed at night • People feared witches roamed the land • Fears increased during hard times • Witches were rounded up and tried • 1580-1660 thousands tried and executed as witches • Mostly women and the poor

Political Effects • Rising sense of nationalism • Protestant Reformation encouraged formation of independent states and nations • Rulers and merchants wanted less church involvement • Political power separated from churches

Italian Wars • Italy bounced between two powers • Sack of Rome by Spaniards and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1527 • Italian wars ended in 1559 • Expanded the Italian Renaissance

Italian Wars • Artist from Italy fled north bringing new techniques • Troops returned carrying new ideas

Conflicts among Germans • Unhappy with high taxes, lack of power, new ideas • Peasants unhappy • Reformation preachers were backing idea of freedom • 1524 tens of thousands German peasants stormed monasteries

Conflict among Germans • Martin Luther accused of the unrest denounced it • Luther’s refusal to back peasants prevented the Reformation from spilling into a social revolution • Holy Roman Emperor Charles V wanted to turn back Protestantism

Conflict among Germans • 1546 war against Luther’s German princes • Peace of Augsburg signed in 1555 • Had religious compromise • Allowed each prince to pick their religion • Subjects had no say in the choices

Conflict between Religions • France the Huguenots, Protestant minority fought the Catholics • Fighting ended when their leader became Catholic • Conversion led to political stability • 1598 Edict of Nantes granted religious freedom to Protestants

The Counter-Reformation