The Counter Reformation

The Counter Reformation (also the Catholic Revival or Catholic Reformation) denotes the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent (1545–1563) and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation. It is the name given to the reformed the medieval catholic churches. It was traded as a counter to the Protestant and the reformation. The Counter Reformation was to fight back the Protestants. The Roman Catholic Church was unhappy drifting away many Protestants Roman Catholic Church. They want to avoid the evils of the church, reform the monasteries, and reform the ecclesiastical from within. The Counter Reformation was both a religious and political movement. This movement tried to end the abuses of the church. There are three aspects or three pillars to the Counter Reformation.

1st Pillar Council of Trent: 

Council of Trent met at a frequent interval in a total 25 Sessions fewer than three popes over the years 1545-1563 (18 years). (1) Its main work was to modify the doctrines. (2) Reform the life of the Catholic Church. (3) Suppress the heresy. (i) The council consolidated the powers of the pope and strengthens the government and organization of the church to help the old faith. (ii) It confirmed the divine authority of the pope. (iii) To fight a battle against Protestants. (iv) This council declared that the later Bible (Vulgate) was the authoritative text of the Roman Catholic Church. And the pope and church could interpret it. (v) Approved the canonicity of the apocryphal books of the Old Testament. (vi) Reaffirmed the existence of purgatory, the adoration of saints the use of images, relies and indulgences. The council reaffirmed all these practices. (vii) The council provided a strict discipline of the clergy more preaching more pastoral care of the laity. (viii) The liturgy was revised and the arrangement for a new Latin bible was made. (ix) The council reaffirmed the validity of seven sacraments. (x) The council reaffirmed the value of tradition along with the Bible. It was affirmed that the ecclesiastical tradition and the scriptures were to be the final authority in faith and practice. (xi) Luther’s doctrine of “Justification by Faith” was rejected and the council declares that “if anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone, let him be an anathema (1563), “If anyone denies the necessity of meritorious works in the dynamic of salvation let him be an anathema” (curse). Thus, the council promoted the necessity of meritorious work necessary for salvation.

2nd Pillar Jesuits Order: 

The greatest pillar of the Roman Catholic reformation was Jesuits order. It originated in Spain and founded in Paris (in France) in 1534 by Lunatics Loyola. It became the champions of Catholic faith in Europe. The main purpose of their society was to “fight for pope” and the fight against Protestants. It was intended to be a spiritual army for the reconquest of heretics (Protestants). The Jesuits were the spearhead of the Counter Reformation. Lunatics Loyola was a soldier of Spain, He was wounded and cripple in a battle. After his recovery, he followed life, asceticism, but later he gave it up and joined for theological studies. He attended the University of Paris to study theology. While he was a student, he gathered some of his friends and organized themselves as a group and to form a new order to fight for Roman Catholic Church. They took a vow of absolute obedience to the pope thus arose the Society of Jesus in 1534, whose members were called the Jesuits or Society of Jesus. The watch words, these orders were: 1. Courage, 2. Discipline, 3. Obedience. In 1540 pope Paul 3rd gave his sanction to the movement. Those who joined the order took three vows: Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. However, they gave much emphasis on mission work. So, the Jesuit missionaries visited many lavatories for mission work for e.g., Francis Xavier and Robert De Nobile came to India. In short, the Jesuits were the “soldiers of the pope” in his battle against Protestants.

3rd Pillar Inquisition (Ecclesiastical Court): 

Inquisition was the Roman Catholic tribunal or court for the discovery. The Roman Catholic not only persecuted the Protestants, but also through inquisition administrate trial fortune and killing. This inquisition was established in Spain in 1483 to suppress the heretic. In 1542 a general papal Inquisition was set up to suppress heresy. Pope Paul 4th published a list of books written by Protestants, which should be burned. The lists of heretical were known as “the index”. Inquisition became byword/cruelty and injustices.