The Counter-Reformation
Jared Peet
Warm Up – Class 7 –
The Counter-Reformation
Instructions
• Go to Google Drive and
open your document “Draft
Intro Causes”
• Use my feedback to revise
your intro paragraph
• Use the tips on the right
side of the board for help as
well
Tips
• Historical Context: 1-2
sentences, includes dates
and defines key terms
• Road Map – 3 sentences
total, 1 for each point in
thesis. Directly answers
essay prompt and explains
how point answers question
• Thesis – Last sentence;
directly answers question
and clearly lays out 3 points
of argumentation
Objectives and Essential Question
Objectives
Essential Question
• Identify the Council of Trent • How effective was the
and the specific reforms it
Counter-Reformation in
enacted
counteracting the
Protestant Reformation?
• Identify the specific changes
made during the CounterReformation and then analyze
the effectiveness of these
reforms in stopping the
Protestant Reformation by
writing a paragraph response
The CounterReformation
Aka The Catholic Reformation
Pope Paul III (r. 1534-1549)
• Led the reform of the Catholic
Church
-appointed scholars and
reformers to high church offices
-summoned the Council of Trent
The Council of Trent – Historical Context
• Who: called for by Pope
Paul III (1534-1549), and
Pope Paul IV (1555-1559)
• When: 1545-1563
• Where: Trent, Italy
(modern day Trento)
• Why: To combat the
growing popularity of the
protestant faiths, and to
reform the problems
within the Church.
What happened at the Council of Trent?
• Carefully read and
annotate the selected
excerpts from the
decisions made by the
Council of Trent
• With your partner, answer
the questions below
• If you finish early, respond
to the following prompt:
Do you think the Council of
Trent strengthened or
weakened the Catholic
Church?
Council of Trent Re-Cap
• The council had the task of reforming the following aspects:
– To condemn the principles and doctrines of Protestantism, and to define
the doctrines of the Catholic Church on all disputed points.
– To rid the Church administrations (from local priest to the Pope) of
corruption in the areas of:
•
•
•
•
•
Sale of Indulgences
Morals of Convents
Education of Clergy
Dueling between Clergy
Excessive Land “gifts” for Bishops
– The Church’s interpretation of the Bible (their take on the Protestants’
openness to new interpretations of the Bible).
– The relationship of faith and works in salvation was defined, following
controversy over Martin Luther's doctrine of "justification by faith alone".
– The Bible and Church Tradition (not mere customs but the ancient Tradition
that made up part of the Catholic faith) were equally authoritative.
– Indulgences.
Mentimeter Check
What Changes Were Made During the
Counter-Reformation?
Task
• Use the textbook excerpt to
make a LIST of all of the
changes made by the
Counter-Reformation.
– For each change, identify
what problem you think the
Church was trying to address
Extension
• If you finish early, think
about Luther’s problems
with the Church – which
issues did the Church
address and which issues
did the Church stand firm
on?
Brainstorm
Problems in the Catholic Church
Reforms to Address Problems
Do you think the Counter-Reformation was effective in addressing
the problems raised by the Protestant Reformation?
Impact of the Counter-Reformation
The lines between Protestant and
Catholic areas were sharply drawn by
1600.
Protestant:
• England
• Scotland
• Scandinavia
• northern
Germany
Catholic:
• Italy
• France
• Spain
• Ireland
• southern
Germany
The Catholic Church tried to prevent
the spread of Protestant ideas by
reviving the Inquisition.
The Church also published the
Index, a list of books Catholics
were forbidden to read.
In sum . . .
• The Counter-Reformation did not stop the
spread of Protestantism, nor re-claim any lost
followers
• It did reform, reorganize and re-energize the
Church
– Catholicism would continue to grow with the
Spanish exploration of the Americas and the
missionary work of the Jesuits
Exit Ticket
• Create a document in Google Drive entitled:
“Last Name – Counter-Reformation Thesis”
• Write a thesis that answers the essential
question: “How effective was the CounterReformation in counteracting the Protestant
Reformation?”
• Hint: Assess the effectiveness, then give 3
reasons for your conclusion.