Q: What were the contributions of the Papacy, Council of Trent,
and the Jesuits to the revival of Catholicism?
During the 16th century in Europe, Christianity was splitting
into various denominations because of the Reformation begun by
Martin Luther in 1517. Catholicism was under attack because of
its corruption and unethical practices. The Papacy under reforms
implemented by Paul III and Paul IV, the Jesuits through their
missionary and educational work, and the Council of Trent which
reaffirmed traditional Catholic doctrine, all helped the Catholic
counterreformation revive Catholicism and fight the spread of
Protestantism.
Emerging from the Renaissance, the Papacy was in desperate
need of reform. Corrupt Popes such as Julius II, Leo X and
Alexander VI had drifted from their spiritual leadership and had
become caught up in secular issues which besmirched the
Papacy’s reputation. In 1535 Pope Paul III called upon a reform
commission to study the condition of the church and in 1537
concluded that Popes and Cardinals were a primary cause of
corruption within it. Additionally Paul III established the Roman
Inquisition which was responsible for prosecuting individuals
accused of a wide array of crimes relating to religious doctrine or
alternate religious beliefs. Paul III also officially recognized the
Jesuits in 1540 and in 1542 called for the Council of Trent to
review Church practices and policies. Pope Paul IV increased the
power of the Roman inquisition and created the Index of
Forbidden Books, which was a list of books, primarily Protestant in
nature, which Roman Catholics were strictly forbidden to read.
In addition to the Papacy, the Jesuits also helped with the
revival of Catholicism in the 1500’s. The Jesuits (Society of Jesus),
a new order established by Ignatius of Loyola, were officially
recognized by Pope Paul III in 1540 and quickly became an
important instrument of Papal policy. The Jesuits had three goals:
to establish highly disciplined schools, to propagate Catholic
beliefs through missionary work, and to combat Protestantism.
The Jesuits quickly became the militant arm of the Papacy and the
Catholic Church. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was a famous Jesuit
missionary who traveled to Asia (India and Japan) to actively
convert native people to Catholicism.
The Catholic Reformation additionally needed a general
meeting to help ensure reform and a clear direction for the
church during the 16th century. The Council of Trent (called for in
1542 by Pope Paul III) convened in 1545 and was a general council
of Christendom which gathered to resolve the religious
differences created by the Protestant revolt. They met three
times between 1545 and 1563 due to a variety of problems
including an outbreak of the plague and war between France and
Spain. The final decisions of the council reaffirmed traditional
Catholic teachings in opposition to Protestant beliefs. Scripture
and tradition were affirmed as equal authorities in religious
matters, and only the church could interpret scripture. Faith and
good works were deemed necessary for salvation. All seven
sacraments and clerical celibacy were upheld. However, the sale
of indulgences was kept, as long as they weren’t hawked.
Additionally, it was agreed that the conservative view of not
compromising with the Protestants, would be followed. After the
Council of Trent, the Catholic Church possessed a clear body of
doctrine and a unified church.
Although Catholicism was under attack and Christianity was
splintering into numerous of Protestant divisions, the Catholic
Church attempted a revival during the 16th century. The Papacy,
the Jesuits and the Council of Trent all contributed to this revival.
However, in the end, this “rebirth” of the Catholic Church was
nothing more than an attempt to maintain its historical doctrine
of the church while simultaneously battling the Protestants who
were now winning over the spiritual minds and hearts of people
across Europe.