Catholic Reformation

The Catholic Reformation also known as the Counter Reformation was a strong reaffirmation of the doctrine and structure of the Catholic Church. The Reformation reached its absolute limit at the Council of Trent in reaction to the rising growth of Protestantism. During the Council of Trent, the Church went over their doctrine specified Catholic rulings on salvation, religious sacraments, and church mass. Prior to Martin Luther’s Ninety–Five Theses (1517) there was an internal reform within The Church. With continuous uprisings of Protestantism and failure between clergy itself the long over-due reformation was able to take rise. The aim of the Catholic Reformation was to strengthen Church unification through the preachings of Pope Paul III. Through a broad perspective the Catholic Reformation represented a three–sided strategy: an autocratic church linked by an individual Catholic Church. The Catholic Reformation was a strong reaffirmation of the doctrine and structure of the Medieval Church, thus presiding over reforms that would preserve the religious power.

Paul III (1534–1549) formulation the Council of Trent met in three sessions between 1545–1563, was the climax of the Catholic Reformation. The Council rejected all ideals of the Protestants and restated the basic concepts of Catholicism. While the basic structure of the Church was reaffirmed, there was a continuous reformation that needed to be performed between the growing divide between the priests and members of the clergy.

In addition, between 1521 and 1560 a movement that involved ‘evangelical Catholics’ of high –ranking order, Spirituali, tired to reform the Church through reform of the individual. Emphasizing free–will members were involved in oversea missionary expansionism, similar to Jesuits, performed ‘Christianizing’ in lands such as Asia and America. The work of such men as Francis Xavier and others in Asia and of missionaries in the New World was revered with millions of baptisms and conversions. Throughout Catholic Europe, inspiration caused by Reformations allowed new leaders to arise and citizens finally experienced their right to free–will, there right to choose a fate they feel true. There was a revival of faith in Europe.