The Council of Trent and the Catholic Counter-Reformation

Overview

• Theme: Catholic response to the Protestant Reformation, known as the Counter-Reformation.
• Duration and Sessions: Took place over 18 years with 25 sessions.
• Key Popes: Spanned three different Popes.
• Purpose: To condemn Protestant beliefs and clarify Catholic doctrines.

Common Misunderstanding

• Often misunderstood that Martin Luther was central to the Council; he was only alive for one year of it.

Key Points from the Council of Trent

1. Faith and Works

• Catholic Position: Faith (sola fide) alone is heresy.
  • Anyone endorsing sola fide is committing heresy.
• Decree: Good works are necessary for salvation, not just faith.
  • Quote: "If anyone saith that...the fruits and signs of justification...let him be anathema."

2. The Apocrypha

• Protestant Rejection: Protestants rejected the Apocrypha as part of the biblical canon.
• Catholic Defense: Council declared the Apocrypha as sacred and canonical.
  • Damned those who rejected it.

3. Transubstantiation

• Protestant Criticism: Condemned as pseudo-philosophy.
• Catholic Affirmation: Reaffirmed in the 31st session.
  • Bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Jesus.

4. Scripture and Tradition

• Protestant Claim: Sola scriptura, scripture is sole authority.
• Catholic Tradition: Added church traditions as a source of revelation.
  • Included the Pope's authority, the Virgin Mary, and celibacy in priesthood.

5. Indulgences

• Reform: Called for reform but did not entirely dismiss them.
  • Affirmed church's power to grant indulgences.

6. Purgatory

• Protestant Rejection: Denounced by Protestants as it implies works.
• Catholic Affirmation: Affirmed purgatory's existence and necessity.

7. Marriage and Celibacy

• Marriage Decrees: Validity dependent on ceremony before a priest.
  • Condemned cohabitation and remarriage post-divorce if the spouse is alive.

8. Calendar Reform

• Julian to Gregorian: Council approved correction, affecting movable feasts and leap years.

Lasting Impact

• Declarations of the Council of Trent have never been revoked.
• Confirmed again in the Second Vatican Council and remain in the official catechism of 1992.
• Impacts ecumenical movement and inter-denominational relationships today.

Conclusion

• Upcoming discussions will further explore teachings around faith and works.

Additional Resources

• A YouTube clip by a Catholic monk on unwritten traditions (available in the presentation).