Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Council of Trent
- Meeting of all senior members of
the RCC, met 3 times between
1545-63 to discuss problems of
Doctrine and Discipline, and
Luther
- Thought to have
been more powerful
than the Pope
- Charles V regularly called for council
to deal with the issue of Luther and
church reform but rarely got much
support - it would reduce their power
- Pope Paul III willing to
call council as he was
threatened by
Lutheranism; aware that
he needed Council to
impose Roman
Catholicism on secular
rulers
- very important in Germany
where many German princes
liked Luther's ideas
- French were hostile as they
were keen on the idea of
Lutheranism spreading in
Germany - weaken the power
of Charles V, their enemy
- 2 things that changed to
hasten the call of Council:
attempt to reach agreement
with Luther, and Charles V
failed to defeat Luther's
supporters
- Clash over venue: secular
rulers preferred it to be in
territory with their direct
control and influence. Final
decision: Trent in Italy
- Near Rome (most Roman Catholic
place) but Trent still an independent
territory free from too much influence
from Pope or Charles V
- Hoped that split would
be ended, RCC would
reform itself. Meeting
started with long
debate on possible
agenda. Then
decided to deal with
both together
- Atmosphere of hostility
towards Protestantism and
to spirit of Renaissance.
Real determination to reform
but not to compromise on
basic beliefs of RCC
- Clergymen and leaders (Charles V) put pressure on
Council to meet. Real desire to reform Church and
increasing rates of conversion in Europe
- Overall, Council was success.
Sessions were productive, though
lengthy. Lot done to purify Church.
- Council agreed on basic beliefs,
followed by precise definition of
role of Bible in Roman Catholic
belief. Differences between Prot
and Cath clear.
- Spain encouraged improvement
of behaviour in the Church.
- Discussed difference
between priest and
layman so clergy could
provide real lead to
community. Celibacy for
clergy re-emphasised
- more emphasis on setting good
example, assist community. Regular
contact between priest and community.
Preaching to be counter attack on
Lutheranism
- Impressive job in clarifying
beliefs and improvements.
'Only council and debating
chamber, did nothing'.
Orders seen as more
important to some.
- Pope Paul III's main aims: protect own authority; remove clerical abuses; define Catholic doctrine and defend it from Protestants
- Settled discussion of sacraments under Tridentine
Decrees - transub. only interpretation of Eucharist; 7
sacraments were to be treated equally