The Council Of Trent: History Of The Catholic Church

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Introduction The Council of Trent, which is known as the nineteenth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church is considered one of the most significant councils in the history of the Catholic Church. Held in three parts from 1545 to 1561, it was formed by Pope Paul III in response to the outcries for reform among both Catholics and Protestants during the Reformation. Leading the appeal for change among Protestants was Martin Luther. He not only entreated the Papacy to institute moral reform, but also accused the Catholic Church of false teachings, most prominently the doctrine on justification. While the conflict between the Catholics and Protestants proved hopeless to resolve, the Council of Trent convened to officially answer …show more content…
He was not only a pastor and friend, but a scholastic theologian as well, who like Luther, published his own German translation of the Bible. However, the friendship would soon end. While at a debate in Heidelberg, he heard Luther’s stance (presented by a student) against the teachings that made indulgences possible. After reading Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, he was concerned that some may confuse his principles with the heresy of John Hus. Additionally, he perceived (correctly) that the theses were a threat to the authority of the clergy. In July of 1519, Eck, a dynamic and shrewd rhetorician, vehemently expressed these misgivings, as he defended the Catholic Church’s position in a public university disputation with Andreas Bodenstein von …show more content…
In fact, “the council goal was clarified as the “rooting out of heresy and the reform of conduct [of the clergy].”” While all but a few delegates were either secretly married or had concubines, Luther’s marriage to Katie Von Bora was a theological statement attesting to the scriptural affirmation of married clergy. Consequently, the council agreed that Luther’s rebellion was in direct opposition to the Catholic tradition, and clerical celibacy was upheld. Additional decrees maintained that clergy were to reside in their parishes and perform regular duties, while bishops were to ordain candidates and supervise their moral lives. Moreover, it was decided that seminaries were to be established in every diocese and the veneration of relics and images was upheld. Finally, while Pius IV was not opposed to allowing the Eucharist cup in areas that it would help maintain Catholics from converting to Protestantism, the communion of one kind for laity (no cup) was sustained. Although there were compromises throughout the three periods, and many declarations fell short of what most zealous reformers wanted, the twenty-five decrees ushered in the Catholic Counter
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