The Catholic Reformation was the answer to the Protestant Reformation of Martin Luther, who had weakened the Church. It denotes the period of Catholic resurgence from the pontificate of Pope Pius IV in 1560 to the end of the Thirty Years' War in 1648. Its objectives were to renew the Church and to prevent the advance of Protestant doctrines
Pope Pius IV worked hard on four issues:
• Doctrine.
• Ecclesiastical restructuring, with the foundation of seminars.
• Modification of religious orders, returning them to their spiritual origins.
• Vigilance of spiritual movements, focusing on the pious life and a personal relationship with Christ. The previous included the Spanish mystics and the French school of spirituality.
The reforms of the Catholic Church were particularly successful in Spain and Italy. In Spain, the "Christian humanism" was developed by Francisco de Vitoria, and later the Jesuits stood out. In Italy the charity movement of the oratories was spread, schools and hospitals were founded, and orders were created such as the Theatines and Capuchins.
It was a general council of the Church, assembled from 1545 to 1563 in Trent, near the Alps, which passed a series of doctrinal decrees concerning dogmas, discipline, the papacy and religious orders, which remained in force until Gathered the following council, more than three centuries later. Thus dogmas and indulgences were withdrawn . But given these changes, the Protestants continued with their beliefs that the church was not sufficiently changed to accept it. To stop the reform against Protestantism was used the Holy Inquisition.
Paul III convoked it and established:
• An effective hierarchy of supervision to ensure that the clergy and laity observed the new norms of discipline and orthodoxy expected of them.
• Strengthening of the figure of the Pope.
• The revitalization of meditation and prayer, as well as the control of the passions of individuals.
• The daily examination of conscience and confession.
• The celebration of annual festivals in honor of the saints and the invocations to the Virgin Mary.
• The impulse to the formation of more brotherhoods and sororities where savings banks would be organized to help widows, orphans, the elderly and the sick, and to pay funeral expenses.
• The punishment of members of the Church who abused the economic goods of the faithful.
• These measures, together with the Inquisition and the wars of religion, sought to halt the advance of Protestantism and infuse new enthusiasm and confidence to Catholics.
Reference List
Theopedia. (2016). Catholic Reformation. Obtenido de Theopedia: http://www.theopedia.com/catholic-reformation
Trueman, C. N. (17 de March de 2015). The Catholic Reformation. Obtenido de The History Learning: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-counter-reformation/the-catholic-reformation/
