The Protestant The Protestant ReformationReformation

Events that contributed to the Events that contributed to the decline of Catholicism’s decline of Catholicism’s prestigeprestige

• Crusades:Crusades:– Lost 6 of every 7 battles; not successfulLost 6 of every 7 battles; not successful– Sacked Constantinople: consequences, split Sacked Constantinople: consequences, split

between Catholic and Orthodox churchesbetween Catholic and Orthodox churches

• Black DeathBlack Death– 33-40% mortality in Europe33-40% mortality in Europe– Good churchmen had highest mortality because Good churchmen had highest mortality because

last rites, caring for sicklast rites, caring for sick

• Babylonian Captivity/Great SchismBabylonian Captivity/Great Schism– Avignon 1305-1377Avignon 1305-1377– Multiple popes (Italian and French)Multiple popes (Italian and French)– Conciliar Movement Conciliar Movement

Church practices that lead to Church practices that lead to dissatisfaction among people:dissatisfaction among people:

• InquisitionInquisition– Originally to weed out people who preach or Originally to weed out people who preach or

believe false doctrine, but became anyone who believe false doctrine, but became anyone who questions church authorityquestions church authority

• Relics Chaucer’s pardoner: bones and Relics Chaucer’s pardoner: bones and scraps for GAINscraps for GAIN

• IndulgencesIndulgences– Originally only remission of Originally only remission of temporal temporal penalty penalty

given by priests to “pay” for your sin ( prayers, given by priests to “pay” for your sin ( prayers, alms, retreats, pilgrimages, etc) as reward for alms, retreats, pilgrimages, etc) as reward for going on Crusadesgoing on Crusades

– Expanded to get the soul out of purgatory, Expanded to get the soul out of purgatory, future sinsfuture sins

– Again, became a source of INCOMEAgain, became a source of INCOME

• BeneficesBenefices– Particular church office with income from lands and church Particular church office with income from lands and church

tithes that go with the officetithes that go with the office– Simony selling church offices, often to the highest bidder; Simony selling church offices, often to the highest bidder;

• Higher offices to aristocracy, not by ability or “calling” from Higher offices to aristocracy, not by ability or “calling” from GodGod

• Used for material, not spiritual gain by those who took the Used for material, not spiritual gain by those who took the offices offices

– Nepotism Nepotism • rewarded relatives with the most lucrative church positionsrewarded relatives with the most lucrative church positions

– PluralismPluralism• One person held several beneficesOne person held several benefices• Got very rich, with little, if any, real service or spiritualityGot very rich, with little, if any, real service or spirituality

– AbsenteeismAbsenteeism• Benefices given or sold to people who had no connection to Benefices given or sold to people who had no connection to

the local parishthe local parish• Wealth and intrigue drew many of clergy to RomeWealth and intrigue drew many of clergy to Rome

– Illiteracy/ignorance of clergyIlliteracy/ignorance of clergy• Many of local clergy actually doing the work of the parishes Many of local clergy actually doing the work of the parishes

could not read or writecould not read or write• Many of local clergy just there as relatives of lord who Many of local clergy just there as relatives of lord who

controlled benefice; true concerns were hunting, carousing, controlled benefice; true concerns were hunting, carousing, businessbusiness

– All around corruptionAll around corruption

Worldliness of the clergy: Worldliness of the clergy: popes as secular monarchspopes as secular monarchs

• Machiavelli: “We Italians are Machiavelli: “We Italians are irreligious and corrupt above others irreligious and corrupt above others because the church and her because the church and her representatives set us the worst representatives set us the worst exampleexample

Popes noted for their Popes noted for their corruptioncorruption

• Innocent VIII (1484-92) MediciInnocent VIII (1484-92) Medici– Papal court became a model of luxury and scandalPapal court became a model of luxury and scandal

• Alexander VI BorgiaAlexander VI Borgia– Bought votes to gain election in the first placeBought votes to gain election in the first place– Diplomacy and war to get Romagna for son, Cesare Diplomacy and war to get Romagna for son, Cesare

(Machiavelli’s model for (Machiavelli’s model for The Prince)The Prince)

• Julius II (1503-13)Julius II (1503-13)– Acknowledgement of mistresses and illegitimate Acknowledgement of mistresses and illegitimate

childrenchildren– Warrior pope who personally lead troops vs France Warrior pope who personally lead troops vs France

in N. Italyin N. Italy– Hired Michaelangelo to make 40 statues for his Hired Michaelangelo to make 40 statues for his

tomb; then to paint Sistine Chapel ceilingtomb; then to paint Sistine Chapel ceiling

Renaissance Thought: Renaissance Thought: forerunner and foundationforerunner and foundation

• SecularismSecularism– Growth of town and trade made life not as miserable any moreGrowth of town and trade made life not as miserable any more– Disillusionment with the church; felt they could not rely on Disillusionment with the church; felt they could not rely on

religion for consolationreligion for consolation

• IndividualismIndividualism– Instead of church authority, middle classes seeing themselves Instead of church authority, middle classes seeing themselves

as able to judge on matters of life, religionas able to judge on matters of life, religion

• HumanismHumanism– Worth of the individual as God’s #1 creation, gifted with reason Worth of the individual as God’s #1 creation, gifted with reason

to apply to livingto apply to living– Northern humanists still religious, but return to simple, original Northern humanists still religious, but return to simple, original

Christianity and original teachings of BibleChristianity and original teachings of Bible– Printing press: more books available; people not dependant on Printing press: more books available; people not dependant on

church for interpretation of scriptureschurch for interpretation of scriptures

Look who is parallel to whom in Look who is parallel to whom in teachings, concerns and teachings, concerns and beliefs:beliefs: Humanists Humanists ReformationistsReformationists• Rabelais (French)Rabelais (French)

– Condemned church Condemned church corruptioncorruption

– Pointed out priests Pointed out priests were no longer were no longer models of virtue, models of virtue, disregarded vows of disregarded vows of chastity and chastity and povertypoverty

– Condemned simonyCondemned simony

• LutherLuther– Condemned church Condemned church

corruptioncorruption– Believed priests Believed priests

should practice should practice what they preachedwhat they preached

– Against simony and Against simony and commercialism of commercialism of indulgences indulgences

• Sir Thomas More (Br)Sir Thomas More (Br)– UtopiaUtopia showed the showed the

communal ideal with no communal ideal with no class distinctionsclass distinctions

– All live and work All live and work together as equalstogether as equals

– Stood up for his beliefs Stood up for his beliefs against Henry VIII and against Henry VIII and killed for thatkilled for that

• John Calvin (Fr)John Calvin (Fr)– Since God has already Since God has already

decided who is saved decided who is saved (predestination), all (predestination), all equal in honor and equal in honor and statusstatus

– Should live the Should live the communal ideal with no communal ideal with no class distinctionsclass distinctions

– Religious should be Religious should be superior to secular superior to secular authorities. Escaped authorities. Escaped persecution rather than persecution rather than to bow to civil authorityto bow to civil authority

– Geneva theocracy: Geneva theocracy: actually practiced idealsactually practiced ideals

– Hard work, no leisure Hard work, no leisure time = success; earthly time = success; earthly success = God’s success = God’s pleasure, heavenly pleasure, heavenly status (beginning of status (beginning of capitalistic ethics)capitalistic ethics)

• ErasmusErasmus– True religion is True religion is

inward conviction, inward conviction, sincerity and pious sincerity and pious devotion; not devotion; not outward symbols, outward symbols, ceremonies and ceremonies and ritualsrituals

– Moral reforms, not Moral reforms, not ritualritual

• LutherLuther– Bible describes true Bible describes true

Gospel way of lifeGospel way of life– Didn’t believe in Didn’t believe in

church ceremonies church ceremonies and pompand pomp

– Clergy not Clergy not important; important; everyone needs to everyone needs to speak to God speak to God directly, not directly, not through clergy or through clergy or saints.saints.

Rise of New MonarchiesRise of New Monarchies

• Power and authority are more and Power and authority are more and more centralized in the monarchy of more centralized in the monarchy of each nation, not in the inter-national each nation, not in the inter-national ChurchChurch

• Conflict between secular Conflict between secular governmental authority and church governmental authority and church authority, especially embodied in authority, especially embodied in papal powerpapal power

Social Classes’ Views: Why the Social Classes’ Views: Why the Reformation SucceededReformation Succeeded

• LowerLower– Upset with church wealth, luxury-loving clergyUpset with church wealth, luxury-loving clergy– Tithes, etc even in time of famine, drought, plagueTithes, etc even in time of famine, drought, plague– Saw church as part of oppressive classSaw church as part of oppressive class

• MiddleMiddle– Wanted to manage Wanted to manage ownown affairs; individual worldly affairs; individual worldly

success, not communal, concerned with church and success, not communal, concerned with church and heavenheaven

– church too tied to feudal obligations and aristocracy; in church too tied to feudal obligations and aristocracy; in way of ambitions of merchants and artisans to rise to way of ambitions of merchants and artisans to rise to toptop

• Kings/AristocratsKings/Aristocrats– Dispute over taxation of clergy, taxation of church landsDispute over taxation of clergy, taxation of church lands– Resented parallel government and judiciary of churchResented parallel government and judiciary of church

Longing for meaning = growth Longing for meaning = growth of mysticismof mysticism

• Gerard Groote: very early Dutch Gerard Groote: very early Dutch religious reformer (1300’s), once a religious reformer (1300’s), once a secular teacher, who founded the secular teacher, who founded the Brethren of the Common Life, an order Brethren of the Common Life, an order where members worked for their living, where members worked for their living, then spent the rest of their lives then spent the rest of their lives contemplating the mysteries of God, contemplating the mysteries of God, living austerely, serving others.living austerely, serving others.

• Meister Eckhart: German neoplatonist Meister Eckhart: German neoplatonist mystic of the 15mystic of the 15thth C who died before C who died before they could burn himthey could burn him

• Thomas a Kempis: Dominican who Thomas a Kempis: Dominican who followed the Brothers of the Common followed the Brothers of the Common Life, wrote Life, wrote Imitation of Christ–Imitation of Christ– live an live an austere, holy life of contemplation, austere, holy life of contemplation, mysticismmysticism

• All these emphasized the duty of the All these emphasized the duty of the individual in spiritual manners; people individual in spiritual manners; people had no reason for communal worship had no reason for communal worship directed by priests and sectsdirected by priests and sects

• No need of intercessor between No need of intercessor between individual and Godindividual and God

Precursors of the Precursors of the ReformationReformation• John Wycliff (1320-84) English; 200 years before LutherJohn Wycliff (1320-84) English; 200 years before Luther– attacked church abuses; his followers preached his attacked church abuses; his followers preached his

reforms, followed them: called Lollards reforms, followed them: called Lollards – translator of Bible into English; later combined with translator of Bible into English; later combined with

printing press, formidable power of individual vs churchprinting press, formidable power of individual vs church– Tried, but not condemned in lifetime, but 44 years later Tried, but not condemned in lifetime, but 44 years later

exhumed, body hung, then burned and ashes scatteredexhumed, body hung, then burned and ashes scattered

John Huss (1369-1415)John Huss (1369-1415)– Czech reformer who questioned why so much church Czech reformer who questioned why so much church

money was sent to Rome instead of local parish money was sent to Rome instead of local parish where people needed it. where people needed it.

– Criticized appointments of bishops according to who Criticized appointments of bishops according to who is richeris richer

– Huss denounced the custom in the Eucharist of Huss denounced the custom in the Eucharist of giving the bread to all Christians, but restricting the giving the bread to all Christians, but restricting the chalice (wine) to the priest alone as contrary to Holy chalice (wine) to the priest alone as contrary to Holy Scripture.Scripture.

– held that Church officials should held that Church officials should seek spiritual, not be earthly seek spiritual, not be earthly governors. governors.

– Questioned why the pope Questioned why the pope needed an armyneeded an army

– guaranteed safety if answered guaranteed safety if answered charges against him the Council charges against him the Council of Constance, but once there, of Constance, but once there, condemned by pope, burnedcondemned by pope, burned

Differences in DoctrineDifferences in Doctrine

Catholic Catholic ProtestantProtestant

• SalvationSalvation– Faith + good worksFaith + good works– Sacraments necessary Sacraments necessary

along with fasts, giving of along with fasts, giving of alms, pilgrimages, etcalms, pilgrimages, etc

• IndulgencesIndulgences– Needed to negate sins so Needed to negate sins so

do not have to spend time do not have to spend time in Purgatoryin Purgatory

• SalvationSalvation– Faith aloneFaith alone– Given salvation by God’s Given salvation by God’s

gracegrace– Never Never good enough to good enough to

earn salvation by own earn salvation by own worksworks

• IndulgencesIndulgences– Unnecessary Unnecessary – Do no goodDo no good– Invalid anywayInvalid anyway

• SacramentsSacraments– 7: baptism, penance, 7: baptism, penance,

eucharist, eucharist, confirmation, confirmation, marriage, holy marriage, holy orders, extreme orders, extreme unctionunction

– Absolutely necessary Absolutely necessary for salvationfor salvation

– Administered by the Administered by the church, priestschurch, priests

• EucharistEucharist– TransubstantiationTransubstantiationWine only to priests; Wine only to priests;

wafer after wafer after confession and confession and absolutionabsolution

Actually turn to blood Actually turn to blood and body of Christand body of Christ

• SacramentsSacraments– Luther: only two are Luther: only two are

Biblical, baptism and Biblical, baptism and eucharisteucharist

– Though administered Though administered through church, through church, questionable whether questionable whether absolutely necessary absolutely necessary for salvation; only for salvation; only operable through operable through participants’ faithparticipants’ faith

• EucharistEucharist– Luther: Luther:

consubstantiation, consubstantiation, Christ is mysteriously Christ is mysteriously involved, but not involved, but not literalliteral

– Calvin: only Calvin: only symbolicsymbolic

•Celibacy/Celibacy/MarriageMarriage– Celibacy is the higher lawCelibacy is the higher law– Priests forbidden to marryPriests forbidden to marry

•Church/StateChurch/State– Church higher authority Church higher authority

than statethan state

•Church/IndividualChurch/Individual– Fasts/Pilgrimages/Fasts/Pilgrimages/Saints/CeremoniesSaints/Ceremonies• Clergy hear confession, Clergy hear confession,

grant absolution for sinsgrant absolution for sins• Bible: only trained clergy Bible: only trained clergy

should read, can interpretshould read, can interpret• Mary and Saints intercessors Mary and Saints intercessors

between man and Godbetween man and God• (man unworthy to approach (man unworthy to approach

God directly)God directly)• Fasts, pilgrimages, etc Fasts, pilgrimages, etc

important to important to earn heaven. heaven.• Ceremonies involve Ceremonies involve

cathedrals, in Latin, with cathedrals, in Latin, with candles, other symbolscandles, other symbols

• Celibacy/MarriageCelibacy/Marriage– Marriage okMarriage ok– Clergy allowed to marry Clergy allowed to marry

(Luther married Katy, ex nun; (Luther married Katy, ex nun; had kids)had kids)

• Church/StateChurch/State– State more authority than State more authority than

church over temporal church over temporal – Calvin: church IS state Calvin: church IS state

(theocracy)(theocracy)• Church/IndividualChurch/Individual

– Fasts/Pilgrimages/Fasts/Pilgrimages/Saints/CeremoniesSaints/Ceremonies• No need for clergy No need for clergy

between man and God. between man and God. “Priesthood of all “Priesthood of all believers”believers”

• Clergy = servants, helpers, Clergy = servants, helpers, guides, comfortersguides, comforters

• Bible: only authority for Bible: only authority for doctrine, but each believer doctrine, but each believer reads and interprets for reads and interprets for self; trained clergy can self; trained clergy can HELPHELP

• Salvation between God and Salvation between God and individual; no one can tell individual; no one can tell you what you need to do to you what you need to do to be forgiven for sins. No be forgiven for sins. No need for cathedrals, Latin need for cathedrals, Latin ceremonies, symbolsceremonies, symbols

Counter-reformation:Counter-reformation:Reform process of the Catholic church to answer Reform process of the Catholic church to answer objections and criticisms of the Protestant objections and criticisms of the Protestant ReformationReformation

• Council of Trent, called by Pope Paul III:Council of Trent, called by Pope Paul III:– Catholicism’s major move to answer Luther and other Catholicism’s major move to answer Luther and other

Reformation figures’ major criticismsReformation figures’ major criticisms– A council of cardinals charged with considering the followingA council of cardinals charged with considering the following

• Doctrinal Reform: the council reaffirmed (refused to change) all Doctrinal Reform: the council reaffirmed (refused to change) all criticized doctrines, including criticized doctrines, including transubstantiationtransubstantiation, 7 sacraments, , 7 sacraments, indulgences, role of saints and ceremoniesindulgences, role of saints and ceremonies

• Ecclesiastical (organizational) Reform: in this area came the Ecclesiastical (organizational) Reform: in this area came the most meaningful reforms:most meaningful reforms:– Emphasized making sure parish priests were literate, knowledgeable, Emphasized making sure parish priests were literate, knowledgeable,

and able to perform their duties: handbooks were written to insure and able to perform their duties: handbooks were written to insure uniformity and competencyuniformity and competency

– Forbade practices of corruption: absenteeism, simony, etcForbade practices of corruption: absenteeism, simony, etc

• Political Reform—criticized appointing bishops and others for Political Reform—criticized appointing bishops and others for political reasonspolitical reasons– Higher officials should be more involved in local worshipHigher officials should be more involved in local worship– Paul IV reemphasized the Inquisition and list of Interdicted Books to Paul IV reemphasized the Inquisition and list of Interdicted Books to

try to keep the people orthodox, away from Protestantismtry to keep the people orthodox, away from Protestantism

The Council of Trent:The Council of Trent:

Religious OrdersReligious Orders• New religious orders strengthened New religious orders strengthened

rural parishes, improved popular rural parishes, improved popular spirituality, helped to curb corruption, spirituality, helped to curb corruption, and set examples for cleansing of and set examples for cleansing of corruption.corruption.

• Capuchins—offshoot of FranciscansCapuchins—offshoot of Franciscans– Order based on imitating the life of ChristOrder based on imitating the life of Christ– Austere lifestyles, noted for preaching Austere lifestyles, noted for preaching

and caring for the poor, sick, etcand caring for the poor, sick, etc• Jesuits—”Society of Jesus” founded Jesuits—”Society of Jesus” founded

by Ignatius of Loyola (Sp)by Ignatius of Loyola (Sp)– Military organization, strict discipline Military organization, strict discipline

following Loyola’s following Loyola’s Spiritual ExercisesSpiritual Exercises– Noted for missionary work, strict Noted for missionary work, strict

educationeducation• OthersOthers

– Theatines: reformed and rejuvenated Theatines: reformed and rejuvenated parish priestsparish priests

– Ursulines: devoted to educating girls, Ursulines: devoted to educating girls, doing traditional works of mercydoing traditional works of mercy

• Spiritual Movements:Spiritual Movements:– Reformation by reforming Reformation by reforming

each individualeach individual– Emphasis on personal Emphasis on personal

spiritual experience that spiritual experience that goes beyond every day goes beyond every day reality to the spiritual reality reality to the spiritual reality

– St. John of the Cross and Sta. St. John of the Cross and Sta. Teresa of Avila, both SpanishTeresa of Avila, both Spanish