Council of Trent Document AnalysisAP European History
Historical Background: The Council of Trent was called in 1543 and was a meeting a Catholic Church officials. The Pope was encouraged by Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire to bring together church officials to deal with the impact of the growing Protestant Reformation. The Council of Trent set out to accomplish two goals: To “counter” the Protestant Reformation and to reform itself in the face of the criticisms voiced by religious leaders such as Martin Luther.
- Read and answer questions about the documents.
- When you are done, construct a thesis and essay outline based on the documents and on your HW reading. If you need to reference your textbook, I have provided some by the podium.
Document One: The Index of Banned Books
TEN RULES CONCERNING PROHIBITED BOOKS DRAWN UP BY THE FATHERS CHOSEN BY THE COUNCIL OF TRENT AND APPROVED BY POPE PIUS [1]
The books of those heresiarchs, who after the aforesaid year originated or revived heresies, as well as of those who are or have been the heads or leaders of heretics, as Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, Balthasar Friedberg, Schwenkfeld, and others like these, whatever may be their name, title or nature of their heresy, are absolutely forbidden. The books of other heretics, however, which deal professedly with religion are absolutely condemned.
1. Why would the Catholic Church choose to ban books from the writers listed above?
Document Two: Ignatius Loyola, Jesuits late 1540’s- The Jesuits were created at the Council of Trent
From the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola
Many of the opinions of Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order, are in this document setting out rules for the order and for the Christian life.
TO HAVE THE TRUE SENTIMENT WHICH WE OUGHT TO HAVE IN THE CHURCH MILITANT: Let the following Rules be observed.
First Rule. The first: All judgment laid aside, we ought to have our mind ready and prompt to obey, in all, the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, which is our holy Mother the Church Hierarchical.
Third Rule. The third: To praise the hearing of Mass often, likewise[40] hymns, psalms, and long prayers, in the church and out of it; likewise the hours set at the time fixed for each Divine Office and for all prayer and all Canonical Hours.
Sixth Rule. To praise relics of the Saints, giving veneration to them and praying to the Saints; and to praise Stations, pilgrimages, Indulgences, pardons, Cruzadas, and candles lighted in the churches.
Seventh Rule. To praise Constitutions about fasts and abstinence, as of Lent, Ember Days, Vigils, Friday and Saturday; likewise penances, not only interior, but also exterior.
Eighth Rule. To praise the ornaments and the buildings of churches; likewise images, and to venerate them according to what they represent.
Ninth Rule. Finally, to praise all precepts of the Church, keeping the mind prompt to find reasons in their defence and in no manner against them.
3. How do these rules counter the complaints and criticisms made by religious leaders such as Martin Luther and Zwingli?
Document Three: A New Kind of Catholicism: St. Ignatius Loyola 1553
Our main aim [to God’s greater glory] during this undertaking at Trent is to put into practice preaching, confessions and readings, teaching children, giving good example, visiting the poor in the hospitals, …urging on as many as possible to greater piety and prayer….
In their preaching they should not refer to points of conflict between Protestants and Catholics, but simply exhort all to upright conduct and to ecclesiastical practice, urging everyone to full self knowledge and to greater knowledge and love of their Creator
In German Universities….teach solid doctrine without many technical terms (which are unpopular), especially if these are hard to understand…they should make efforts to attract their students into a friendship of spiritual quality….they should make efforts to make friends with the leaders of their opponents as also with those who are most influential among the heretics….They must try to bring them back from their error by sensitive skill and signs of love.
5. How is this document responding to the criticisms of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation?
Part II:
Using your HW and the above documents, construct and XYZ thesis that answers the following question. Then provide bullet pointed subtopics and evidence. You can choose if you want 3 subtopics (XYZ) or 2 subtopics (XY).
What were the responses of the Catholic authorities of the 16th century to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation?
Thesis:Subtopic 1: Write a topic sentence.
1 piece of evidence to support subtopic 1:
Subtopic 2: Write a topic sentence
1 piece of evidence to support subtopic 2:
Subtopic 3: Write a topic sentence Fill this square in only if you have 3 topics.
1 piece of evidence to support subtopic 3:
Conclusion: Bullet point/brainstorm what you might write about in your conclusion. Can you make a connection to previous units of study?