Response To Reformers

Response to Reformers

The Catholic Church recognized that they had loss control over millions of Christians so a reformation came about. A major effort was needed to address the problems that had occurred. The majority of the people had remained Catholic through the reformations, so the church could draw on their loyalty to adhere to the Church as it experienced reformation.

The church made its first move towards reformation by calling the Council of Trent. Church leaders called by Paul III assembled at the Council of Trent were primarily from one of two major factions. One major faction was the non-Italians who supported a decentralized religious authority. The other was Italians that were advocates of the papacy and wanted a centralized power. They were slightly the majority and pushed for the dominance of the pope, so the threat of conciliarism never consolidated. The achievement of the council was to adjust the church to the world. It also restored the Churches sense of purpose by removing abuses and defining doctrines.

The loyal Catholics were troubled by the stern self-denial and predestination taught by most Protestant churches. Most Catholics preferred the traditional comfort, ceremony, and support Catholicism had long offered. A new atmosphere of dedication engulfed the people of the Catholic Church and they were inspired to lend their talents to the cause of their reforming church. Musicians, architects, and Painters expressed their faith in brilliant and dramatic portrayals of religious subjects and in churches that were designed to dazzle the observer in a way that most Protestants could not allow.

The Jesuits played a major role in the Catholic reformation. They had four principal functions: preaching, hearing confessions, teaching, and missionary work. They understood the tremendous power of education. So they organized the best schools in all of Europe and were so successful that some