Reformation Europe

1500-1600

Catholic Church Hierarchy:

Background Vocabulary:• Protestant

• Someone who protested the Catholic Church

• Reformation• When people demand changes

• Indulgences• Certificates that take away sin• Church was selling forgiveness to take away

sin

What is the Protestant Reformation?• The religious reform movement that

divided the western (European) church into Catholic and Protestant groups.

• The Protestant Reformation had major religious, economic, political & social effects on Europe.

Early Attempts at Church Reform

• Major goal was to reform the Catholic Church

• Erasmus - “philosophy of Christ”• stressed the inwardness of

religious feeling not external practices

• The Praise of Folly (1509)• criticized monks and popes

• Luther’s ideas based on Erasmus

Causes of the Reformation1. “Renaissance popes” were

concerned with worldly matters more than spiritual matters.

2. Wealthy merchants challenged the Church (usury).

3. German & English nobility disliked Italian domination of the Church.

Causes of the Reformation4. The Catholic Church’s great political power and the wealth caused conflict.

5. Church corruption and the sale of indulgences were widespread and caused conflict.

Indulgences•Sale of forgiveness of sin

Martin Luther (1483-1546)• Monk and professor at

University of Wittenberg

• Bothered by Catholic view of salvation• both faith & good works were

needed to get salvation

• Through his study of the Bible, Luther came to the conclusion that only faith was necessary:SALVATION BY FAITH

95 Theses• October 31, 1517

• Luther sent a list of 95 theses (listing of abuses) in the Catholic Church

• especially the sale of indulgences

• Nailed list to church door

95 Theses

• Thousands of copies were printed and spread to all parts of Germany

• Pope Leo X initially ignored Luther’s theses

Breaking with Rome• In 1520, Luther called for the

German princes to overthrow the Catholic Church in Germany & establish a reformed German church

• Christian humanists broke with Luther

• Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther in January 1521

Breaking with Rome• Diet of Worms:

• Diet – council

• Worms – town in Germany

• Luther refused to recant

• Holy Roman Emperor Charles V issued the Edict of Worms in 1521

• Luther declared a heretic & outlaw

Breaking with Rome• Luther was protected by

Frederick of Saxony & put into hiding at Wartburg Castle

• while in hiding, he translated the New Testament into German

• People could read in their own language

Lutheranism

• Luther gained the support of many German princes

• The princes converted to Protestantism • ended papal authority in

their states

Lutheranism• Birth of the 1st Protestant Church

• Central beliefs:• Justification/salvation by faith (NOT good

works)• Bible is the ultimate authority (NOT the Pope)• All humans are equal before God (Laity =

Clergy)• Community of believers, not hierarchy of

clergy

The Reformation in the German States

• The success of the Protestant Reformation was tied to political affairs

• Charles V • ruled an immense empire and

wanted to keep under control of his family, the Hapsburgs

• he wanted to keep it Catholic

The Reformation in the German States

• War between Protestants and Catholics resulted in devastating wars –

• Thirty Years Wars

Peace of Augsburg, 1555• Peace of Augsburg

(1555)• allowed the rulers of

the German states to choose Catholicism or Protestantism for citizens

• No religious freedom or toleration

John Calvin (1509-1564)• Similar beliefs as Luther

• emphasized all-powerful nature of God

• Calvin believed in predestination• Predestination –God determines each

person’s fate• “the elect” – those chosen for heaven

• Faith revealed by living righteous life

• Expanded Protestantism

French Wars of Religion

Calvinism and Catholicism became militant religions

French Wars of Religion• Many powerful

French nobles became Protestants called Huguenots

• Edict of Nantes (1598)• The Catholic

Monarchy granted Protestant Huguenots freedom of worship

French Wars of Religion• Cardinal Richelieu

• changed the focus of the Thirty Years War from religious → political

Reformation in England

English Reformation was rooted in politics, not religion

Reformation in England• Henry VIII

• Dismissed the authority of the Pope in Rome

• Wanted a male heir to throne• Divorced and remarried; broke

with the Catholic Church• Formed the Church of England

• Elizabeth I (1558-1603) • ended blood shed and united the

Britain under the Anglican Church

The Catholic-Counter Reformation

• Catholic Reformation mounted reforms to reassert its authority

• 3 Phases – • Council of Trent – Reforms• Jesuits – missionaries• Inquisition – Church court

Council of Trent•Reaffirmed traditional Catholic teachings in opposition to Protestant beliefs such as:

•Salvation•source of religious truth

•Sacraments•Celibacy•Indulgences

•Establishment of seminaries

The Catholic Reformation• Society of Jesus

(Jesuits)

• founded to spread Catholic doctrine around the world

• Doctrine = key beliefs

The Catholic Reformation• Inquisition

• Established to reinforce Catholic doctrine

• Council of 6 Cardinals• Empowered to investigate, try

& execute people for heresy

• Pope Paul IV strengthened the Inquisition