The Catholic Reformation and the Rise of Protestantism

Study Notes

The Catholic Reformation

The Catholic Reformation was a religious movement in the 1500s that aimed to reform the Catholic Church's corruption, resulting in the creation of Protestantism.
The Roman Catholic Church had reached its peak in power and influence during the Middle Ages in Europe.
During the Middle Ages, Europeans would attend church multiple times a day, and the Pope was a powerful leader with a higher status than royalty in Europe.

Early Religious Reformers

John Wycliff, born in 1330, was a theologian who refuted the church's abuse of power and translated the Bible from Latin to English.
Catherine of Sienne, born in 1347, argued against corrupt church leaders and pleaded for the reformation of the church, believing that a spiritual life with God could replace formal observance of church practice.

Protestant Beliefs

Protestant beliefs include the Bible as the supreme source of God's intentions, reading of scripture as a major component, and faith and devotion being held to a higher esteem than good deeds.
Protestants reject the Pope as a religious leader and focus on a personal relationship with God through the Bible.
Protestants believe that Christ's presence is felt, but the Eucharist is not the physical flesh and blood of the Lord.

The Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther, a German monk, founded the Protestant church when he grew irate with the corruption found in the Roman Catholic Church.
Luther expressed his concerns in 1517 by writing '95 Theses', which listed out 95 ways the Roman Catholic church could reform its corrupt practice.
Luther condemned the practice of indulgence, where sinners paid priests for a pardon of their wrongdoings.
Protestant reformers challenged the ideas of the Roman Catholic church, including congregants not reading the Bible, papal excess, and the Pope's authority.

Other Protestant Reformers

Ulrich Zwingli began the Swiss Protestant Reformation in 1517 by reiterating the points Martin Luther made.
John Calvin, an exiled French Protestant, helped develop a Protestant community in Geneva.
The Ana-baptists believed that baptism should not be reserved solely for babies, and allowed the re-baptism of adults.

The Catholic Reformation

The Catholic Reformation, also known as the Counter-Reformation, was the counter-movement of the Roman Catholic church to the recommendations set forth by the Protestant Reformation.
The Council of Trent began to meet in 1545 and convened for 18 years to develop the doctrine of the Roman Catholic church.
The Council of Trent concluded that salvation comes from God and faith, there are seven sacraments, indulgences cannot make a profit, and financial corruption was addressed.

Legacy of the Reformations

The Catholic and Protestant Reformations established long-lasting effects within the religious world.
The Roman Catholic church developed its dogma based on the issues brought forth by the Protestant Reformation.
The Protestant religion was created during this period and remains popular today, with some estimates of congregants reaching 1 billion.
The reformation of the church also caused an increase in literacy and education throughout Europe.

Description

Learn about the Catholic Reformation, a 16th-century religious movement that aimed to reform the Catholic Church and led to the creation of Protestantism. Discover the historical context and significance of this pivotal event in Christian history.