Understanding Reformation: Reform vs. Protest

Protestant Reformation and Counter-Reformation of the Catholic Church

• The presentation discusses the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation of the Catholic Church, taught in Araling Panlipunan by Ms. Patricia Ysabelle R. Cancio of the University of Santo Tomas Junior High School A.Y. 2024-2025.
• The question posed at the beginning is "Why do we ask for change?".
• Protest is the expression of strong objection, while reform is to improve by correcting errors.

Age of Reformation

• The Renaissance greatly influenced the Protestant Reformation due to the rise of secularism and individualism.

Protestant Reformation

• It involved criticism of the practices of the Pope of the Catholic Church.
• Church members were encouraged to live without luxury, to become less involved in politics, and to stop priests and monks from worldly living.
• The Catholic Church weakened during the latter parts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
• Criticisms of the Church led to the separation of other Christian sects from the Catholic Church.
• Reformists were declared heretical for challenging the Church's power and authority.
• The Bible was considered the highest authority for salvation, and many copies were printed using the Gutenberg Printing Press.

Key Figures in the Reformation

• Desiderius Erasmus: Authored "In Praise of Folly" and criticized the bad practices of priests.
• John Wycliffe: Promoted the idea that the Church should relinquish its wealth, and criticized the Papal leadership in the Church.
• John Huss: Advocated for change in the Church, criticized abuses within the Church and its wealth, pushed for the election of archbishops instead of appointment by the Pope, and was excommunicated and burned at the stake for heresy.
• Girolamo Savonarola: A Dominican friar who led the church in Florence, fought for change in the church and society against extravagance, led the Bonfires of Vanities to burn materials, and was later charged as a heretic and burned publicly.

Teachings of the Catholic Church

• Upon death, a person's soul can go to heaven if they lived in holiness, or to hell if they lived in sin; those in sin may also wait in purgatory.
• Salvation or shortening the wait in purgatory is possible through prayer, church attendance, good deeds, such as giving donations to the Church.
• This is a Church mandate that cannot be changed or broken.

Reasons People Wanted to Leave the Catholic Church

• The buying of positions to become a church leader was unfair.
• The clergy had a worldly lifestyle.
• Holiness lost its meaning due to the lifestyle and greed of the clergy and monks.

Church Practice

• Indulgence (Papal Pardon) is the forgiveness given by the Church in exchange for public service or donation.
• Simony is the buying of positions of clergy in the church.
• Pope Leo X sold positions in the church and misused indulgences.
• Johann Tetzel sold indulgences, claiming it could forgive future sins and shorten a soul's time in purgatory.

Martin Luther's Criticism

• Martin Luther, a former lawyer and Augustinian monk from Germany and a theology professor at the University of Wittenburg, believed that faith was the key to salvation.
• He is known as the Father of Reformation and stood against the selling of indulgences, viewing it as exploitation of the poor.
• Luther maintained that indulgences are not written in the Bible.
• Luther posted his "95 Theses" outside the Wittenberg Church; it stated Luther's position that change could be achieved through deep and intense belief.
• Luther's message spread quickly throughout Germany, and the number of Catholics buying indulgences decreased.

Church Response to Luther

• Pope Leo X ordered Luther to retract his statements against the Church in writing.
• Luther burned the letter; as a result, he was excommunicated.
• Charles V summoned him to the Diet of Worms, consisting of the princes of Germany.
• An "Edict of Worms" was issued, mandating Luther's capture because he refused to recant.
• Luther was urged to retract his statements and return to the Catholic Church, but he refused and was charged with heresy.
• Frederick the Wise of Saxony helped Luther and hid him in his palace to protect him.
• Inside Frederick's palace, Luther translated the Bible into German.

The Lutherans

• Many believed in and followed Luther, including some princes of Germany.
• There was fighting between Catholic Germans and Lutherans.
• The First War ended with the Treaty of Augsburg.
• Lutherans were called Protestants or those who protest.
• The Peace of Augsburg formally and legally recognized Lutheranism as a religion.
• Lutherans stood for the right of a prince or noble to choose their religion.

Other Reformists:

• John Calvin: He promoted literal interpretation of the Bible and believed in Predestination.
  • Predestination is the belief that God has already decided who will go to heaven and who will go to hell.
  • Calvin believed that the soul has a mark of curse or blessing before birth.
  • Calvin also believed that "Faith is revealed by living a righteous life".
  • Lutheranism led to the Calvinism denomination, also known as Huguenots.
  • A Theocracy Government was established in Geneva, Switzerland, meaning the government is run by church leaders.
• Ulrich Zwingli: Opposed Anabaptists and their practice of baptizing infants.
  • He did not believe in purgatory, priestly celibacy, and the help of saints.
• Henry VIII: King of England during the height of the Reformation:
  • He was a former Roman Catholic who disagreed with Luther's teachings, and was even named "Defender of the Faith" by Pope Leo X.
  • He became a reformist due to personal reasons.
  • He established his own church called The Church of England because the Pope would not grant him a divorce so he could remarry in hopes of having a male heir.
  • Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon and they had a daughter, Mary Tudor.
  • He asked the Pope if he could marry another woman and divorce Catherine, but was denied.
  • Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, recognizing Henry VIII as the supreme leader of the Church of England.
  • Many died for refusing to follow his new church, including Sir Thomas More who is now a Saint of the Catholic Church.
  • Henry VIII divorced Catherine to marry Anne Boleyn, who bore him a daughter, Elizabeth I.
  • After this, Henry had Boleyn charged with incest and was put to death.
• Edward VI: Henry VIII's only son with Jane Seymour.
  • He became a Protestant king at age 9.
  • The power of the Church of England expanded during his reign.
  • He was sickly and ruled until the age of 16; Thomas Seymour, Duke of Somerset served as his guardian.
• Mary I: Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.
  • When she became queen, she brought back Catholicism, killing many Protestants by burning.
  • She was called Bloody Mary.
• Elizabeth I: Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.
  • She returned to England after the death of her sister Mary I.
  • She was able to unite Catholics and Protestants through compromise.
  • Under her rule, England became an officially Protestant country.
  • She ruled for 44 years without marrying, earning her the moniker "the virgin queen".

Results of the Reformation

• Protestants built their own churches with greatly varied traditions from Catholic beliefs.
• The Reformation caused the permanent separation of Christian sects from the Catholic Church.
• The "Witch Craze" in Europe led to the death of many people suspected of being followers of the devil.

Branches of Christianity

• Christianity split into Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodox.
• Protestantism further subdivided into Lutheran (Martin Luther), Anglican (Henry VIII), and Calvinist (John Calvin).

The Catholic Counter-Reformation

• The Catholic Church tried to stop the spread of Protestantism in European countries, due to the significant loss of its supporters and wealth.
• It revived observance and obedience to the laws of the Catholic Church.

The Church's Response: The Council of Trent (1545-1563)

• The Church convened from 1545 to 1563 to give the Catholic Church a new image.
• It reconfirmed the doctrines and sacraments of the Church, and reaffirmed that the Bible is not the only connection to heaven.
• The Council aimed to solve the problem of abuse and corruption within the church.
• In 1545, Pope Paul II ordered the formation of a council of church leaders to review its laws and traditions, leading to the Council of Trent.
• The Council of Trent banned the false selling of indulgences and implemented new schools to train those wanting to become priests.
• New orders concentrated on helping through charity.
• It reiterated the importance of church traditions, claiming salvation can be attained by faith and helping others.
• Priests and nuns lived among the poor and sick. Local churches and parishes were strengthened. Simpler living became an inspiration.

Society of Jesus or the Jesuits

• The Society of Jesus or the Jesuits was founded by Ignatius de Loyola, a wealthy and former soldier.
• It's a sector of Catholicism with a mission to defend and spread God's message worldwide.
• The Society of Jesus spread by founding schools throughout the world. The schools would educate the youth of the Bible and promote Catholic beliefs.
• They believed education could suppress Protestants.

The Inquisition

• A formal court by the Catholic Church was established to get people not following the beliefs of the Church.
• If proven guilty, some were given a chance to return to the Church to be forgiven or tortured/executed for heresy.
• The Act of Faith was the public persecution of those accused of heresy, in which the falsely accused might be tortured or killed.
• During this time, Ferdinand II and Isabella ruled Spain and believed that unifying religion would unify Spain.
• During their reign, the expulsion of the Jews and Muslims in Spain was ordered.
• This led to the violent Spanish Inquisition under Thomas de Torquemada or the Grand Inquisitor.
• Wealthy Jews who converted to Christianity were called conversos.

The Index of Forbidden Books

• The Index Librorum Prohibitorum, containing books that are to be burned and destroyed, was established.
• Those promoting it believed the books contained demonic text that would sell a person’s soul to the devil.
• The purpose was to stop the spread of Protestant documents, including the 95 theses, Praise of Folly, and non-Latin Bibles.

Witchcraft

• From 1580-1660, belief spread about witches who obeyed demons. Those witches were said to kill children and pets.
• "Malleus Maleficarum" (Hammer of Witches), a book that explained how to identify witches and how to exterminate those who had powers, circulated, written by German Heinrich Kramer.

Baroque Style

• The Term Baroque comes from the Portuguese word barocca, which means a pearl of irregular shape; the style shows uniqueness and extravagance.
• St. Peter's Baldachin inside St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is an example of this style.

Religious Wars

• Religious wars include Peasants War, Italian Wars, Hundred Years War, Thirty Years War, St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and the Edict of Nantes.
• Edict of Nantes grants the right to chose a religion.

Growth of Christianity

• During the Age of Discovery, English Protestants moved to North America, while Spanish Catholics occupied South America, Southeast Asia, and Mexico.
• The last slide asks what was the effect of reformation in modern society.