Council of Trent - The Six Re-Affirmations

Question 1

Scripture and Tradition are of equal authority in stating Christian truths

Answer 1

• Rebukes Protestant (Luther and Calvin) idea of Scripture being sole religious authority
• Confirms the Seven Sacraments
• Both (Scripture and Tradition) DO MATTER

Attacked BOTH Luther and Calvin

Question 2

The Catholic Church is the final word in interpreting the Bible

Answer 2

• Luther and Calvin are wrong in their interpretations of the Bible - they even have the audacity to interpret
• Nobody except the Church has the right to interpret the Bible - even for their own personal beliefs - what the Church says about the Bible, and ONLY what the Church says about what’s in the Bible, is correct.

Attacked BOTH Luther and Calvin

Question 3

“Justification by works” as well as “-by faith” are necessary for Salvation

Answer 3

-Talks about the nature of Salvation - Justification by faith, one of Luther’s main principles, was invalid as it wasn’t the only policy for salvation, good deeds/works was too.

Attacked ONLY Luther

Question 4

All seven sacraments are “absolutely necessary channels of divine salvation” and therefore ALL are valid

Answer 4

• Reaffirms #1 : Tradition adds the five sacraments that aren’t Eucharist and Baptism. Thus, they’re valid.
• Attacked Luther’s belief that because Scripture is the sole authority, only the two sacraments in the Bible (Eucharist and Baptism) are valid and others should be discarded.

Attacked ONLY Luther

Question 5

Communion of Two Species

Answer 5

• Reaffirmed transubstantiation, the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus.
• Attacked Calvin’s idea that the body and blood isn’t present in the Eucharist - the bread and wine stay as bread and wine, Jesus is there in spirit, not physically.

Attacked ONLY Calvin

Question 6

The Catholic Mass is an actual sacrifice, not simply a memorial meal

Answer 6

• Reaffirmed transubstantiation again, as if Christ is actually in the bread, it’s a sacrifice, opposed to Calvin’s idea of Christ’s symbolic presence
• Reaffirmed the nature of the Mass - an actual sacrifice, not just one big symbol

Attacked ONLY Calvin