The Council of Trent & Counter Reformation Flashcards
What was the primary purpose of the Council of Trent?
To refute the beliefs of Protestant reformers and clarify the Catholic belief system
The council addressed the growing Protestant Reformation initiated by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin.
How many Catholic bishops attended the Council of Trent?
About 40 bishops
The council had approximately 25 sessions over 18 years.
What doctrine did Protestants endorse that the Catholic Church condemned?
Justification by faith alone apart from good works
The Catholic Church labeled this belief as heresy.
What decree did the Council issue regarding good works?
Good works are necessary for the preservation and increase of justice before God
Anyone denying this was to be anathema.
What is transubstantiation as defined by the Council?
The conversion of the whole substance of bread into the Body and wine into the Blood, with only the species remaining
This doctrine was reaffirmed during the 13th session.
What did the Council affirm as sources of special revelation?
Holy Scripture and traditions of the church
This includes unwritten traditions alongside the Scripture.
What is an indulgence in Catholic theology?
A forgiveness of temporal punishment due to sin
The guilt of the sin must still be forgiven, and every sin must be purified either here or in purgatory.
What was Martin Luther’s reaction to the selling of indulgences?
He was appalled, especially by John Tetzel’s sermon
Tetzel claimed indulgences could free souls from purgatory.
What stance did the Council take on the practice of selling indulgences?
Called for reform but condemned those who said indulgences were useless
The Church maintained its power to grant indulgences.
What is purgatory according to Catholic theology?
A place of final purification for those who die in God’s grace but are not perfectly purified
It is for those who still have venial sins.
What did the Council assert about the guilt after receiving grace of justification?
That some debt of temporal punishment remains to be paid
This contradicts the belief that all guilt is completely remitted.
What was affirmed about marriage in the 24th session of the Council?
The validity of marriage depends on the wedding taking place before a priest and two witnesses
The council also condemned concubinage and affirmed celibacy.
What was the Council’s stance on divorce?
Denied the right of the innocent party to remarry as long as the other party is alive
This applied even in cases of adultery.
What reform did the Council approve regarding the Julian calendar?
A plan to correct errors that would allow for a more accurate scheduling of Easter
It included reducing the number of leap years from 100 to 97 in four centuries.
What is the Gregorian calendar?
The calendar approved by the Council to replace the Julian calendar
It eventually became the most widely accepted civil calendar globally.
True or False: The Council of Trent agreed with the Protestant view that only Holy Scripture is the source of Christian faith.
False
The Council affirmed both Holy Scripture and church traditions.
