Trent Flashcards
Evidence to prove that Trent was successful…
The 20th council (First Vatican Council) wasn’t called until 1869. Proving Trent was successful to last this long
Reasons for calling Trent?
- Consilium had been leaked outlining corruption of the church
- Growing Protestantism
- Wanted to establish what the church believes
- Charles wanted a council of discipline
- Crisis for the church in 1542 where Ochino (head of capuchins p) fled to Geneva and becomes Protestant
Why called in Trent?
Compromise as it is in HRE but Italian speaking
First session… 1545 - 1547
Only 31 bishops turn up
They discuss issues of doctrine first
Pope did not want to talk about discipline as it would upset cardinals
Ended because of plague then moves to Bologna and fizzles out
Second session… 1551 - 1552
Called by Julius III
2 Protestant bishops turn up
Ends because of outbreak of Hapsburg-Valois war
Third session… 1562 - 1563
Called by Pius IV (Paul didn’t call it as he believed in papal authority alone)
Church was more confident
They discussed discipline to stop Huguenots
Formed Tridentine decrees
Tridentine decisions…
Decided that doctrine and faith were to be based on scripture and tradition (doing something for 200+ years).
Thomas Aquinas wrote about Catholic beliefs
The vulgate…
This was the Latin bible produced by St Gerome
Erasmus found a better Latin and errors in the vulgate
Trent says vulgate is authentic word from God and original scripture
Church keeps bible in its original language - difference between Protestants and Catholics
Salvation
Achieve it by penance and faith
Good works to be done with the church e.g. Pilgrimages, prayer
Idea of faith came from St Augustine but Aquinas wins (believing good works) so church uses Aquinas’ theology
Difference between Catholics and Protestants as Protestants believe in faith alone
Sacraments…
The presence of God and a priest helps you
- Baptism -> P
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Mass -> P
- Penance
- Last rites
- Ordination
Transubstantiation…
Belief in the miracle of mass
Protestants say it is just a representation. Catholics believe Christ is present.
Predestination…
Decided before you are born if you go to heaven or not.
Calvinists believe in all-knowing God
Catholics believe you have free-will so you decide to go to heaven or hell. Church is there to help you make good decisions
Church hierarchy…
All good Catholics believe in a church hierarchy…
Pope - God’s representative on earth
Cardinal
Archbishop
Bishop
Abbot
Protestants do not believe in papal authority and Calvinists do not have a hierarchy
Discipline…
Dealt with in the third session of CofT
- Bishops
- Priests
Bishops within discipline
Dealt with absenteeism by fines for absent bishops
Outlawed pluralism
Bishops had to preach first and foremost
Had to call regular meetings about priests
But they don’t talk about the issue of bishop of Rome (Pope) having same status as the other bishops
They had to educate priests in seminaries
