Protestant Reformation Vocab words

Reformation A reform (change) movement of Western Christianity

Indulgence A grant by the pope to lessen the time spent in purgatory due, in order to absolve (declare free from blame, guilt, or responsibility) sins

purgatory In Catholic teaching purgatory was a place that souls went before entering heaven

church A Christian place of worship

catholic The first branch of Christianity that observes the pope as their holy leader

thesis A proposition state or put forward for consideration, especially one to be discussed and proved. Martin Luther hung 95 theses on the church wall in Wittenburg, Germany, revealing what he believed to be the corruptions of the Catholic Church

Protestants Those who sided with Martin Luther (see above) and protested against the Catholic Church

Catholic Reformation The efforts by the Catholic church to make changes or reform the Catholic Church

Jesuits A Catholic religious order that had the goal of spreading Catholic ideas in order to turn people against Protestants and win back Catholics in Europe

missionaries A person sent on a religious mission, typically to promote Christianity in a foreign country

Thirty Years’ War A religious war between Protestants and Catholics in Europe

Treaty of Westphalia An agreement after the Thirty Years’ War allowing rulers of countries to decide for themselves if they would be Protestant or Catholic