1. During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the dominant religion in Western Europe
Without a common government in Europe, the Catholic Pope became an important political leader
Medieval Christians’ everyday lives were harsh. Still, they could all follow the same path to salvation—everlasting life in heaven. Priests and other clergy administered the sacraments, or important religious ceremonies. These rites paved the way for achieving salvation. For example, through the sacrament of baptism, people became part of the Christian community. At the local level, the village church was a unifying force in the lives of most people. It served as a religious and social center. People worshiped together at the church. They also met with other villagers. Religious holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, were occasions for festive celebrations.
On the manor, priests were powerful because the controlled peoples’ access to heaven by delivering the sacraments & absolving sins

2. Basis of beliefs are the 7 Holy Sacraments:
The Catholic Church taught that people could gain access to heaven (called salvation) by having faith in God & doing good works for others
Basis of beliefs are the 7 Holy Sacraments:
Baptism, Communion, Confession, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination of Priests, Last Rites for the Dying
By participating in each sacrament, gain more of God’s grace

3. Practices of the Catholic Church
The church taught that Christians could gain more of God’s grace through a series of spiritual rituals called the Holy Sacraments
Sacraments included Baptism, Confirmation, Communion, Confession, Marriage, Ordination of Priests, Last Rites for the Dying
Basis of beliefs are the 7 Holy Sacraments:
Baptism, Communion, Confession, Confirmation, Marriage, Ordination of Priests, Last Rites for the Dying
By participating in each sacrament, gain more of God’s grace

4. But, the church was also growing corrupt
Priests were required to go through rigorous training in a monastery…but some church positions were sold to the highest bidder called simony
Sometimes, feudal lords would use their influence to have friends or children named as priests, called lay investiture
As a result, some clergy members were poorly educated

5. These practices went unquestioned during the Middle Ages
One of the most corrupt church practices was the selling of indulgences
Indulges began as a way for people to repent for their sins through good works
But rather than requiring good deeds, church leaders began selling indulgence certificates as a way of raising money
These practices went unquestioned during the Middle Ages

6. By the time of the Renaissance, some Christians began criticizing church corruptions & questioned Catholic teachings
Christian humanists believed that they could help reform the Catholic Church

7. In the 1300s, Reformers like John Wycliffe & priest Jan Hus attacked corruptions like indulges, said that the Bible (not the Pope) was the ultimate authority on Christianity, & wanted church teachings in the vernacular (local language) not Latin

8. Title
Catholic leaders responded to these criticisms by executing Wycliffe & Hus
Text

9. In 1509, Christian humanist Erasmus published Praise of Folly which called for an end of corruptions

10. As a result of Johann Gutenberg’s invention of the moveable-type printing press in 1453, Erasmus’ book spread throughout Europe & increased calls for church reform

11. The Protestant Reformation
By the early 1500s, the Catholic Church was in turmoil over the controversy of corruption & its unwillingness to adopt reforms
In Germany, a Catholic monk named Martin Luther became involved in a serious dispute with the Catholic Church

12. Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther’s break from the Catholic Church began the Protestant Reformation & inspired a series of new Christian denominations
Protestant Reformation
Protest Reform
During the Protestant Reformation, reformers protested church corruptions & practices in hopes of reforming Christianity

13. Martin Luther
As a young boy in Germany, Luther was going to become a lawyer, but after he nearly died in a thunderstorm he vowed to become a Catholic priest

14. Martin Luther
After studying the Bible as a monk, Martin Luther became a priest & scholar
During his studies of the Bible, Luther became convinced that salvation could not be achieved by good works & sacraments
Instead, Luther was inspired by St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans: “A person can be made good by having faith in God’s mercy”

15. Martin Luther
Martin Luther believed that salvation was gained though having faith in God; He called this idea Justification by Faith
Martin Luther was also deeply troubled by the church’s selling of indulgences, which he saw as false salvation

16. In 1517, Martin Luther wrote a list of arguments against church practices called the “Ninety-Five Theses”
He posted the Ninety-Five Theses on the church door in the town of Wittenberg & welcomed debate of his ideas

17. But the Catholic Church condemned Luther & rejected his ideas
The “Ninety-Five Theses” spread quickly through Europe causing an incredible controversy
Many people, especially in Northern Europe, were excited about his ideas
But the Catholic Church condemned Luther & rejected his ideas

18. The Church demanded that Luther take back his teachings
In 1521, Luther was called before the Diet of Worms, a meeting of church & political leaders
The Church demanded that Luther take back his teachings
Luther refused, argued that the Bible was the only source of religious authority, & encouraged Christians to study the Bible for themselves
At the Diet of Worms, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church

19. Martin Luther’s stand against the Catholic Church led to the formation of a new Christian denomination known as Lutheranism
Lutheranism was the first of a series of “Protestant” Christian faiths that broke from the Catholic Church

20. Protestant Faiths
What were the main beliefs & practices of the first Protestant faiths: Lutheranism, Calvinism, & Anglicanism?
As a class, read the placards on Lutheranism, Calvinism, & Anglicanism
Complete the chart as you read
Be prepared to discuss your answers

21. Protestant Reformation

22. During the Protestant Reformation, religious reformers called protestants broke from the Catholic Church & started new Christian denominations

23. Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther began the Reformation & believed in Justification by Faith
John Calvin believed in predestination & a strict code of living
Henry VIII, not the Pope, was the head of the Anglican Church

24. In the 1500s, the new protestant faiths spread, especially into northern Europe in areas away from the power of the Catholic Church
But, most Europeans, especially in Spain, France, Portugal, & Italy stayed with the Catholic Church which remained the largest religion in Europe but it had lost much of its power & influence

25. During the Protestant Reformation, religious reformers called protestants broke from the Catholic Church & started new Christian denominations

26. Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther began the Reformation & believed in Justification by Faith
John Calvin believed in predestination & a strict code of living
Henry VIII, not the Pope, was the head of the Anglican Church

27. In the 1500s, the new protestant faiths spread, especially into northern Europe in areas away from the power of the Catholic Church
But, most Europeans, especially in Spain, France, Portugal, & Italy stayed with the Catholic Church which remained the largest religion in Europe but it had lost much of its power & influence

28. How did leaders of the Catholic Church respond to the Reformation?
Assume the role of a Catholic bishop attending the Council of Trent in & develop a response to the Reformation
Brainstorm solutions to this problem
Identify positive & negative consequences of each possible solution
Rank order your solutions
Be prepared to discuss

29. The Catholic Reformation
The response of the Catholic Church to the Protestant Reformation became known as the Counter-Reformation (or the Catholic Reformation)

30. Jesuits formed schools to better educate Catholic priests
One of the first reformers in the Catholic Church was Ignatius of Loyola who formed the Society of Jesus in 1540
Members of the Society of Jesus were called Jesuits & focused on three goals:
Jesuits formed schools to better educate Catholic priests
Jesuits tried to stop the spread of Protestantism
For the next 18 years, Ignatius gathered followers. In 1540, the pope created a religious order for his followers called the Society of Jesus. Members were called Jesuits (JEHZH•u•ihts). The Jesuits focused on three activities. First, they founded superb schools throughout Europe. Jesuit teachers were well-trained in both classical studies and theology. The Jesuits’ second mission was to convert non-Christians to Catholicism. So, they sent out missionaries around the world. Their third goal was to stop the spread of Protestantism. The zeal of the Jesuits overcame the drift toward Protestantism in Poland and southern Germany.
Jesuits sent missionaries around the world to convert non-Christians to Catholicism

31. The Catholic Church stopped selling false indulgences
In 1545, Pope Paul III created a committee of Catholic leaders to review church practices, known as the Council of Trent
The nineteenth ecumenical council opened at Trent on 13 December, 1545, and closed there on 4 December, Its main object was the definitive determination of the doctrines of the Church in answer to the heresies of the Protestants; a further object was the execution of a thorough reform of the inner life of the Church by removing the numerous abuses that had developed in it.
Two popes took the lead in reforming the Catholic Church. Paul III, pope from 1534 to 1549, took four important steps. First, he directed a council of cardinals to investigate indulgence selling and other abuses in the Church. Second, he approved the Jesuit order. Third, he used the Inquisition to seek out heresy in papal territory. Fourth, and most important, he called a council of Church leaders to meet in Trent, in northern Italy. From 1545 to 1563, at the Council of Trent, Catholic bishops and cardinals agreed on several doctrines:
• The Church’s interpretation of the Bible was final. Any Christian who substituted his or her own interpretation was a heretic.
• Christians needed faith and good works for salvation. They were not saved by faith alone, as Luther argued.
• The Bible and Church tradition were equally powerful authorities for guiding Christian life.
• Indulgences were valid expressions of faith. But the false selling of indulgences was banned. The next pope, Paul IV, vigorously carried out the council’s decrees. In 1559, he had officials draw up a list of books considered dangerous to the Catholic faith. This list was known as the Index of Forbidden Books. Catholic bishops throughout Europe were ordered to gather up the offensive books (including Protestant Bibles) and burn them in bonfires. In Venice alone, followers burned 10,000 books in one day.
The Catholic Church stopped selling false indulgences
Over the next 18 years, the Council of Trent made a series of reforms
New schools were created to educate priests

32. Salvation is gained through faith in God & good works
The Council of Trent also reaffirmed several core Catholic beliefs & practices
Salvation is gained through faith in God & good works
All seven Holy Sacraments are legitimate means to gain God’s grace
Two popes took the lead in reforming the Catholic Church. Paul III, pope from 1534 to 1549, took four important steps. First, he directed a council of cardinals to investigate indulgence selling and other abuses in the Church. Second, he approved the Jesuit order. Third, he used the Inquisition to seek out heresy in papal territory. Fourth, and most important, he called a council of Church leaders to meet in Trent, in northern Italy. From 1545 to 1563, at the Council of Trent, Catholic bishops and cardinals agreed on several doctrines:
• The Church’s interpretation of the Bible was final. Any Christian who substituted his or her own interpretation was a heretic.
• Christians needed faith and good works for salvation. They were not saved by faith alone, as Luther argued.
• The Bible and Church tradition were equally powerful authorities for guiding Christian life.
• Indulgences were valid expressions of faith. But the false selling of indulgences was banned. The next pope, Paul IV, vigorously carried out the council’s decrees. In 1559, he had officials draw up a list of books considered dangerous to the Catholic faith. This list was known as the Index of Forbidden Books. Catholic bishops throughout Europe were ordered to gather up the offensive books (including Protestant Bibles) and burn them in bonfires. In Venice alone, followers burned 10,000 books in one day.
The Church’s interpretation of the Bible is final & all others who interpret the Bible are heretics (non-believers)

33. To enforce these beliefs, the Church used the Inquisition to accuse, hold trials, & punish heretics

34. The Church banned & burned all offensive books, including Protestant bibles

35. The Impact of the Reformation
The Protestant Reformation left Europe religiously divided
Numerous religious wars were fought between Catholics & Protestants
The weakened authority of the Pope helped kings gain power & form nations
Religious and Social Effects of the Reformation Despite
religious wars and persecutions, Protestant churches flourished
and new denominations developed. The Roman Catholic Church itself became more unified as a result of the reforms started at the Council of Trent. Both Catholics and Protestants gave more emphasis to the role of education in promoting their beliefs. This led to the founding of parish schools and new colleges and universities throughout Europe. Some women reformers had hoped to see the status of women in the church and society improve as a result of the Reformation. But it remained much the same both under Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. Women were still mainly limited to the concerns of home and family.
Political Effects of the Reformation As the Catholic
Church’s moral and political authority declined, individual
monarchs and states gained power. This led to the development
of modern nation-states. In the 1600s, rulers of nation-states
would seek more power for themselves and their
countries through warfare, exploration, and expansion.
The Reformation’s questioning of beliefs and authority also
laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment. As you will read
in Chapter 22, this intellectual movement would sweep Europe
in the late 18th century. It led some to reject all religions and
others to call for the overthrow of existing governments.
Missionaries converted non-Christians throughout the world
The Reformation encouraged education & the questioning of long-held beliefs