Protestant Reformation Affecting Catholic Chuch's Own Viewpoint

The most important and boffo of these orders was the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. Its founder was Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish ex-soldier and nobleman. Whereas Luther found ministration in the doctrine of justification by faith, Loyola found it in self-aggrandizing himself in complete obedience to the church building and its faith. With the helper of six friends, including Francis Xavier, Loyola founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. The order was create on military lines from the start: "The preparation of a medical prognosis for the Society was long and arduous and marked a operative contrast to the ease with which people had entered priesthood and religious life in earlier ages" (Holmes and Bickers 164). Those who aspired to become Jesuits were trained to subordinate all their powers to the assist of God through the Society by a series of meditations drawn up by Loyola, called Spiritual Exercises. The Jesuits adapted their lives and methods to whatever work they undertook: "They re-examined everything traditional, in fact, only retaining what promoted their pastoral aims and main tasks: preaching, giving retreats, teaching, and administering the sacraments" (Bokenkotter 221). The Jesuits did more than any other body of men to realize the spiritual transformation of the Catholic Church.

Another important wreak of Catholic clear up was the Council of Trent. For years Protestant leaders

At one time it seemed more or less inevitable that the forces of Protestantism would conquer the whole continent of Europe. The old gothic church was corrupt and disorganized under the influence of the Renaissance, and thence appeared unable to resist the new religious movements. When Catholic reform renovated the church, however, the situation changed. Protestantism was checked and driven back in several places. Half of Europe was secured for papal authority. By the end of the one-sixteenth century, Europe was divided between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, two faiths remote to each other in beliefs and loyalties.

Holmes, J. Derek and Bickers, Bernard. A Short chronicle of the Catholic Church. Kent, England: Burns & Oates, 1992.

Reforms, together with the council's doctrinal definitions, do the Catholic Church stronger than it had ever been. Although it had lost those who had broken away from papal authority, its power over its remaining members, both clerical and laypersons, was made more firm: "it established a firm rear end for the renewal of Catholic life, and it should be regarded as both the production of a Catholic reform movement which was directly a century old and the cause of that Catholic Reformation which now enjoyed papal support" (Holmes and Bickers 169). The unity and clear beliefs of the Catholic Church now contrasted with the divisions and disagreements among the Protestants.

"Reform Decrees of Trent, 1563." In John Olin (Editor). Catholic Reform, 89-126. overbold York: Fordham University, 1990.

The last session of the Council was held between 1562 and 1563. In this session the Council dour its attention to the government of the church: "After the political, economic, and religious crisis of the 'roaring 1520s', it took more or less time before church and state authorities took cooperative action to improve the situation in the parishes" (Bijsterveld 36). Again it would not consider any of the reforms the Protestants wanted. The coun
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