Class 12 : Trent

1. Class 12 : Trent Ann T. Orlando 8 February 2006

2. Rome in Later 16th C • Center of Catholic Spiritual Power • Combined with Spanish military might, world-wide reach • “Stubborn” emphasis on (reformed) discipline and doctrine rejected by Protestants • Confession • Sacraments • Tradition • Saints • Importance of Papacy • Art in service of religion: the Baroque

3. Catholic Response: Council of Trent • Called by Pope Paul III • Lengthy, intermittent (1545-1563) • Pope initially reluctant to call council because of bad experiences with councils (especially Council of Constance) in 15th C • Purpose was both to address reform of practice and to uphold Catholic doctrine • Developed in several sessions • Jesuits play a major theological role at Trent; encouraged explicit statement of Catholic doctrine in opposition to Protestant views

4. Politics Behind Council • Charles V wanted control of Council; insisted that it occur in his territory, and control over bishops • Also, successors of Paul III, Julius III and Paul IV, not in favor of council • Limited control over French bishops • Not in favor of some reforms • Structure of Councils 3 Periods • Period I (1545-1547) • Period II (1551-1552) • Period III (1562-1563)

5. First Session 1545-1547 Key Results • Includes Bull of Convocation, Sessions 1-10; Pope Paul III • Emphasis on Nicene Creed and Tradition • Definitive statement concerning books of NT and OT; Latin Vulgate declared adequate for doctrinal proofs • Number of sacraments fixed at 7 • Justification: man cooperates with God’s grace

6. Second Session (1551-1552) • Includes Sessions 11-16; Pope Julius III • Degree on Eucharist that defined Real Presence; • Transubstantiation as way to describe it • Sacrament of Penance revised

7. Third Session (1562-1563) • Sessions 18-25; Pope Pius IV • Resolution that issues should live in their diocese • Catechism of Trent • Revised missal and breviary • Mass as true sacrifice • Reform decrees on clerical behavior and revision of seminary rules

8. Key Theological Statements from Trent • Scripture and tradition • Sacraments are effect through performance of sacramental action, “ex opere operato” • Affirmed Mass as sacrifice and transubstantiation • Affirmed 7 sacraments • Good works together with faith brings about salvation • Affirmed indulgences and intercession of saints

9. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) • Born in Italy; attended schools run by Jesuits • Entered Jesuit order 1560 • Writes De Controversiis 1576 • Systematic work based on Council of Trent • As chief theologian in Curia, he was able to ensure degrees of Trent were implemented • Declared saint and doctor of Church in 1930

10. Impact of Trent • Defined Catholicism in Modern World • Reiterated tradition • Defined Catholicism as opposed to Protestants • Gave the Church a unified teaching program against the Protestants • Made Jesuits the theologians of the Church at beginning of modern period • Note, Jesuits not tied to local bishops • Relation between Trent and Vatican II still being worked out

11. Assignments • 1. Ignatius Loyola Spiritual Exercises, Rules to Have True Sentiment in the Church available at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/loyola-spirex.html • 2. Theresa of Avila. Autobiography, Theresa’s Arguments of the Chapters available at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/life.v.html and Chapter XII available at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/life.viii.xiii.html • 3. Theresa of Avila. Way of Perfection, Preface – Chapter 7; pp 12-35 at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/way.pdf • 4. Trent Decrees on Scripture, Sacraments, Justification, Sacraments, Sermons 13.14-13.19 in The European Reformations Sourcebook. ed Carter Lindberg. Malden: Blackwell, 2000. pp 253-258. • 5. Short Paper on Catholic Response