Catholic Practices and the Reformation

Catholic Beliefs – The Sacraments•Baptism

▫Babies are welcomed into the Catholic community

•Confirmation▫Children re-affirm beliefs and commitment

to Catholic community

The Sacraments continued

•Communion (Eucharist)▫Transubstantiation – the

bread and wine literally turn into the body and blood of Christ Protestants believe in

Consubstantiation

The Sacraments continued•Confession (Reconciliation)

▫Confessing sins to a priest, asking for forgiveness

•Marriage (except for clergy)•Holy Vows

▫People who become clergy•Last Rites – Anointing the Sick

▫Priests say final prayers before someone dies

Catholic Beliefs - Purgatory•Believe that after death people spend a certain amount of time in Purgatory

▫Neither heaven or hell – a limbo state Time spent in purgatory dependedon how good or bad someone was in life

Catholic Beliefs – Faith and Good Works

•Catholics believe that in order to achieve salvation one must have faith in God and Jesus AND follow the sacraments and teachings of the Catholic Church▫Protestantism – Salvation

through faith alone

The Role of the Church in Catholicism•Catholics believe priests and clergy are

needed▫To hear confession and help forgive sins▫They act like middlemen between God and

a person•Protestantism is much more individual,

priests aren’t as important

Background to the Reformation•Church Abuses

▫Popes competed with monarchs for control of Churches Popes corrupt: greedy, having children, bad

▫Some clergy sold Indulgences A way to lesson your time in purgatory Previously only granted for good deeds, now

sold Led to protests by many Christians