Unit Two: The Reformation

Goals of this unit:

• To understand the significance of the Reformation.• To understand the influence of the Renaissance

and the Reformation.• To develop an understanding of the different

leaders and religions that emerged during this tumultuous period.

• To understand how the English Reformation was different from the movement on the continent.

• To understand the Church’s response and how it changed from the Diet of Worms to the Council of Trent.

Why the Reformation?

• The State of European SocietyFor each: How might this connect to the start of the Reformation?

– Renaissance emphasis on secular & individual

– Printing Press spreads ideas– Monarchs emerging

Why the Reformation?• Church Leaders Corrupt

– Worldly Affairs of Popes (Julius II)

• Major problems:– Simony

• Paying for sacraments, privileges

– Absenteeism• Bishops, clergy not present in dioceses

– Indulgences• System of selling grants for forgiveness of sins

being abused

The Holy Roman Empire

• Lacks any strong central authority– The rest of northern Europe had

strong monarchs

• Power split among Habsburg Territory– Spanish Hapsburgs/Austrian

Hapsburgs– 1519 –Charles V (Hapsburg

family) elected Holy Roman Emperor

Early Reformers in 14th & 15th Centuries

• Wycliff (England – 1320-1384) & Hus (Bohemia – 1369-1415)

– Pope did not have the right to worldly power

– Bible is the authority, not the Church

• Erasmus & More– Christian Humanists– Used satire to bring to light problems

• Savonarola – 1497, Florence– Italian Friar called for reform– Executed for heresy

Luther and the Reformation• Martin Luther (1483-1546)

– German priest in Catholic church– Disturbed by abuses, new doctrines,

trends in Catholic Church– In 1515, Pope Leo X authorizes “sales of

indulgences” to raise money for construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

• Johann Tetzel – preacher famous for selling indulgences

– In 1517, Luther wrote and posted Ninety-Five Theses on Wittenburg Cathedral in Germany

• called for debate on sales of indulgences, points of theology, abuses

• Luther’s views are gaining wide support:• simpler, more meaningful faith• less Roman orientation• less Church abuse and irrationality (Humanism)

– Ideas are being spread rapidly thanks to printing press

• In debate with theologian John Eck:– Denied infallibility of Pope, church councils– Declared Bible as sole authority– Stated salvation gained only by faith

• Pope excommunicates Luther– Charles V gives Luther chance to recant at Imperial

Diet at Worms in 1521• Luther refuses, Diet condemns him

Luther’s Plan for a New Religion

• Luther created doctrine of new branch of Christianity– Dropped most of Catholic ritual– “Priesthood of all believers” – direct relations with God– Allowed clergy to marry– Used vernacular language (German) for services

instead of Latin, translated Bible– More women rights, roles– Obligation to God, loyalty to earthly governments

• God and state are separate

– Backed political authority and strength of rulers• Against the Peasant Revolt (1524-1525), 100,000 died

Luther and the Protestant Reformation

• Germany split between Catholic and Lutheran churches– Peace of Augsburg (1555)

• Ended first phase of Reformation• Compromise: Princes could opt for

either Catholic or Lutheran state church

• Lands taken before 1552 kept by Lutheran Church

– Lutheranism embraced by Scandinavian states

Warm Up

How do you think the English Reformation would be different from the movement that was occurring on the continent (the German Reformation)?

GOT: Difference and effects of the English Reformation?

The English Reformation

• England differed from central Europe– Geographically

separated– national monarchy,

centralized authority– greater independence

from papacy

Henry VIII and the English Reformation

• Henry VIII (1491-1547)• Of the Tudor dynasty

– Loyal to Catholic Church– But needed legitimate male

heir, wanted to remarry • Pope wants to decline request

– Henry, Thomas Cramner, parliament carry out English Reformation (1527)

• King becomes head or English Church• Anti-Catholic campaign began

– State took, distributed Church property, dues– Opponents executed – Sir Thomas More (1535)

• Strong protestant movement already present– Bible translated into English

• English Church principles very similar to Catholic, without papal supremacy

• Henry VIII grew suspicious of popular Protestantism– Refused to legalize clerical marriage, criticized major

Protestant figures

The English Reformation• Edward VI (1537-1553)

– Son of Henry VIII, weak and heavily influenced by Protestant regents introduced more Protestant features to Church

• Mary I (1516-1558) – “Bloody Mary”– Daughter of Henry VIII, half sister

of Edward VI– Takes over in coup after Edward’s

death– Staunchly Catholic, tried to restore

Catholic Church, papal authority– Persecuted Protestants, burned

300, including Crammer

Protestantism in Europe• France and Switzerland

– Economic, social conditions favored growth of Protestantism in Switzerland especially

• John Calvin (1509-1564)– French ex-lawyer, fled to Geneva,

wrote Institutes of Christian Religion – rational, systematic blend of Protestant doctrines

– Dominated Geneva through theocratic-type government

• Strict rules, harsh punishments for offenses (torture and execution)

Calvinism• Accepted most of Luther’s

principles• Stressed God’s omnipotence• Predestination – the divine

foreshadowing of all that will happen

• Elected ministers, councils to decide policies

• 1555 – Calvinism begins to spread to– France (followers called

Huguenots)– Businessmen, aristocrat

• Women helped spread Calvinism• Spread to Scotland by John Knox

Catholic Reform• Protestant Reformation energized

Catholics to change– Pope Paul III (1468-1549)

started major reforms• Called for church council• Appointed committee to investigate

abuses, suggested remedies• Appointed new College of Cardinals

– New clerical orders reflected spirit of reform and regeneration

The Council of Trent• Held in three sessions between 1545-

1563– Addressed internal problems,

challenge of Protestants• Reformed policies to eliminate abuses

– Forbade absenteeism, false indulgences, bribery

– Required higher standards, education, supervision of clergy

• Viewed as a counterattack against Reformation as a united Catholic church– Unsure or unhappy Catholics’ faith in

Church reinvigorated

Catholic Reform• Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

– Spanish nobleman, soldier, spiritual experience while recovering from battle wounds

– Wrote Spiritual Exercises – disciplined approach to spiritual growth

– Founded Society of Jesus (Jesuits)• “soldiers of Catholicism”, preachers,

teachers, diplomats, spies, missionaries

• Helped defend Catholicism against spread of Protestantism