The Reformation in Europe

Factors leading to the Reformation and the Catholic Reformation

Humanism and the Catholic Church

• called for a return to the original simplicity of the Church (contrasted with Church's wealth etc)
• stressed the Word of God was the only guide to a Christian life
• looked critically at the texts
• attacked monastic life

Eramus

• challenged Martin Luther and remained a Catholic
• Adages - made classical learning open to wider public, over 800 adages were explained
• Handbook of a Christian Soldier - was to restore the Church to a simple life of Christ, went against standards of Catholic Church
• Praise of Folly - points out foolishness of youth, old age, teachers and ends with a bitter attack on the standards of members of the Church
• New Testament in Greek - undermined the authority of the Church, event of European importance
• Freedom of the Will - taught that free will was important

Links between humanism and the Reformation

• pointed out failings of Church
• directly undermined authority of Church
• great influence on Protestant reformers
• however, it did not attack it's key teachings

The need for change

• Church had always been criticised for abuses
• reformers condemned fundamental teachings
• corruption
• although there was a 'need for change' it didn't need to cause such change to the Catholic Church

Renaissance popes

• popes' authority was declining (15th and 16th century)
• growing anti-papal feeling because of Babylonish Captivity and the Great Schism
• popes had many financial problems
• accusations of simony and pluralism
• popes were greedy for money 
• weren't good spiritual leaders

Ignorance of the clergy

• absenteeism was a problem
• monasteries and convents were in spiritual decline
• required no education
• celibacy was a big issue

Political and Religious Life in Europe

The threat from Islam

• Ottoman Empire was causing major fragmentation in Europe
• constant concern that the Turks would overrun eastern Europe

Health of popular devotion

• growth in devotion to Virgin Mary
• increasing devotion to saints
• huge interest in holy relics

The spread of heresy

• Lollards - started by John Wycliffe, denied authority of pope, urged reform, Lollards gained no support from ruling classes
• Hussites - started by Jan Hus, urged reform, wanted death penalty abolished
• Heresy helped undermine Catholic Church but showed authority of Church when Lollards and Hussites were contained

The beginnings of change

Beginnings of reform

• evidence suggests that the Church made some effort to reform many years before demands
• popes were slow to respond to callings for reform because of Italian politics
•  Lateran Council showed that the papacy wished to respond to demands
• The Sack of Rome caused much of the wealth of the Church to be looted and the pope's income halved. 

Pope Paul III

• founded Society of Jesus
• called Council of Trent
• Roman Inquisition began
• supported new orders
• attempted administrative reform
• promoted peace by not taking part in Italian wars

The Consilium

• recommended the changes needed
• no exemptions from the authority of the bishops
• pluralism should be ended
• new Humanist teachings should be stopped

New Orders

• they were supported by popes, increasing their authority
• sign of reform…