AP European History
AP European History
In response to the spread of Protestantism and growing demands for a purification of Church practices, the Catholic Church took action to defend itself. The Counter- Reformation consisted of several important actions that together led to the reinvigoration of the Catholic Church. First, in 1535, the new pope, Paul III, called for an investigation of the problems of the Church; in response to the report, in 1545 he called the Council of Trent. Although Pope Paul III died before the Council concluded its work, he had put the Catholic Church on the road to recovery. Second, Pope Paul III officially recognized the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. This new religious order, founded by Ignatius of Loyola, promoted obedience to the Catholic Church and the Pope, advocated humanistic education in the vernacular, and supported missionary work, thus becoming an important tool in the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Finally, the Council of Trent, which met from 1545 to 1563, reaffirmed all of the theological beliefs of the Catholic Church and refused to make any compromises with the Protestants. The Council did, however, institute some practical reforms, such as prohibiting the sale of indulgences and improving the moral character of the clergy.