HUM 223 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Sirach, Richard Crashaw, Counter-Reformation
8 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Catholic Reformation
Challenges for the Catholic Church
•Structural problems in the Catholic Church appear by the early 15th century
•Key problem is disagreements over how to address these problems
•Protestantism prompts the Catholic Church to reform
Great Schism
•Rival Popes elected in 1378
•Rival candidates for bishoprics and abbeys
•How can the pope be the head of the Church if there are two popes?
Conciliar Movement
•Answer—pope is not the only head of the Church
•Ecumenical councils are equal to the authority of the Pope
•Council of Basel (1431-39)—declares that a council acts collectively like a pope
•Revival of schism in protest to conciliarism discredits the movement
•Pope Nicholas V and Anti-Pope Felix V reconcile in 1453
•Concern—papal authority over conciliarism
Problem of Reform in Germany
•Martin Luther represented a challenge to papal authority
•Call for a church council in 1520 influenced by Conciliarism
•Papacy needed to protect its position within reform
Catholic Response to Reform
•Pope Adrian VI (1522-23) was a reforming pope
•Educated by the Brethren of Common Life
•Dedicated to devotio moderna
•Addressed abuses of indulgences—initiates episcopal reform
•Admits responsibility of the ecclesiastical establishment for defects in the Church
•Key point—Protestant reform caused by problems in the institutional Church
Ignatius Loyola and the Jesuits
•Retired soldier and convert to the priesthood
•Foundation of the Society of Jesus in 1534
•Formally confirmed in 1540
•Purpose—assist Catholics to conform lives to scripture
–Live out their faith
•Method—teach Catholics regimented spiritual exercises
•Goal—make devotional reading of scripture a natural part of lives
•Purpose—develop a deep person commitment to Christ as expressed through Catholic
doctrine
Spiritual Exercises
•Four week exercise designed to promote personal conversion to Christ
•Required for every candidate to membership in the Jesuit Order
•At heart a meditation on scripture—goal is to understand God and Catholic doctrine
•Week 1—self reflection
•Week 2—Jesus and the call to reform
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Document Summary
Challenges for the catholic church: structural problems in the catholic church appear by the early 15th century, key problem is disagreements over how to address these problems, protestantism prompts the catholic church to reform. Problem of reform in germany: martin luther represented a challenge to papal authority, call for a church council in 1520 influenced by conciliarism, papacy needed to protect its position within reform. Ignatius loyola and the jesuits: retired soldier and convert to the priesthood, foundation of the society of jesus in 1534, formally confirmed in 1540, purpose assist catholics to conform lives to scripture. Live out their faith: method teach catholics regimented spiritual exercises, goal make devotional reading of scripture a natural part of lives, purpose develop a deep person commitment to christ as expressed through catholic doctrine. Council of trent: accepts the nicaean creed as a profession of faith and prayer, establishes an official position on the authority if the scriptures.
