Council Of Trent

Meeting of the Council of Trent in Santa Maria Maggiore , the Diocesan Museum of Trento

The Council of Trent is the Nineteenth Ecumenical Council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.

Convened by Pope Paul III in 1542 in response to requests by Martin Luther in the Protestant Reformation , he started 13 December 1545. Over the ten-eight, twenty-five sessions cover five pontificates ( Paul III , Julius III , Marcellus II , Paul IV and Pius IV ) and are held in three cities.

In response to the Protestant Reformation . "

The genesis of the meeting of the council

Paul III , convener of the council, by Titian , Galleria Nazionale di Capodimonte, Naples

The first calls to the council are from Luther himself, first on 28 September 1518 , then 11 October 1520 : he asked a council of arbitration in its dispute with the papacy . Indeed, the early ^sixteenth century is still strongly influenced by the idea that the council, the incarnation of the universal Church is the body, than the pope, which considers all unrighteousness. The Papacy knows this risk and Clement VII , pope from 1523 to 1534, hesitates .

The Protestant states of the Holy Roman Empire officially claim to hold a council in Germany. If the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire , Charles V , is in favor of holding a council, he refused to convene a meeting only German . However, war with Francis ^I of France makes it impossible to hold a meeting universal.

In 1534 , Pope Clement VII died. Paul III , his successor, wants the Church regain the initiative. It therefore accepts the idea of the council with a view to general reform . To do this, it rises to the cardinal Italian reformers and the Commission is emendenda Ecclesia, "to reform the Church." Charles Quint think a council can restore Christian unity. On 2 June 1536 is published the Bull announcing, Ad Dominici Gregis Curam, which sets the opening of the Council on 23 May 1537 in Mantua .

Charles Quint , "protector" of the council, by Rubens

Shortly after, the war resumed between Charles V. and ^Francis I.. Meanwhile, the venue of the council problem: the Duke of Mantua makes excessive demands, while the Venetian Republic refuses to hint to host the meeting which is adjourned. On 22 May 1542 , Paul III publishes a new Bull announcing, but the war delayed the opening of the new council until 13 December 1545 , this time at Trent , in the Alps , Earth Empire.

The first session (1545-1549)

The first session is held in the cathedral of Trent, 13 December 1545 . The legate, who opened the first session identifies goals for the meeting: the exaltation of faith and the Christian religion, extirpation of heresies, peace and unity of the church, reformation of the clergy, extinction of the enemies of Christianity. All aspects of the Church are referred .

For the opening session, the crowd is thin: three legates, four archbishops, twenty bishops, counsel for the archbishop of Mainz and five general orders . Calvin joked about it: "If c'estoit only a provincial synod, ilz devroyent ashamed of being so little. Worse still, the Christian states consider that the council is under the thumb of the Emperor. France does not deign to send three bishops. At the seventh session in March 1547, only 68 bishops were present. It must be said that only the Italians can go conveniently Trent.

Quickly, however, the Council Fathers intend rid of imperial tutelage. Against Charles V, who wanted to limit them to ecclesiastical abuses, they also seized dogmatic questions. Against his will also, they condemn the Protestant doctrines: the 8 April 1546 , they are part of the Tradition of the Revelation, the June 17 , they reiterated the Catholic understanding of original sin and the 13 January 1547 , they do the same for justification. Before their audacity, Paul III is concerned, while its relations with the Emperor stretch.

In March 1547, Giovanni Maria del Monte, papal legate and secretary of the council, following an outbreak at Trent, is to transfer the council to Bologna. Furious, Charles V forbade his prelates to leave Trent, and declares invalid transfer. Therefore, the sessions held in Bologna are purely formal. The council fathers take care not to take any decision which is disputed by the emperor: no order is passed during this session. Meanwhile, Charles does not continue the work of German prelates remained at Trent. Pope puts an end to this first series of meetings which counted up to 70 voting September 17, 1549 .

The second session (1551-1552)

Shortly after Paul III dies. The secretary of the council is elected pope and took the name of Julius III. Renowned anti-imperial, he turns coat once sacred and, in the hope of bringing Parma in the family patrimony, he allied himself with the Emperor, allowing the council to be reopened on May ^1, 1551 , under the chairmanship Legate's Marcello Crescenzio. Henry II of France , enraged, challenges the council and banned its prelates to go there. For his part, Charles V's forces Protestant states to send representatives to the council. Only Dukes of Saxony and Wrttemberg , the Elector of Brandenburg and the city of Strasbourg bend it. On arrival, the ambassadors Protestants put their conditions, which are rejected by the council which, in contrast, reaffirmed the doctrine of transubstantiation. Meanwhile, the Spanish Fathers and the Papacy opposed the disciplinary reform of the clergy.

In 1552, the Protestant states and Henri II declared war on Charles V. The army of Maurice of Saxony, who heads the League of Schmalkalden threat southern Germany. On April 28 , the council is up and evacuate the city. The number of voters did not exceed 65 during the second session.

Julius III notes the failure of the council in terms of Christian unity. He retreated to reform the Catholic Church and prepared a bubble that did not have time to publish. His successor, Paul IV , elected in 1555, is dedicated to the reform of Roman institutions. He reformed the Dataria and the Inquisition.

In 1556 , Charles V abdicated and sharing his possessions between his son Philip II of Spain and his brother Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Empire. He died in 1558. In 1559 , the king of France Henri II was killed accidentally. His successor Francis II died the following year, leaving the throne to his brother Charles IX of France , who with their mother, Catherine de Medici , in the face to a France torn, then wishes to convene a council to regulate the purely French religious question. This will be the attempt by the Conference of Poissy. For the papacy, a separate council is unacceptable.

Pius IV , elected in December 1559 is facing conflicting pressures. Spain's King Philip II wants to resume discussion of the council. The Emperor Ferdinand ^I , the French, the Germans want the organization of a new council that would achieve an agreement with the Protestants . The pope convened the council finally back to Trent by the bull Ad Ecclasi regimen ( 29 November 1560 ).

The third session (1562-1563)

On 18 January 1562 , the council is open once again, this time with more prelates, but still mostly Italian. This session of the council focuses on the sacrament of order, more precisely on a bishop's residence. In November, the French delegation arrived, headed by the Cardinal of Lorraine. The debate then focuses on the definition of papal power. After many difficulties, the Fathers call the bishop's residence of "divine command" but carefully refrain on the papal power. In their tracks, the Council Fathers to Take Abuse princes. Immediately, the kings of France and Spain expressed their discontent. Thirty French ambassadors leave after much protest. The draft decree is ultimately rejected. The council ended with a series of decrees on purgatory , the cult of saints or the relics.

December 4 : Closure of Trent, painting attributed to Paolo Farinati

The 3 and 4 December 1563 held its closing session. All the decrees of the Council was read to the Fathers, gathered in the Cathedral of St Vigilius of Trent. The archbishops and bishops are much more numerous than in previous meetings. 220 prelates signed the Final Act of December 4, 1563. After this reading, the legate Giovanni Morone, secretary of the council, asked if they want to close their fathers meeting. All responding amen, Cardinal of Lorraine gives thanks:

• various popes of the council;
• Charles V., the Emperor Ferdinand and "serene kings" (unnamed) who protected the council;
• the papal legates;
• the cardinals and ambassadors;
• bishops.

At each of its meets the cheering crowd of the Council Fathers. Finally, he exclaimed: " Anathema to all heretics! ", Repeated by the Fathers:" anathema, anathema! "

Contribution conciliar

Work dogmatic

First characteristic of doctrinal work of the council, it is designed directly in response to Protestant arguments. It has nothing systematic.

Revelation

As a source of revelation, the council sets the occasion of its ^Fourth Session ( 8 April 1546 ), the Canon - which is to say the content considered truly revealed - in which are included books that Protestants call of apocryphal and Catholics of Deuterocanonical. The Vulgate , the Latin translation written by Jerome Stridon the ^fifth century , received a monopoly of authenticity to the discussion, catechesis and preaching in the Catholic Church. Editions of the Bible are now subject to censorship by the church authorities .

Unlike more recent versions of the Bible, the Vulgate is recognized that reliable because there never detected of heresy. It is not error-free or blame and deserves review. Reading other versions that the Vulgate is not prohibited. This will only later, under the pressure of the Inquisition in Spain and cons translations Jansenists in France .

Moreover, the issue of translation in the vernacular is discussed, but after much debate of the council chooses not to decide. In practice, all editions of the Bible in the vernacular will be made to the Index in 1559.

The council also recognizes the tradition (Christianity) as a source of revelation. He defines it as "the unwritten traditions which, received by the Apostles from the mouth of Christ himself or transmitted from hand to hand like the Apostles at the dictation of the Holy Spirit have survived. The council is careful, however, make a list of these traditions. Calvin concludes that "whatever they put forward, how it is not founded in Scripture, will be among the traditions, which they want as long as Croye the Law and the Prophets. The decree on revelation raises misgivings among some Council Fathers, including Giacomo Nacchiante.

The hello

The dogma of original sin is defined at the ^Fifth Session of the 17 June 1546. If it touches all men, it is removed by baptism "in those who are born again, nothing is the object of hatred of God." By this decree, the council strongly objects to the theses Protestant irredeemably corrupt human nature: for them, man is not inherently sinful, but led to sin by lust, which he must resist.

The council then turned in its ^sixth session ( 13 January 1547 ), the problem of "justification", that is to say the terms of salvation. In a very long text (16 chapters, 33 guns), the council says that faith is the cause of human salvation. However, "nobody can know for absolute certainty of faith excludes any error, it has obtained the grace of God": the council is opposed not only to Protestants but to an old medieval tradition. The man must fight constantly, and grow in faith. The man is justified by faith and by works, the existence of purgatory, worship of saints, images, relics, the practice of indulgences . The Council Fathers remind us of the existence of the seven sacraments, all necessary for salvation. These sacraments are to be conferred by a priest (except baptism may be conferred by a layman).

It is therefore reject both of justification by faith alone, defended by Luther , and the thesis of "double justice", a sort of consensus among Catholics and Protestants stood at Trent by Cardinal Girolamo Seripando, General Augustine.

The definition of the sacraments

The council confirmed the list of seven sacraments released by the Church in the late ^thirteenth century : baptism, Eucharist, penance, confirmation, order, marriage and extreme unction. These sacraments are declared effective by themselves (ex opere operato), regardless of who administers them, and even those who receive them. They are all necessary for salvation. These sacraments are to be conferred by a priest. By defining the Eucharist, the council maintains and confirms the dogma of transubstantiation :

"By the consecration of bread and wine effects the change of the whole substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of wine into the substance of his Blood; this change, the Catholic Church rightly and properly called transubstantiation. "

The need to retain the wafers and wine consecrated in a sacred place is affirmed. Mass is a sacrifice. It must be said in Latin, but the priest can do the sermon in the vernacular . Fathers therefore dismiss the theory of the Lutheran consubstantiation and sacramental thesis, denying the real presence. As regards the sacrament of penance, contrition decrees emphasize "inner pain and hatred of sin "and attrition," shame of sin, fear of punishment and penalties. " Attrition is a step on the path of grace .

As a result of this council is prepared, in 1566, the Catechism of the Council of Trent.

This council is the final dogmatic council has received a conclusion: the council of Vatican I was not concluded, the ecumenical council Vatican II is a pastoral council.

The cult of saints

The council confirmed the cult of saints , but draws a distinction between the worship of dulia , simple reverence due to the saints, and worship of latria , worship due to God and to each person of the Trinity. The cult of the Virgin Mary is called hyperdulia .

Disciplinary Work

The Council Fathers intend to reform the Church from within. They are quick to cite their own example to denounce the abuses ecclesiastical and the cardinal of Lorraine, archbishop at 14. Echoing medieval cannons, the council fixed the minimum age at 25 years of priesthood.

The residence of the bishops is discussed at the ^sixth session on 13 January 1547. The council remains cautious: it provides for sanctions against the offending bishops, up to the deprivation of their time, but also cases of exemption, the Pope remains the arbiter. The powers of the bishops are enhanced: now, they must visit each year all the churches of their diocese, even those who receive an exemption granted by the pope. The council manages to offend the sensibilities papal recalling the bishop draws its power from the Holy See itself. The decrees of reformation specify the power of bishops, prohibit the accumulation of bishoprics and parishes, lay down rules for establishing educational institutions and the appointment of preachers . They recall the power of bishops in the ordination and the need for all clergy to wear clerical garb at all times

The Council emphasizes the pastoral role of the Church at its ^fifth session, it sets up a lectureship in the Scriptures in every cathedral, convent or monastery, and a station master grammar in smaller churches. He reminded the bishops of their duty to preach or preaching. It establishes seminaries for the training of clergy. However, it leaves a blurred between school for poor children and training center for clergy. The Tridentine model of seminary was not established clearly that when the distinction between small and large seminar, the latter allowing older students, who received a minor. Finally, the council calls on artists to respect and decency to present clear doctrinal guidelines. In fact, the council relies on bishops and priests to begin the reconquest of the Protestants.

Reactions in the Protestant world

The obverse and reverse. Diameter: 34 mm.

The obverse and reverse rotated 180 degrees.

Protestants did not appreciate the council. From the beginning, a writer unknown struck a medal satirical seen here in silver with a copy of 1580, the original dating from 1545 .

On the obverse of the coin, the Pope appears, but if it is rotated 180 degrees is the devil that pops up. On the reverse, a cardinal who also turned 180 degrees, becomes a buffoon. This mockery was so popular that the double portrait "Pope / Devil" was reprinted in 1570 in Cologne or Frechen , especially pitchers representing human heads and destined to be exported to the Netherlands. This joke could be costly because, if we were caught out in Cologne, the usual rate was banishment to the potter, his family and his staff. These images, as "Pope / Devil 'and' Cardinal / mad", is still manufactured in 1720 on Dutch tobacco boxes in brass.

The first entry is in Latin: Ecclesia PERVERSE TENET faciem Diabolique, either: "The Church has perverted the face of the devil. "Perversa offers a pun because the word also means: completely turned around (180 degrees). The second entry, SAPIENT STULTS Aliquando, means: "The wise men are fools sometimes. "

References

See also

Related articles

• Catechism of Trent
• Catholic missions in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
• Cons-Reformation
• Jacques Lainez
• Tridentine Rite
• History of the Roman Catholic Church

Bibliography

• Giuseppe Alberigo, ecumenical councils, t. II - Cerf - Paris, 1994 - p. 1344-1623 (conciliar decrees in Latin and translated) - ( ISBN 2204046426 ).
• Andre Duval, op, the sacraments at the Council of Trent - Cerf - 1985 - ( ISBN 9782204022064 ).
• Hubert Jedin, History of the Council of Trent, Descle, 1965 (translation of the first volume of Geschichte von Konzil Trento, Herder, Freiburg, 1949-1975).
• Alain Tallon :
  • France and the Council of Trent (1518-1563) - French School of Rome - prev. de Boccard - Paris - 2000 - ( ISBN 978-2728303861 )
  • The Council of Trent - Cerf, coll. "History" - Paris - 2000 - ( ISBN 2-204-06431-9 ).
• Marc Venard :
  • (Eds..) Confession time (1530-1620), t. VIII of the History of Christianity, Descle, 1992
  • article "Thirty (Council of), Philippe Levillain (ed.), Historical Dictionary of the papacy, Fayard, Paris, 2003 ( ISBN 2-213-618577 ) .

External Links

• Texts of the Council of Trent
• Catechism of Trent

• Portal Renaissance
• Catholicism portal

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