What event(s) lead to the Catholic (Counter) Reformation?
In their attempts to characterize the nature of early modern Catholicism, historians have utilized the terms “Counter-Reformation” and “Catholic Reformation,” which convey different understandings of the church’s attempts at reform in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The former term views religious renewal within Catholicism as a reaction against the challenges posed by the Protestant reformers. Consequently, the Counter-Reformation is understood as repressive, seeking to reemphasize Catholic dogma, to reassert Catholic liturgical life, and to win back those who accepted the Protestant faith. “Catholic Reformation” highlights the existence of a spontaneous reform within the church itself that sought to revitalize religious life through the improvement and application of Gospel teachings to the life of both the individual and the institution. This movement predates Martin Luther and represents the culmination of medieval reform efforts. The goal of the Catholic Reformation was t
G’day Katie, Thank you for your question. The Catholic Counter Reformation was a response to the Reformation which led many people especially in northern and western Europe to leave the Catholic Church which was widely seen as corrupt. There were a number of responses including the formation of the Jesuits, the formation of the Council of Trent in 1545 and the ending of indulgences which restored the Catholic Church. Capable popes helped to restore faith in the Catholic Church in the latter half of the 16th century.
