Council of Trent

19th ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic church (154563)

highly important for its sweeping decrees on self-reform and for its
dogmatic definitions that clarified virtually every doctrine contested by
the Protestants
Despite internal strife, external dangers, and two lengthy interruptions,
the council played a vital role in revitalizing the Roman Catholic Church
in many parts of Europe.
Though Germany demanded a general council following the
excommunication of the German Reformation leader Martin Luther,
Pope Clement VII held back for fear of renewed attacks on his
supremacy.
Clements successor, Paul III, however, was convinced that Christian
unity and effective church reform could come only through a council.
After his first attempts were frustrated, he convoked a council at Trent
(northern Italy), which opened on Dec. 13, 1545.

Period I (154547):

When an emotional crisis developed as the council opened (some

urging immediate reform and others urging clarification of Catholic
doctrines), a compromise was reached whereby both topics were to be
treated simultaneously.
The council then laid the groundwork for future declarations: the
Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed was accepted as the basis of Catholic
faith; the canon of Old and New Testament books was definitely fixed;
tradition was accepted as a source of faith; the Latin Vulgate was
declared adequate for doctrinal proofs; the number of sacraments was
fixed at seven; and the nature and consequences of original sin were
defined.
After months of intense debate, the council ruled against Luthers
doctrine of justification by faith alone: man, the council said, was
inwardly justified by cooperating with divine grace that God bestows
gratuitously.
By enjoining on bishops an obligation to reside in their respective sees,
the church effectively abolished plurality of bishoprics.
Political problems forced the councils transfer to Bologna and finally
interrupted its unfinished work altogether.

Period II (155152):

Before military events forced a second adjournment of the council, the

delegates finished an important decree on the Eucharist that defined
the Real Presence of Christ in opposition to the interpretation of
Huldrych Zwingli, the Swiss Reformation leader, and the doctrine of
transubstantiation as opposed to that of Luther.
The sacrament of penance was extensively defined, extreme unction
(later, the anointing of the sick) explained, and decrees issued on
episcopal jurisdiction and clerical discipline.
German Protestants, meanwhile, were demanding a reconsideration of
all the councils previous doctrinal decrees and wanted a statement
asserting that a councils authority is superior to that of the pope.

Period III (156263):

Pope Paul IV (155559) was opposed to the council, but it was

reinstated by Pius IV (155965). The arrival of French bishops reopened
the explosive question regarding the divine basis for the obligations of
bishops to reside in their sees.
When peace was restored, the council defined that Christ is entirely
present in both the consecrated bread and the consecrated wine in the
Eucharist but left to the pope the practical decision of whether or not
the chalice should be granted to the laity.
It defined the mass as a true sacrifice; issued doctrinal statements on
holy orders, matrimony, purgatory, indulgences, and the veneration of
saints, images, and relics; and enacted reform decrees on clerical
morals and the establishment of seminaries.
Pius IV confirmed the councils decrees in 1564 and published a
summary of its doctrinal statements; observance of disciplinary
decrees was imposed under sanctions.
In short order the catechism of Trent appeared, the missal and breviary
were revised, and eventually a revised version of the Bible was
published.
By the end of the century, many of the abuses that had motivated the
Protestant Reformation had disappeared, and the Roman Catholic
Church had reclaimed many of its followers in Europe.
The council, however, failed to heal the schism that had sundered the
Western Christian church.

Source:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/604238/Council-of-Trent

Submitted by: Judaya, Ma. Sul G. Grade 10 D St Joseph Cottolengo