Counter Reformation

• To prevent the spread of the Protestant movement

• Council of Trent 1545-1563

• Clarify the difference between the Catholic faith and the Protestant faith

Difference Between the 2 Religions• Catholics have the pope, Protestants don’t believe in a head

of a church• Catholics pray to saints, Protestants recognize them but

don’t worship them• Holy Water• Celibacy and Nuns• Purgatory• Sacraments• Holidays

Catholic Church• Began to recognize other

religious orders• Jesuits (founded by Ignatius of

Loyola)• Strong central command• Teachings were a base of faith

and reason• Studied the teachings of St.

Thomas Aquinas• Spread Catholicism to Africa

Inquisition

• Church court who investigated who wandered away from the Catholic faith

• Used intimidation & torture to get people to confess their sins (being protestant)

• Most famous was the Spanish Inquisition

Spanish Inquisition

• Led by Cardinal Inquistor Don Fernando Nino de Guevara

Catholic Church• Catholic Church created a list

of books that were illegal in the Catholic faith

• Protestant Bible would be burned by the Catholic Church

• Counter Reformation would be successful and brought new life to the church