The ReformationThe Reformation

A Need For ReformA Need For Reform

The Italian and Christian humanists denounced the corruption of the Church

a) clerical immorality

b) clerical ignorance

c) clerical pluralism

At the village level priests were not much better off than peasants

Government officials were often rewarded with clerical positions

Popes were just as corrupt:

Alexander VI publicly acknowledged his mistress and children

Julius II led an army against France

Many priest had concubines, drunkenness, gambling, and elaborate dress were common

Many priest could barely read or writeChristian humanists condemned the

ignorance of the ChurchThe Church held a large portion of

European wealth

Europe was still deeply religious and many groups wanted reform

Martin Luther would force the issue

• Born in East Germany from peasant stock

• Almost hit by lightning became religious

• Entered a strict monastery against his father’s wishes

• Disillusioned with the Church questioned good works: prayers, fasting, etc.

• “The just shall live by his faith” if people had faith God will save them

• Archbishop Albert of Magdeburg hired John Tetzel to oversee the collection of funds

• Luther openly criticized the abuses of Indulgences• October 31, 1517, he posted his 95 theses on the Castle

Church in Wittenberg• Spread without Luther’s knowledge.• Reasons for success:

a) Germany resented papal powerb) Distance from Romec) Lack of central authority to mediate the dispute

• Pope Leo X did not take the threat seriously

• Church opinion was espoused by Tetzel

• Diet of Ausburg demanded that Luther recant.

• Luther refused and even criticized the pope

• The church wanted to banish Luther but he was protected by Frederick the Wise

• Under increasing pressure Luther’s views became more critical

• Luther: a) defended the radical matyr Husb) Proclaimed the Bible was the supreme authorityc) Appealed to the German nobles to stop the abuses of the churchd) Recognized good work but emphasized faith

• The pope gave Luther 60 days to recant Luther burned the papal bull

• Luther appealed to the Holy Roman Emperor to hear the argument at the Diet of Worms

• Luther refused to modify his views and said “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise”

• Luther was abducted an placed in Wartburg Castle for his own protection

• Abandoned the cloth and married and had six children

• Luther was not a revolutionary

• Knew the Church would not change

• Concerned with issues of the soul

• Equality of all people before God

Luther believed:• salvation comes by faith alone• religious authority resides in the Bible and is open to

interpretation• the church is a community of believers• all vocations are equal in the eyes of God• there are only 2 sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s

Supper• the importance of marriage• a women’s place was in the home

Luther gained wide support among the peasants but they misunderstood him

Business people envied the church and disapproved of the clergy’s lifestyle

But Luther meant independence from the Roman Catholic Church not simply freedom

Still religion was a public matter

Very few believed in religious liberty

Humanists validated Luther’s words

While Luther’s translation of the Bible into German made it an issue of nationalism

• In the Habsburg-Valois War, Catholic France supported Protestant Germany against Catholic Spain

• The Peace of Augsburg (1555) officially recognized Lutheranism and each prince could decide the religion of his territory

• Northern Germany -ProtestantSouthern Germany - Catholic

• The Protestant movement proved a disaster for Germany

Calvinism

• John Calvin was the person most responsible for the spread of Protestantism

• About 20 years younger than Luther

• Started in Geneva – a theocracy

• Did not believe in free will

• Predestination• The Calling – Protestant work ethic• Spread to Scotland, France, England

and America

ENGLISHREFORMATION

ENGLISHREFORMATION

The King’s Great MatterThe King’s Great Matter• English humanists had been wanting reform

• 1509 Henry VIII became the king aged 18

• Henry was strongly Catholic and had been trained as a priest

• The pope gave him the title Defender of the Faith

• Luther called him a “lubberly ass”

Henry VIIIHenry VIII• Was given special permission from Pope

Julius II to marry Catherine of Aragon,

• Catherine had been his brother’s wife

Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon• Daughter of King Ferdinand and

Queen Isabella• Catholic• She had five daughters, only Mary

survived• Henry asked Pope Clement VII to

grant a divorce• Pope says no

• Denied an annulment of marriage • Henry issued The Act in Restraint of Appeals (1533),

which made the king supreme head of England• The Act of Submission of the Clergy (1534), clergy

must submit to the monarch• The Supremacy Act, (1534) made the king head of the

Church of England• Separated Church of England from the Roman

Catholic Church

• Thomas More was appointed to a government office, but refused to support Henry’s policies. He was imprisoned and beheaded.

• Catherine still remained loyal to him and the Catholic faith.

• With the Catholic Church no longer in control of England, the king could now remarry

Anne BoleynAnne Boleyn

• Maid of honor to Catherine• 2nd wife and most famous

wife• Bore him a daughter– Elizabeth I

• In 1536, charged Anne of adultery

• Beheaded on May 19, 1536

Jane SeymourJane Seymour

• Third wife

• Protestant

• Gave birth to a son– King Edward VI

• Died as a teen, only reigned for about 6 years

• Henry dissolved the monastaries and kept the wealth

• Sold the land to his friends

Edward VIEdward VI• Only son of Henry• His mother died of child bed fever• Became king at nine• Died from several sicknesses in 1553

Mary TudorMary Tudor

• Became queen after Edward died• Devoted Catholic• Nicknamed “Bloody Mary”• Married her cousin Philip II of Spain• Very unpopular

Elizabeth IElizabeth I• Became queen of England in 1558• Protestant, but tolerant• One of the most well-known monarchs in

English history• Reigned over the Elizabethan Renaissance

and patronized the arts (Shakespeare)

SCOTLANDSCOTLAND

• Did not follow the English model• Scottish nobles supported the Protestants and John

Knox, a Protestant reformer• Knox persuaded Parliament to end papal

supremacy in Scotland• Established the Presbyterian Church of Scotland

The Catholic ReformationThe Catholic Reformation

• Also known as the Counter-Reformation

• Began in 1517 in response to calls for reform

• Didn’t really have an affect until the 1540s

• Catholic Church wanted to persuade dissidents to return to the church

• The Lateran Council (1512) had told Julius II to reform the church• Popes resisted reform because they feared a

loss of power and revenue• Pope Paul III Council

of Trent in 1545

• New religious orders appeared, such as the Jesuits and Ursuline Order

• These orders emphasized strict Catholic dogma to lift up the spiritual condition of the clergy and laity

• The Jesuits (The Society of Jesus) was founded by Ignatius Loyola and emphasized education

• The Ursuline Order was only for women