Catholic Reformation

1. Personal renewal.--St. Ignatius Loyola--St. Teresa of Avila

2. Institutional reform. --Council of Trent

3. Joint Declaration on Justification (1999).

Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

• Founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1534– Involved in education and

missionary work– Took a vow of absolute obedience

to the pope • Wrote Spiritual Exercises.

Meditations in four parts:– On sins– On Christ’s Life– On Christ’s Passion– On Christ’s Resurrection– Rules for Thinking with the Church

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Paul L. GavrilyukAssistant Professor of Historical Theology

Reformed monastic lifeRestored the ideals of poverty and utter dedication to God

Council of Trent 1545-1563

• Areas in need of reform:– Secularization of hierarchy

during Renaissance– Crisis and abuses of papal

authority– Ignorance and immorality

among lower clergy– Laxity of monastic discipline– Superstitions and abuses

(sale of indulgencies)

Decisions of the council of Trent

On doctrinal issues:1. On scripture & tradition: p. 112, session 4, first

decree.2. On grace & works: p. 114, chap. 5.3. Meaning of salvation: p. 114, chap. 7.4. Number of sacraments: p. 116, session 7.

On practical issues:

1. Christian life: p. 111.2. Indulgencies: p. 120.3. Education & discipline: pp. 112-13.4. Celebration of Mass: p. 121.5. Saints & relics: p. 122.

MEDIEVAL CATHOLICISM PROTESTANTISM (16th c.)

SALVATION

Offered through the church By grace alone through faith alone

Focus on penance & Eucharist Focus on personal faithPurgatory & indulgencies Rejected p. & i.Growth in God’s love Trust in God’s mercy

SOURCES OF AUTHORITY

Scripture & Tradition Scripture alone

External: church hierarchy Internal: individual conscience

PIETY

Veneration of saints, relics Christocentric: Christ alone

Flourishing church art iconoclasm (image-breaking)Elaborate worship services Simplicity in worship

EDUCATION

Highly educated clerical minority Educated laity, catechismsPhilosophy is handmaid of theology Philosophy under suspicionRationalism, scholasticism Anti-rationalism, anti-scholasticismBible in Latin only Bible in vernacular languages

Historical Consequences of the Reformation

• Breakdown of church authority: from one Church to many denominations

• Religious wars• Turning towards the Bible & individual believer• Correction of some Medieval abuses

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

• Signed in Augsburg, Germany, Oct 31, 1999 (date is symbolic)

• Mutual condemnations of former times do not apply to the Catholic & Lutheran understanding of justification, as presented in JDDJ

• “Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.” (JDDJ 15)