The Reformation

Prelude to ReformationI. Christian or Northern Renaissance Humanism

- Focused on early Christian religion sources; simple religion; reform; inner piety through education to reform church and society- Erasmus-formulated and popularized the reform program; emphasized inner piety as a guiding philosophy for the direction of daily life; edited the Vulgate and criticized church abuses in The Praise of Folly-Thomas More-Utopia

II. Church and Religion on the Eve of the Reformation- Catholic Church corruption- salvation through religious practices/dogma/relics- Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, Oratory of Divine Love preaching to laypeople- Thomas a Kempis Imitation of Christ

Erasmus

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Charles V

Martin Luther and the Reformation in Germany

I. Early Luther- Augustinian Hermits in Erfurt, Germany; focused on salvation; doctorate in theology University of Wittenberg (Bible the sole truth and faith = salvation alone); indulgence controversy (Pope Leo X for the building of Saint Peter’s)—wrote 95 Theses 1517; Leipzig Debate 1519-denial of authority of popes and councils; pamphlets 1520; Edict of Worms declared outlaw by Charles V; excommunicated 1521

II. Rise of Lutheranism-translated the New Testament into German; primary spread through sermon; reform then instituted by state authorities; pamphlets illustrated with woodcuts

III. Spread of Ideas-princely and ecclesiastical states in Northern/Central Germany; 2/3 of free imperial cities; Nuremburg 1st imperial city to convert; younger Christian Humanists supported

Luther

IV. Peasants’ War-peasants looked to Luther to support; southwestern Germany 1524; Luther reacted against the peasants and called on the princes to put down the rebellion (Reformation depended on the support of the princes and magistrates).

V. Organizing the Church-kept two sacraments (Lord’s Supper and baptism); Lutheran churches in Germany became territorial/state churches in which the state supervised and disciplined church members; ministers marry; new religious services with a vernacular liturgy.

VI. Charles V-king of Spain and HRE; due to conflict with Francis I of France, the Ottoman Turks, the papacy, and German princes, Charles wasn’t able to stop the spread of Lutheranism.

VII. Politics in Germany-individual princely kingdoms reluctant to submit to an emperor; Charles V-Diet of Augsburg 1530 demanded they return to the Catholic Church; Defensive alliance formed called the Schmalkaldic League; Schmalkaldic Wars 1546 (delayed by continuous wars with Ottomans and France)-defeated Lutherans at the Battle of Muhlberg; alligned with Henry II of France (Catholic) to revive war in 1552 and forced into a truce; **Peace of Augsburg 1555-division of Christianity formally acknowledged/each German ruler determines religion; Charles abdicated to brother Ferdinand in 1556

Spread of the Protestant Reformation

I. Lutheranism in Scandinavia-1530’s Swedish Lutheran National Church established by Gustavus Vasa, king of independent Sweden; Christian III of Denmark established a Lutheran state church and spread Lutheranism to Norway

II. Zwinglian Reformation-Switzerland; state supervise the church; relics and images abolished; new liturgy; music eliminated; monasticism, pilgrimages, veneration of saints, clerical celibacy, & pope’s authority abolished; tried alliance of churches (Marburg) ; but disagreed with Luther’s Lord’s Supper as being literal (believed symbolic); Oct 1531 Swiss war between Protestant and Catholics; Zwingli killed, cut up, burned and scattered.

III. The Anabaptists-adult baptism; choose minister from community; simple Christian living; back to early Christian accounts; complete separation of church and state; seen as radical (Mennonites/Amish descend from Anabaptists).

Zwingli

IV. England-Henry VIII; Act of Supremacy 1534 and Treason Act by Parliament-rejected by Thomas More; Thomas Cromwell organized and dissolved monasteries; not religious reformation per se; church b/c more Protestant under Archbishop Cranmer under Edward VI (sickly son). Mary (married to Phillip II of Spain and son Charles V) burned Protestant heretics; pushed people toward Protestantism rather than away;

V. Calvinism-Institutes of the Christian Religion; faith for salvation; predestination; 3 tests-open profession of faith, a “decent and godly life,” and participation in baptism and communion. (militant Protestantism). Geneva-Ecclesiastical Ordinances (new church constitution) with the Consistory (oversee moral life). Spread throughout Europe and replaced Lutheranism as the international form of Protestantism.

Calvin

Henry VIII

Social ImpactI. Education-broadened the base of people being

educated; Luther promoted the idea that all children need an education that is provided by the state—benefit church and state; Philip Melanchthon “Teacher of Germany”-divided students into 3 classes divided on age/capabilities

II. Religious Practices and Popular Culture-private prayer, family worship, collective prayer and worship on Sundays; Puritans (English Calvinists) banned drinking in taverns, dramatic performances, and dancing; Dutch Calvinists denounced giving presents to children on the feast of Saint Nicholas; abolishment of saints’ days and religious carnivals; and of course—abolished indulgences, veneration of relics and saints, pilgrimages, monasticism, and clerical celibacy.

Catholic ReformationI. Revival of the Old- revived the best features of

medieval Catholicism and adjusted to meet new conditions; revival of mysticism and monasticism; reform of Benedictines and Dominicans.

II. Society of Jesus-Jesuits; The Spiritual Exercises-training manual for spiritual development emphasizing exercises by which the human will could be strengthened and made to follow the will of God as manifested through the Church; religious order; schools, propagation of the Catholic faith among non-Christians (Francis Xavier), garnered interest in the East through stories, fought Protestantism

III. Revived Papacy-Pope Paul III-encouraged reform; Roman Inquisition to ferret out doctrinal orders 1542; Pope Paul IV-Index of Forbidden Books

IV. Council of Trent-Pope Paul III 1545-1563 met intermittently-reaffirmed traditional Catholic teachings in opposition to Protestant beliefs; faith and good works necessary for salvation, sacraments upheld, church interprets scripture, purgatory and indulgences affirmed (although not sold) theological seminaries established; Clear doctrine and unified church

Ignatius of Loyola by Rubens

Politics and WarI. French Wars of Religion (Huguenots-French Calvinists); Valois

monarchy Catholic; artisans and shopkeepers, merchants and lawyers, and 40-50% of French nobility became Huguenot, including the house of Bourbon which was next in line of succession—potentially dangerous monarchical threat; Calvinists only 10% of population-Valois regency controlled by Catherine de’Medici; tried to compromise-towns and provinces, against monarchical centralization, joined against-extreme Catholic party led by the Guise family-1562 massacred Huguenots congregation at Vassy-St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre in 1572 Paris; started by King Charles IX’s guards by the massacre of Huguenot leaders—encouraged by Guise family and supported by Catherine- and followed by 3 days of Catholic mobs; the king’s daughter was promised to Henry of Navarre, a Huguenot, and his life was spared b/c he promised to become Catholic.-War of Three Henries 1588-1589-Henry, duke of Guise seized Paris (with help of Philip II of Spain) and forced King Henry III to make him chief minister; King Henry had him assassinated and joined with Henry of Navarre to crush the Catholic Holy League and retake Paris; Henry III assassinated in 1589 by a monk and Henry of Navarre, IV, took the throne. Wars over with coronation in 1594 (b/c Catholic). Edict of Nantes issued 1598—Catholicism official religion but Huguenots allowed equal rights and privileges. (politically necessary)

II. Philip II and Militant Catholicism—crusading fervor to save Catholic Christianity against Protestant heretics; aim to make Spain a dominant power in Europe; consolidate empire; leadership of a holy league against Ottoman Turks; attempt to crush revolt in Netherlands (Northern lands organized under William of Orange); fought against Elizabeth of England

III. Elizabethan England-moderate Protestantism to not offend Catholics (Anglican church)-revision of the Book of Common Prayer; threatened by Catholic cousin Mary, Queen of Scots-eventually beheaded; defeat of Philip II’s Spanish armada