The Protestant Reformation Breakdown of Denominations Early Reformers

The Protestant Reformation

Breakdown of Denominations

Early Reformers John Wycliffe (1324 -1384) – Questioned absolute authority of Pope/clergy – People should be able to interpret and read the Bible on their own. (vernacular) – first English translation of Bible

Early Reformers Cont… Jan Hus (1369 -1415) – He wanted Bishops elected and not appointed by Pope. – At the Council of Constance, he made his case but he was burned at the stake for his beliefs. – Spiritual leader of the Moravian Church.

Early Reformers Cont… Erasmus (1466 -1536) – “Erasmus laid the egg that Luther hatched. ” – Erasmus remained committed to reforming the Church from within. – He also held to Catholic doctrines such as that of free will. • Which some Protestant Reformers rejected in

The Printing Press – Books are now available to the masses not just the rich! (Faster production=cheaper books) – Hand printing = 40 pages per workday – Printing Press= 3600 pages per workday

What is the Protestant Reformation? A religious movement in the 1500’s that challenged the supremacy of the Catholic Church in western Europe and led to the establishment of new denominations – People grew disillusioned with … • Financial Corruption • Abuse of Power • Immorality of clergy

Language Barriers Most uneducated people didn’t understand Latin, but knew the local common language or “vernacular”. – Almost all Bibles were written in LATIN before the Reformation. It was the job of the church clergy to translate the Bible to lay people.

What happens to spark the Reformation? Pope Leo X needs money to build St. Peter’s Basilica…so he sells indulgences! – Indulgences- were pardons issued by the pope that people could buy to reduce a soul’s time in purgatory = (People could buy forgiveness) – Martin Luther’s Ninety Five Theses was a reaction to indulgences

Martin Luther was a German monk and professor of theology (religion) at the University of Wittenberg. One of the many leaders of the Protestant Reformation. – Luther objected to a saying attributed to Johann Tetzel that "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs. "

Luther’s 95 Theses In 1517, the 95 Theses were nailed to a church door. They were written in Latin. – Luther’s intention: NOT TO BREAK WITH CHURCH, BUT REFORM IT! – Criticized: 1. Indulgences 2. Power of Pope 3. Wealth of Church God’s Grace won by FAITH ALONE! Proponent of Free Will – Catholic View: Good Works

The Break In 1520 Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther. – Excommunication- expelled him from the church. – Holy Roman Emperor Charles V passed measures to suppress Luther’s writings. Declared Martin Luther an outlaw – Martin Luther hides out with northern German princes who will support him and use his ideas to break with Rome – Lutheran princes in Germany issued a protestatio or protest. • Hence the term Protestant! • Series of religious civil wars will break out in

Peace of Augsburg; 1555 Ended the religious strife for the time being in Germany Would establish the principle that the leader would establish the religion of the state Led to widespread migration of people in Germany Protestants to the north and east; Catholics to the south Lutheranism will spread to Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark)

Other Protestant Reformers Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland – Theocracy • A government in which church and state are joined and in which officials are considered to be divinely inspired. John Calvin in Switzerland – Predestination • God knows who will be saved, even before people are born, and therefore guides the lives of those destined for salvation. John Knox in Scotland – Takes Calvinism to Scotland – Presbyterian Church

In England, the Reformation hinges on the need for a male heir King Henry VIII- was not meant to be king. Had an older brother named Arthur who died before he could become king Henry’s father Henry VII- arranged for Henry to wed his brother’s widow-Catherine of Aragon—it was about maintaining a connection to the powerful Spanish Catherine was unable to produce a male child—had one girl (Mary) who survived to adulthood Henry asked Pope for annulment; was refused Henry had Catherine packed off to a convent and then had the Archbishop of Canterbury annul the marriage

Henry continued Henry married Anne Boleyn; she produced his second daughter Elizabeth—H grew tired of Anne and that was that Married Jane Seymour– she gives him son; Edward VI but he is born premature and stays sickly all of his life—dies at 17? Henry feeling the heat from Catholics and the Pope wants to ally himself with German protestants— marries Anne of Cleves Divorced her then took up with Catherine Howard a much younger woman—had her beheaded Last wife was Catherine Parr who was basically his nurse

The Reformation Parliament Was a gathering that led to the decision that England was no longer under the authority of the pope. Act of Supremacy – Subjects were required to take an oath declaring Henry VIII to be “Supreme Head of the Church of England” – Creation of the Church of England (Anglican) – Monarch is head but Archbishop of Canterbury is top religious figure – Still Catholic in ideas and rituals—just do not recognize authority of Pope – King seized Catholic property in England

After Henry VIII His legitimate children: Edward VI, Mary I, Elizabeth I, – Edward VI- rules for about 7 years and his advisors make England more Protestant—he dies without producing and heir – Queen Mary I or “Bloody Mary” • Raised Catholic like her mother Catherine of Aragon; has daddy issues; she reestablished the Catholic Church in England. She killed many protestants and had approximately 300 heretics burned at the stake. • Was married to her cousin Spanish king Philip II; no heir – Queen Elizabeth I • AB’s daughter, Raised Protestant and ruled England for 44 years. Ruled during the Spanish

THE CATHOLIC--COUNTER REFORMATION Catholic- focus was on reform and affirmation of Church tradition, ideas and beliefs Counter- focus was on winning back followers and taking the fight to Protestants

Reform Popes Pope Paul III (r. 1534 -1549): Most important pope in reforming the Church and challenging Protestantism, appointed ethical clergy. Called Church Council. Julius III (r. 1550 -1555) worldly pope. Papacy comes more committed to reform under Paul IV, (r. 1555 -1559), Pius IV (r. 1559 -1565, and Pius V (r. 1566 -1572)

New Orders Ursuline order of nuns (1544): Sought to combat heresy through Christian education Discalced Carmelite Nuns (1562) – St. Teresa of Avila (1515 -1582), poverty and simple life. Capuchins (1528) reform of Franciscans Theatines (1523) improve education of clergy

Society of Jesus, 1540 3 goals-reform church through education, preach Gospel to pagans (missionaries), fight Protestantism Ignatius Loyola (1491 -1556): founder; organized in military fashion Spiritual Exercises: contained ideas used to train Jesuits

Council of Trent Church reforms: abuses in sale of indulgences curtailed, sale of church offices curtailed, ended nepotism Bishops given greater control over clergy, seminaries established to train priests.

Council of Trent 1545 -1563 Church interpretation of the Bible was final (any other interpretation was heresy) Christians needed faith and good works for salvation The Bible and Church traditions were equally influential in guiding Christian faith Indulgences were valid expressions of faith, nut selling them was banned

Spanish and Italian Inquisitions Spain: persecution of Mariscos (Christian Moors) & Marranos (Christian Jews) Succeeded in bringing southern German and eastern Europe back to Catholicism Sacred Congregation of the Holy Order, 1542, in papal states: Roman Inquisition Index of Prohibited Books: catalogue of forbidden reading Ended heresy in Papal States; rest of Italy not affected significantly

Effects of Reformation The unity of Western Christianity was shattered: Northern Europe (Scandinavia, England, northern Germany, parts of France, Switzerland, Scotland) adopted Protestantism. Religious enthusiasm was rekindled – similar enthusiasm not seen since far back into the Middle Ages. Abuses remedied: simony, pluralism, immoral or badly educated clergy were considerably remedied by the 17 th century. Religious wars broke out in Europe for well over a century.