Council of Trent

Roman Catholicism

Council of Trent, 19th ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church,

held in three parts from 1545 to 1563. Prompted by the Reformation, the
Council of Trent was highly important for its sweeping decrees on self-reform
and for its dogmatic definitions that clarified virtually
every doctrine contested by the Protestants. Despite internal strife and two
lengthy interruptions, the council was a key part of the Counter-
Reformation and played a vital role in revitalizing the Roman Catholic Church
in many parts of Europe.

Period I: 1545–47
Though Germany demanded a general council following
the excommunication of the German Reformation leader Martin Luther,
Pope Clement VII held back for fear of renewed attacks on his supremacy.
France, too, preferred inaction, afraid of increasing German power. Clement’s
successor, Paul III, however, was convinced that Christian unity and effective
church reform could come only through a council. After his first attempts were
frustrated, he convoked a council at Trent (northern Italy), which opened on
December 13, 1545.

As the council opened, some bishops urged for immediate reform, and others

sought clarification of Catholic doctrines; a compromise was reached whereby
both topics were to be treated simultaneously. The council then laid the
groundwork for future declarations: the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed was
accepted as the basis of Catholic faith; the canon of Old and New
Testament books was definitely fixed; tradition was accepted as a source of
faith; the Latin Vulgate was declared adequate for doctrinal proofs; the
number of sacraments was fixed at seven; and the nature and consequences
of original sin were defined. After months of intense debate, the council ruled
against Luther’s doctrine of justification by faith alone: man, the council said,
was inwardly justified by cooperating with divine grace that God bestows
gratuitously. By enjoining on bishops an obligation to reside in their respective
sees, the church effectively abolished plurality of bishoprics. Political
problems forced the council’s transfer to Bologna and finally interrupted its
unfinished work altogether.