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Definition:
The Counter-Reformation is a name applied to a wide variety of groups and tendencies
in the Roman Catholic Church which reacted to the Protestant Reformation in an attempt
to redefine traditional doctrines and re-establish the authority of the Pope - by and
large, these movements succeeded. On the one hand, the Catholic Church was renewed and
reformed - but on the other, it became an even more conservative institution, reacting
negatively to nearly everything produced by Protestants.
Changes were produced both from the "bottom" and from the "top." As to the former, a number of people founded or reformed different religious orders. Saint Teresa of Avila reformed the Carmelites, making them stricter. Saint Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. As to the latter, the Council of Trent (1545-1563) was called to produce an official Church reaction to the Protestant challenge. This council issued definitive statements of doctrines and beliefs which Catholics were supposed to adhere to.
Combined, all of this made the Roman Catholic Church more conservative and ultimately ensured that there would be no reconciliation between it and the Protestant movements. In 1542, the Inquisition was revived again in order to deal with dissenters - often harshly. Many were imprisoned, tortured and even burned at the stake on suspicion of heresy. The innocent suffered greatly, too, because it was so difficult to prove one's innocence in the face of ecclesiastical persecution. In 1557 the Church first published its infamous Index of Forbidden Books, a list of works which the faithful were not permitted to read or even own. This list was not finally abolished until 1966.
During this time, the Reformation had little impact upon the Orthodox Church. Theologians had no great interest in what the Protestants had to say and, by and large, simply ignored them. The Counter-Reformation, however, had a greater impact. The Protestant challenge reignited the desire to end the Roman Catholic and Orthodox division. The Jesuits were the primary group attempting to convert the Orthodox to Catholicism, often causing offense and political strife.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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