The General Council of Trent became inevitable on the day that Martin Luther began his revolt against the rule of the Catholic Church. It started with his proclamation against the rule of the Pope as the divine leader of the entirety of the church of Christ, but it culminated in Martin Luther’s famous 99 theses which he tacked onto a door of a monastery attacking the church of many points – the most famous of which has lasted in historical memory against the practice of indulgences.
Martin Luther’s Proclamation
We must remember that Martin Luther was a monk of the Catholic Church, and therefore, under submission to the rule of the Catholic Church when he made his big move to secede from it. Because of this, he was called by a papal legate to withdraw his attacks against the church. But Martin Luther replied by denying the validity of all laws that the General Councils of the Church had made in the past.
Martin Luther was condemned in a papal bull entitled Excurge Domine and was given 60 days to respond. Instead of responding, on the 60th day he gathered a large group of public supporters of his revolt and threw the papal bull into a bonfire which was set on the town’s dunghill. And after this, he threw the entire collection of all the papal laws binding the church of Christ. Luther had made his schism complete in 1520 A.D. It would take another 25 years for the Catholic Church to realize that Martin Luther’s revolt was an irrevocable breach from the Universal Catholic Church which would become irreconcilable, rather than just another heresy to be endured.
The General Council of Trent Redefines Catholic Teaching
It is said by many Church historians that the documents written at the Council of Trent outnumber all of the previous councils combined, and that in regard to scholarship, they are the most excellent.
But the basic ideas of the Church, as in many previous councils, were simply being restated. A few new things came about, but the purpose of this General Council was to simply restate the beliefs of the Catholic Church and condemn the beliefs that the Catholic Church did not accept which had now become a part of Lutheranism.
Again, the issues of bishops and usury were addressed and laws enacted to prevent financial gain to those who misused the offices of the Church. Marriage laws were redefined preventing those of near relation from marriage, and considering all unwitnessed marriages invalid and restricting the ability of children to marry without parents' consent. The seven sacraments were restated and defined as being the true amount of sacraments brought into the Church by Christ Himself. The General Council of Trent is responsible for the institution of seminaries and the official order of teaching of priests. The Congregation of the Council of Trent was formed which continues to this day under the title of permanent Ministry of the Interior of the Catholic Church as a church governmental agency created to deal with any type of interior corruption. Duels were dealt with during this council and those involved in any way were considered murderers. Automatic consequences were to result from any involvement in these hideous ‘games.’
Luther was validated on the issue of indulgences, and the General Council of Trent agreed that much usury had been done in this practice and it was abolished that any clergy could receive monies for this purpose.
But perhaps the most important definition coming from the General Council of Trent is the one which restated the Catholic Faith in detail condemning the concept that Justification is an act of Predestination and that Faith is determined by scripture alone.
John Wesley was another Christian Reformer who brought about great changes in the church and another new denomination.
The Fifth General Council of the Lateran, 1512 – 1517 A.D.
The First General Council of the Vatican, 1869-70 A.D.
Sources: The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 – 1870 – By Philip Hughes, The General Councils: A History of the Twenty-One Church Councils from Nicaea to Vatican II – By Christopher M. Bellito, The Documents of Vatican II – By Walter M. Abbott, S.J. and the Very Reverend Monsignor Joseph Gallagher, A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present – By Bernard Lohse, The Reform of the Liturgy – Annibale Bugnini, www.catholicdigitalstudio.com/councils.htm
