Saints LightWhat Happened at the Reformation?
Real corruption sparked the Reformation in 1517, Christians on every side sinned against unity, and the Council of Trent answered with clear teaching, real reform and a wave of saints.
What this lesson teaches
- Real abuses, especially around indulgences, set the stage for Luther's protest in 1517.
- The Reformation divided Western Christianity, and both sides committed violence.
- The Council of Trent (1545 to 1563) clarified doctrine and reformed the clergy.
- Saints like Ignatius, Teresa and Charles Borromeo carried out true reform.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 9
- CCC 817-821
- CCC 1113-1114
- CCC 1987-1992
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: Ephesians 4:4-5.
A sample question from this lesson
What abuse first sparked Luther's protest in 1517?
- The use of Latin at Mass
- The marriage of priests
- The abusive preaching and selling of indulgences
- The canonization of new saints
Show the answer
The abusive preaching and selling of indulgences. Luther's ninety-five theses attacked the abuse of indulgences, a real scandal the Council of Trent later corrected.
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Council of Trent
- The ecumenical council held from 1545 to 1563 that clarified Catholic doctrine and reformed Church life after the Reformation.
- Transubstantiation
- The change of the whole substance of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, while the appearances remain.
- Indulgence
- A remission of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, granted by the Church; never something to be bought.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"What Happened at the Reformation?" is lesson 9 of Two Thousand Years in Twelve Lessons. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
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- Faith and Works: What Does the Church Really Teach? (Grace and Virtue)
- Are Catholics Saved by Works? (Hard Questions)
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- Paul and the Letters (The Bible)