The Reformation

The Reformation

1. Causes of the Reformation

   • The behaviour of popes and bishops
   • The wealth and power of the Church
   • Abuses: Simony, nepotism, pluralism and absenteeism
   • Poorly educated priests
   • The sale of indulgences
   • Renaissance: questioning of accepted beliefs

2. Martin Luther

   • 1483
     • Luther was born at Eisleben in Saxony
   • 1518- 1520
     • Luther's ideas spread with the help of the printing press
   • 1522
     • He translated the New Testament into German. Returned to Wittenberg
   • 1512
     • He was appointed a professor at the University of Wittenberg
   • 1520
     • Pope Leo X condemned Luther's teaching - Luther burned the papal letter
   • 1505
     • He became an Augustinian monk
   • 1521
     • Luther attended the Diet of Worms where he was condemned by the Edict of Worms.
   • 1517
     • He began his protest with his 95 Theses against the sale of indulgences
   • 1534
     • He published the complete Bible in German
   • 1546
     • Luther died at his birthplace of Eisleben.
   • 1525
     • Throughout Germany princes started converting to his ideas. He married Catherine von Bora and had six children.

3. John Calvin and Geneva

   • Calvin was born in Noyon in northern France in 1509
     • When Calvin was 14 years old he went to study at University in Paris.
       • In 1534, King Frances I started prosecuting Protestants. Calvin left the country and went to the city of Basle in Switzerland.
         • In 1536, Calvin visited Geneva. The Reformation had recently spread to the French- speaking city and Calvin was persuaded to stay and help Geneva become Protestant.
           • He lived in Strasbourg for 3 years.
             • In 1541, he was invited back to Geneva.
               • In 1564, Calvin passed away because of his poor heart.
   • What were Calvin's main beliefs
     • He believed that God had chosen those who were going to heaven before they were born. This was called predestination.
     • He believed that there should be no popes or bishops
     • Like Luther, he said the Bible was the source of all teaching.
   • In 1541, Calvin was invited back to Geneva. He took control of the city, which had a population of about 13,000. Now he was able to put his religious ideas into place. Geneva became known as the ‘City of God’. The church that Calvin founded became known as the Reformed or Presbyterian Church after the Greek word for elder: Presbyteros Dancing, gambling and plays were forbidden. Sunday was a day of rest when no work was permitted. People who disobeyed these rules could be fined, imprisoned or in some cases be sentenced to death.
   • As we have seen, there were no bishops in Calvin’s church. There were 4 types of ministers: Pastors – Preached the world of God and administered the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharistic. Doctors – They were responsible for doctrine. Elders – Looked after the daily life of the community and made sure that people lived good lives. Deacons – Cared for the poor and the sick. They did work that had traditionally been done by the monks and nuns.

4. Religious Change in England

   • Why did Henry break with Rome
     • In the 1520’s, Henry the 8th ruled from 1509 to 1547. At first he was an opponent of Luther’s religious beliefs and had been awarded the title ‘Defender of the Faith’, by the Pope. Henry was worried about who would succeed after he died. He was married to Catherine of Aragon and they had one child, Mary. Henry wanted to have a boy as he did not believe that the English would approve of a women as a ruler. Henry had then fallen for Anne Boylen and wanted to leave Catherine, However the Catholic church did not permit divorce.
   • Henry's Children
     • On the death of his father, Edward VI became the King of England and was king for 6 years. He was only nine years old, so a group of leading nobles really ruled England. The young King died at the age of 15 in 1553.
     • Mary Tudor was only queen for 5 years. She was a strong supporter of the Catholic Church. However Mary made two serious errors that damaged the Catholic cause in Britain and made her very unpopular: She married her second cousin, Philip of Spain. People were worried that Mary would be dominated by her Spanish husband. Mary had started to prosecute Protestants. About 300 people were burned at the stake. This was the traditional punishment for heretics. This actions earned her the nickname Bloody Mary.
     • Mary was succeeded by Elizabeth, the daughter of Anne Boleyn. She reigned for 45years. She was Protestant.

5. The sixteenth century was not a time when people accepted religious views different from their own. This sometimes meant that: People were not allowed to practise the religion they wanted. This is called persecution A number of wars broke out: some between countries, some within countries. The abuses of simony, nepotism, absenteeism and plurism were ended and the sale of indulgences controlled. To solve the problem of poorly educated priests, each diocese was to have a seminary to train priests  Bishops were to make sure that priests were living good lives The Jesuits were the most influential of the new Catholic religious orders set up during the Counter – Reformation. They were founded by an ex-solider from Spain. Pope Paul III approved the Jesuit Order in 1540.

6. In 1534, Pope Paul III was elected. He was Pope for 15 years and made two very important decisions: He set up the Council of Trent. He agreed to the formation of the Jesuits.