Counter-Reformation is a natural counteraction to the Reformation that embraced Europe in the 16th-17th centuries. Counteraction to the lost sense of the Catholic Church was very strong and, expanding more and more, covered many European countries so quickly that the Vatican was forced to react and introduce retaliatory measures.
Response
Counter-Reformation is a tough response, aimed at strengthening the Catholic faith and restoring confidence in the pope's institution. The blow inflicted by the Reformation shook the foundations of the Catholic Church, but it was finally destroyed and the Counter-Reformation prevented it in time. Some historians believe that these two powerful movements represent an uprising of the less advanced countries against Italy, which at that time was a highly intellectual free state. In favor of this assertion is the fact that the indignation of the abuses of the Catholic Church began in Germany after the speech of Martin Luther, then enveloped France, England, Holland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Switzerland. Italy at that time was so unloved that everyone forgot that she was the birthplace of the Renaissance. Counter-Reformation is an Italian-Spanish response to neighbors.
The main tool of the Counter-Reformation
The protest movement was helped by the Jesuit order created in 1534 by Ignatius Lajola. The Italian side has put forward a worthy opponent to such personalities as Martin Luther, Jean Calvin, Jan Hus. Perhaps the countermeasures of the Catholic Church would not have been so effective if the desire for their own reformation and liberation from those sins in which opponents reproached her did not arise within herself. That is why the counter-reformation is also an attempt at an internal rebirth of the Catholic Church. On its side were quite powerful forces - the princes of southern Germany and Italy, the emperor Charles V, the Pope of the Holy Roman Empire and the King of Spain Philip II. Their main instruments were the monastic orders, the Inquisition and the Roman Curia. The Inquisition itself, which, along with the trade of indulgences, caused the greatest discontent and popular outrage, was transformed in 1542 and entered into direct papal submission.
Starting events
Counter-Reformation in Europe is a set of measures by the Catholic Church with the aim of restoring its prestige. In 1545 the Council of Trent was convened . At the initiative of Paul III, then the Pope, in the Trident is going to the XIX Ecumenical Council, which went down in history under the name of Serdica. As the presentation of Martin Luther with the subsequent beating of his famous "95 theses" to the doors of the Wittenberg church is considered the beginning of the Reformation, so the XIX cathedral is the starting point of the Counter-Reformation. He ended in 1563 and, undoubtedly, strengthened the position of Catholicism. One of the significant events of the cathedral, which allowed to significantly strengthen control over the minds of citizens, was the creation of the Index of Prohibited Books, canceled only in 1966 and lasted four centuries. The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation in Europe have their root causes and premises, concealed in the depths of Catholicism and Christianity in general.
Repentant sinner
The counter-reformation in Europe was based mainly on the Jesuit order, created in 1534 and legalized by Pope Paul III in 1540. About how much he did for the Counter-Reformation, says his main slogan - "The end justifies the means." Its effectiveness was explained by the design of the Order itself in the military model, the most severe discipline and obedience, the highest educational level of the Jesuits and their infinite devotion to Catholicism. The Jesuits lived in peace and became famous for their cruelty and missionary activity. There is an opinion that the most ardent adept is a former sung sinner. According to Diderot, the fanatic Loyola spent his youth in wars and debauchery. The cruel persecution and physical destruction of heretics made the word "Jesuit" itself a common denominator, symbolizing cunning, betrayal and meanness. Fires flared all over Europe. On one of them was burned in 1600 by Giordano Bruno.
Not everything is lost
The "Society of Jesus" Ignatius Loyola, fought for the purity of faith, stopped the advancement of Protestantism and prevented him from capturing Italy, Spain, Austria. In France, after the bloody Bartholomew night, which occurred in 1572, when 30,000 Huguenots were cut out, tolerance was established. Protestant steel Sweden, England, Prussia, Saxony and Denmark. The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation in Europe are links in one chain, representing religious wars. The dispute between Protestant and Catholic churches was only completed after the 30th warrior. The Peace of Westphalia, concluded in 1648, equalized the churches in rights. The new religion considered laziness, idleness and dishonesty to be the greatest sins. It fully corresponded to the nascent capitalism. People were motivated by the desire to earn and grow rich, competition arose. It can be safely asserted that the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation promoted the emergence of new economic relations and the change of formations. In the countries where Catholicism has not surrendered its positions, capitalism came much later.