Counter-Reformation

The Counter-Reformation (Latin: Contrareformatio), also sometimes called the Catholic Revival or the Catholic Reformation, was the period of Catholic resurgence that was initiated in response to and as an alternative to, or from similar insights as, the Protestant Reformation. It was a comprehensive effort arising from the decrees of the Council of Trent. As a political-historical period, it is frequently dated to have begun with the Council of Trent (1545–1563) and to have ended with the political conclusion of the European wars of religion in 1648, though this is controversial. The effort produced apologetic and polemical documents, anti-corruption efforts, internal reform, spiritual movements, the promotion of new religious orders, and the flourishing of new art and musical styles. War and discriminatory legislation caused large migrations of religious refugees. Such reforms included the formation of seminaries for the proper training of priests in the spiritual life and the theological traditions of the Church, the reform of religious life by returning orders to their spiritual foundations, and new spiritual movements focusing on the devotional life and a personal relationship with Christ, including the Spanish mystics and the French school of spirituality. It also involved political activities and the use of regional Inquisitions. A primary emphasis of the Counter-Reformation was a mission to reach parts of the world that had been colonized by predominantly Catholic nations, and an attempt to reconvert nations such as Sweden and England that once were Catholic from the time of the Christianisation of Europe, but had been lost to the Reformation. Various Counter-Reformation theologians focused only on defending doctrinal positions such as the sacraments and pious practices that were attacked by the Protestant reformers up to the Second Vatican Council.