Council of trent when was it created

Originally the proxies were not allowed a vote; Paul III granted to those German bishops who could not leave their dioceses on account of religious troubles, and to them alone, representation by proxies. In , when the council met again, Pius IV withdrew this permission. Other regulations were also passed, in regard to the right of the members to draw the revenues of their dioceses during the session of the council, and concerning the mode of life of the members.

At a later date, during the third period of the council, various modifications were made in these decisions. Thus the theologians of the council, who had grown in the meantime into a large body, were divided into six classes, each of which received a number of drafts of decrees for discussion. Special deputations also were often appointed for special questions. The entire regulation of the debates was a very prudent one, and offered every guarantee for an absolutely objective and exhaustive discussion in all their bearings of the questions brought up for debate.

A regular courier service was maintained between Rome and Trent , so that the pope was kept fully informed in regard to the debates of the council. The work and sessions First period at Trent Among the fathers of the council and the theologians who had been summoned to Trent were a number of important men. Girolamo Seripando , General of the Augustinian Hermits , was the most prominent of the heads of the orders; of the theologians , the two learned Dominicans , Ambrogio Catarino and Domenico Soto , should be mentioned.

After the formal opening session 13 December, , the various questions pertaining to the order of business were debated; neither in the second session 7 January, nor in the third 4 February, were any matters touching faith or discipline brought forward. It was only after the third session, when the preliminary questions and the order of business had been essentially settled, that the real work of the council began.

The emperor's representative, Francisco de Toledo, did not reach Trent until 15 March, and a further personal representative, Mendoza, arrived on 25 May. The first subject of discussion which was laid before the general congregation by the legates on 8 February was the Scriptures as the source of Divine revelation.

After exhaustive preliminary discussions in the various congregations, two decrees were ready for debate at the fourth session 8 April, , and were adopted by the fathers. In treating the canon of Scripture they declare at the same time that in matters of faith and morals the tradition of the Church is, together with the Bible , the standard of supernatural revelation ; then taking up the text and the use of the sacred Books they declare the Vulgate to be the authentic text for sermons and disputations, although this did not exclude textual emendations.

It was also determined that the Bible should be interpreted according to the unanimous testimony of the Fathers and never misused for superstitious purposes. Nothing was decided in regard to the translation of the Bible in the vernaculars. In the meantime earnest discussions concerning the question of church reform had been carried on between the pope and the legates , and a number of items had been suggested by the latter.

These had special reference to the Roman Curia and its administration, to the bishops , the ecclesiastical benefices and tithes , the orders, and the training of the clergy. Charles V wished the discussion of the dogmatic questions to be postponed, but the council and the pope could not agree to that, and the council debated dogmas simultaneously with decrees concerning discipline.

On 24 May the general congregation took up the discussion of original sin , its nature, consequences, and cancellation by baptism. At the same time the question of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin was brought forward, but the majority of the members finally decided not to give any definite dogmatic decision on this point.

The reforms debated concerned the establishment of theological professorships, preaching, and episcopal obligation of residence. In reference to the latter the Spanish bishop , Paceco, raised the point whether this obligation was of Divine origin, or whether it was merely an ecclesiastical ordinance of human origin, a question which led later to long and violent discussions. In the fifth session 17 June, the decree on the dogma of original sin was promulgated with five canons anathemas against the corresponding erroneous doctrines; and the first decree on reform de reformatione was also promulgated.

This treats in two chapters of professorships of the Scriptures , and of secular learning artes liberales , of those who preach the Divine word, and of the collectors of alms. For the following session, which was originally set for 29 July, the matters proposed for general debate were the dogma of justification as the dogmatic question and the obligation of residence as regards bishops as the disciplinary decree ; the treatment of these questions was proposed to the general congregation by the legates on 21 June.

The dogma of justification brought up for debate one of the fundamental questions which had to be discussed with reference to the heretics of the sixteenth century, and which in itself presented great difficulties. The imperial party sought to block the discussion of the entire matter, some of the fathers were anxious on account of the approaching war of Charles V against the Protestant princes, and there was fresh dissension between the emperor and the pope.

However, the debates on the question were prosecuted with the greatest zeal ; animated, at times even stormy, discussions took place; the debate of the next general session had to be postponed. No less than sixty-one general congregations and forty-four other congregations were held for the debate of the important subjects of justification and the obligation of residence, before the matters were ready for the final decision.

At the sixth regular session on 13 January, , was promulgated the masterly decree on justification de justificatione , which consisted of a prooemium or preface and sixteen chapters with thirty-three canons in condemnation of the opposing heresies. The decree on reform of this session was one in five chapters respecting the obligation of residence of bishops and of the occupants of ecclesiastical benefices or offices.

These decrees make the sixth session one of the most important and decisive of the entire council. The legates proposed to the general congregation as the subject-matter for the following session, the doctrine of the Church as to the sacraments , and for the disciplinary question a series of ordinances respecting both the appointment and official activities of bishops , and on ecclesiastical benefices.

When the questions had been debated, in the seventh session 3 March, , a dogmatic decree with suitable canons was promulgated on the sacraments in general thirteen canons , on baptism fourteen canons , and on confirmation three canons ; a decree on reform in fifteen chapters was also enacted in regard to bishops and ecclesiastical benefices , in particular as to pluralities, visitations , and exemptions, concerning the founding of infirmaries, and as to the legal affairs of the clergy.

Before this session was held the question of the prorogation of the council or its transfer to another city had been discussed. The relations between pope and emperor had grown even more strained; the Smalkaldic War had begun in Germany ; and now an infectious disease broke out in Trent , carrying off the general of the Franciscans and others. The cardinal legates , therefore, in the eighth session 11 March, proposed the transfer of the council to another city, supporting themselves in this action by a Brief which had been given them by the pope some time before.

The majority of the fathers voted to transfer the council to Bologna, and on the following day 12 March the legates went there. By the ninth session the number of participants had risen to four cardinals , nine archbishops , forty-nine bishops , two proxies, two abbots , three generals of orders, and fifty theologians. Period at Bologna The majority of the fathers of the council went with the cardinal legates from Trent to Bologna; but fourteen bishops who belonged to the party of Charles V remained at Trent and would not recognize the transfer.

The sudden change of place without any special consultation beforehand with the pope did not please Paul III , who probably foresaw that this would lead to further severe difficulties between himself and the emperor.

As a matter of fact Charles V was very indignant at the change, and through his ambassador Vaga protested against it, vigorously urging a return to Trent. The emperor's defeat of the Smalkaldic League increased his power. Influential cardinals sought to mediate between the emperor and the pope , but the negotiations failed. The emperor protested formally against the transfer to Bologna, and, refusing to permit the Spanish bishops who had remained at Trent to leave that city, began negotiations again with the German Protestants on his own responsibility.

Consequently at the ninth session of the council held at Bologna on 21 April, , the only decree issued was one proroguing the session. The same action was all that was taken in the tenth session on 2 June, , although there had been exhaustive debates on various subjects in congregations. The tension between the emperor and the pope had increased despite the efforts of Cardinals Sfondrato and Madruzzo. All negotiations were fruitless. The bishops who had remained at Trent had held no sessions, but when the pope called to Rome four of the bishops at Bologna and four of those at Trent , the latter said in excuse that they could not obey the call.

Paul III had now to expect extreme opposition from the emperor. Therefore, on 13 September, he proclaimed the suspension of the council and commanded the cardinal legate del Monte to dismiss the members of the council assembled at Bologna; this was done on 17 September. The bishops were called to Rome , where they were to prepare decrees for disciplinary reforms. This closed the first period of the council. On 10 Nov. He at once began negotiations with the emperor to reopen the council.

On 14 Nov. The cardinal legate reached Trent on 29 April, , where, besides the bishop of the city, fourteen bishops from the countries ruled by the emperor were in attendance; several bishops came from Rome , where they had been staying, and on 1 May, , the eleventh session was held.

In this the resumption of the council was decreed , and 1 September was appointed as the date of the next session. The Sacrament of the Eucharist and drafts of further disciplinary decrees were discussed in the congregations of the theologians and also in several general congregations.

Among the theologians were Lainez and Salmeron , who had been sent by the pope , and Johannes Arza, who represented the emperor. The King of France , however, was unwilling to allow any French bishop to go to the council. In the twelfth session 1 Sept. This was due to the expectation of the arrival of other German bishops , besides the Archbishops of Mainz and Trier who were already in attendance. The thirteenth session was held on 11 Oct. Another decree deferred until the next session the discussion of four articles concerning the Eucharist, namely, Communion under the two species of bread and wine and the Communion of children ; a safe-conduct was also issued for Protestants who desired to come to the council.

The presidents laid before the general congregation of 15 October drafts of definitions of the Sacraments of Penance and Extreme Unction for discussion. These subjects occupied the congregations of theologians, among whom Gropper , Nausea , Tapper, and Hessels were especially prominent, and also the general congregations during the months of October and November. At the fourteenth session, held on 25 November, the dogmatic decree promulgated contained nine chapters on the dogma of the Church respecting the Sacrament of Penance and three chapters on extreme unction.

To the chapters on penance were added fifteen canons condemning heretical teachings on this point, and four canons condemning heresies to the chapters on unction. The decree on reform treated the discipline of the clergy and various matters respecting ecclesiastical benefices. In the meantime, ambassadors from several Protestant princes and cities reached Trent. They made various demands, as: that the earlier decisions which were contrary to the Augsburg Confession should be recalled; that debates on questions in dispute between Catholics and Protestants should be deferred; that the subordination of the pope to an ecumenical council should be defined ; and other propositions which the council could not accept.

Since the close of the last session both the theologians and the general congregations had been occupied in numerous assemblies with the dogma of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and of the ordination of priests , as well as with plans for new reformatory decrees. At the fifteenth session 25 January, , in order to make some advances to the ambassadors of the Protestants , the decisions in regard to the subjects under consideration were postponed and a new safe-conduct, such as they had desired, was drawn up for them.

Besides the three papal legates and Cardinal Madruzzo, there were present at Trent ten archbishops and fifty-four bishops , most of them from the countries ruled by the emperor. On account of the treacherous attack made by Maurice of Saxony on Charles V , the city of Trent and the members of the council were placed in danger; consequently, at the sixteenth session 23 April, a decree suspending the council for two years was promulgated.

However, a considerably longer period of time elapsed before it could resume its sessions. Subscriber sign in You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Username Please enter your Username. Password Please enter your Password. Forgot password? Don't have an account? Sign in via your Institution.

You could not be signed in, please check and try again. Sign in with your library card Please enter your library card number. All rights reserved. Alberigo provides a useful bibliographical introduction to scholarship on the Council up to , but this work now needs updating.

Alberigo, Giuseppe. Edited by John W. Thoughtful overview and introduction to a basic bibliography for the now-revised image of the Council, the problems facing each period of the Council, achievements and limitations of Trent, the struggle over interpretation, the example of Carlo Borromeo as the ideal of Tridentine reform, and the reception of the Council.

Bireley, Robert. By Robert Bireley, 45— Chapter 3 of this informative work sets forth the interaction of the papacy and the Council of Trent; sets the Council against its historical background; looks at key connections between political events, princely ambitions, and doctrinal issues; and provides a brief but clear exposition of theological controversies.

Black, Christopher F. By Christopher F. Black, 19— Houndsmill, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, Gleason, Elisabeth G. Edited by Thomas A. Brady Jr. Oberman, and James D. Tracy, — Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, Key and highly charged are the concepts in the scholarship of the Council of Trent, the Catholic Reformation, Counterreformation, and Papal Reform.

Gleason illuminates their meanings in the context of confessional differences, above all whether there was a true Catholic Reformation or if such was essentially a reaction to Protestantism. Hsia, R. Po-chia Hsia, 10— A general narrative of the Council of Trent from opening day to its close.