Home » Mind & Soul » Church History » The Counter Reformation: An Introduction

The Counter Reformation: An Introduction

© Michelle Powell-Smith

Recent articles have discussed the Protestant reformation, including the reformers, their theology and a bit of history. As might be expected, the efforts of the reformers triggered reform in the Catholic church as well. The so-called counter-reformation will be the focus of the next few articles on this site, including an article on St. Teresa of Avila, one on St. Ignatius, several on Jesuit history, and one on Erasmus, as one of the great thinkers of the Catholic reformation.

The term "counter-reformation" encompasses a variety of movements in the church, some more directed toward reform than others. The term was first used in Protestant sources, and it should be said that reform began in the Catholic church before the Protestant reformation and has continued into the modern day. Reform movements included both clergy and lay people, in some instances. Some reformers sought, as Luther originally had, to correct abuses in the church. Other movements were less directed toward reform in the church and were a conservative reaction to the protestant reformation.

While this was a period of great fervor and activity in the Catholic church a few names, dates, and movements stand out among the history of the time. The most prominent of these shall be dealt with in individual articles in the coming weeks. We cannot discuss the counter-reformation without studying St. Ignatius and the Jesuit movement, without discussing the Council of Trent and without discussing Erasmus, one of the earlier reformers in the church. With regard to women in history, St. Teresa of Avila is a particularly interesting study in female hagiography.

The impact of the counter-reformation rang the world over. The history of the conquest of South and Central America is marked by the involvement of the Jesuits. The Council of Trent corrected long standing abuses of episcopal power and the selling of indulgences. Even today, Ignatian retreats are still undertaken, both by laypeople and clergy.