By the mid-sixteenth century, Lutheranism had spread across Germany and the need for reform and response within the Catholic church was clear. Luther had, throughout his lifetime, hoped for reform and union within the church. That was not, as history has shown, meant to be.
The Council of Trent served to clarify Catholic belief, dogma and doctrine, producing the catechism still used today. The Council is divided into three periods, the first meeting from 1545 to 1547, the second in 1551 and 1552, and finally the third in 1562 and 1563. The delays in the Council were often political, due to unrest in Germany, or changes in the church hierarchy.
The first period of the Council of Trent produced the Roman Catechism, specifying the beliefs of the Catholic church. The first meeting of the Council also clarified church belief and dogma, the roles of scripture and sacraments, and provided guidelines for clergy. The Canons on Justification are considered among the most important work of the first period of the Council.
The second period of the Council focused on the Eucharist, penance, and further discussion of the roles and behavior of the clergy. The second period of the Council was heavily influenced by the Jesuits.
Finally, the third period of the Council is best known for the list of forbidden books it produced. While the other periods of the Council served largely to clarify Catholic belief, the third period also clarified what the Catholic church did not believe.
The reforms produced in the Council of Trent to correct abuses within the church have lasted to this day. The Council was critical in creating what is today the modern Roman Catholic Church.
For the full text of the proceedings of the Council of Trent, see http://history.hanover.edu/early/trent.h... For a list of books forbidden by the Council, see http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/trent...
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