The Growth of Counter-Reformation

The Papacy, realising the threat that Protestantism posed to their faith and dominion, initiated a series of reforms known as the Counter-Reformation.
Pope Paul III exceptionally stood out in this process, initiating several pivotal events to carry the Catholic Church out of its crisis.
In 1537, Paul III set up a commission known as the Consilium de Emendanda Ecclesia, to gather information concerning abuses in the Church.
The commission’s report prompted Paul III to organise the Council of Trent, starting in 1545, where Catholic authorities assembled to define Church doctrine and implement internal reforms.

The Council of Trent, taking place intermittently from 1545 to 1563, was an assembly of Catholic bishops and Cardinals who debated the key doctrinal differences between Catholicism and Protestantism.
The Council reaffirmed traditional Catholic teachings in opposition to Protestant beliefs, including the importance of both Scripture and Tradition, the Seven Sacraments, and the existence of Purgatory.
It also led to organisational changes within the Church such as the enforcement of clerical celibacy, the prohibition of simony, and the establishment of seminaries for the training of priests.

An important development within the Counter-Reformation was the formation of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534.
The Jesuits focused on education, evangelisation, and missionary work, contributing to the revival of Catholicism across Europe and abroad.
Through establishing schools and universities, the Jesuits played a crucial role in combatting Protestant influence and spreading their version of Catholic orthodoxy.

Art and architecture were employed as propagandistic tools during the Counter-Reformation, to inspire devotion and communicate religious messages to the faithful.
This period witnessed a flourishing of Baroque art, characterized by heightened emotionalism, vibrant colours and movement, aimed to draw people emotionally and spiritually into the landscapes of Christian mythology.

The Counter-Reformation saw the intensification of the Roman Inquisition that fought heresy and propagated Catholic orthodoxy.
Scholars, scientists and writers were now under increased scrutiny from the Church, and works were often added to the Index of Forbidden Books if they were considered inappropriate or contrary to the scriptures.

By 1564, the Counter-Reformation had led to a revival of Catholicism across many parts of Europe. It marked a period of spiritual renewal, organisation reforms, and intense efforts to combat Protestantism.