Council of Trent
Council of Trent (Latin: Concilium Tridentinum), the nineteenth ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, was held in the city of Trento (Trent) in northern Italy over three periods from 1545 to 1563. Convened by Pope Paul III in response to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation, the council addressed both doctrinal questions contested by Protestant reformers and the need for internal reform within the Church.[1]
The Council of Trent clarified and defined key Catholic doctrines, including the canon of Sacred Scripture (affirming the deuterocanonical books), the role of Sacred Tradition alongside Scripture, justification by faith and works, the seven sacraments, the sacrificial nature of the Mass, and the veneration of saints and sacred images. It also enacted significant disciplinary reforms, such as requiring bishops to reside in their dioceses, establishing seminaries for priestly formation, and correcting abuses related to indulgences.[1] These decrees were confirmed by Pope Pius IV in the bull Benedictus Deus on 26 January 1564.[1]
As of December 2025, the Council of Trent remains a foundational reference for Catholic doctrine, influencing the Counter-Reformation and subsequent Church teaching, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992), which frequently cites its definitions.[2]
History
The call for a general council to address abuses in the Church and doctrinal disputes predated the Protestant Reformation, with earlier attempts under Popes Martin V and Eugene IV. However, political conflicts, including wars between Emperor Charles V and King Francis I of France, delayed its convocation.[1]
Pope Paul III issued the bull Laetare Jerusalem on 19 November 1544, summoning the council to open in Trent on 15 March 1545, though it formally began on 13 December 1545. The council proceeded in three main periods: 1545–1547 (under Paul III), 1551–1552 (under Julius III), and 1562–1563 (under Pius IV), with interruptions due to war, plague, and political negotiations.[1]
Attendance varied, with a maximum of about 255 voting members in the final period. The council fathers included cardinal legates, archbishops, bishops, and theologians, predominantly from Italy and Spain, though representatives from other regions participated.[1]
The council's work combined dogmatic decrees responding to Protestant teachings with reform decrees aimed at clerical discipline and pastoral care.
First Period (1545–1547)
The early sessions focused on foundational issues: the Nicene Creed, the canon of Scripture (including deuterocanonical books), Sacred Tradition as a source of revelation, original sin, and justification.[1]
Second Period (1551–1552)
Sessions addressed the sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance, and Extreme Unction, reaffirming transubstantiation and the sacrificial character of the Mass.[1]
Third Period (1562–1563)
The final sessions treated Holy Orders, Matrimony, Purgatory, indulgences, the veneration of saints and relics, and sacred images, while issuing comprehensive reform decrees.[1]
Doctrinal Definitions
The Council of Trent systematically addressed doctrines challenged during the Reformation. In its fourth session (8 April 1546), it decreed the canon of Scripture, affirming 73 books (46 Old Testament, 27 New Testament) as contained in the Vulgate, and anathematizing those who rejected them.[3]
On justification (sixth session, 13 January 1547), the council taught that it involves both faith and cooperating works, prepared by grace, rejecting sola fide.[1]
The council defined seven sacraments as instituted by Christ, necessary for salvation, and conferring grace ex opere operato (seventh session, 3 March 1547).[4]
Regarding the Eucharist (thirteenth session, 11 October 1551), it reaffirmed transubstantiation and the real presence of Christ.[1]
The twenty-fifth session (3–4 December 1563) addressed Purgatory, invocation of saints, relics, and images, emphasizing their pedagogical and devotional value.[1]
Reforms and Significance in Catholic Tradition
The Council of Trent enacted extensive reforms to address acknowledged abuses. It mandated episcopal residence, prohibited pluralism and simony, and required the establishment of seminaries in every diocese for the systematic formation of clergy (twenty-third session).[1]
These measures contributed to the renewal of pastoral life, education of priests, and discipline in the Church, forming the basis of the Catholic or Counter-Reformation.
The council's dogmatic definitions remain authoritative, providing clarity on disputed points and serving as a touchstone for Catholic theology. Its influence is evident in the Roman Catechism (1566), commissioned to expound its teachings, and in later councils, including Vatican II, which built upon its legacy while emphasizing continuity.[5]
The decrees underscore the Church's commitment to both fidelity to tradition and necessary reform, guided by the Holy Spirit.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 "Catholic Encyclopedia: Council of Trent". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15030c.htm.
- ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 1994.
- ↑ "Catholic Encyclopedia: Canon of the New Testament". New Advent. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03274a.htm.
- ↑ "The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent". https://www.papalencyclicals.net/councils/trent.htm.
- ↑ Catechism of the Catholic Church. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 1994.