From a Catholic viewpoint, the Protestant Reforma

The nature of spiritual renewal within the Catholic Church during the sixteenth century developed in two stages. It began within the Church as part of the widespread reforming movement, aroused by the abuses of the time, which in some countries led to the growth of Protestantism: "The lure that drew Luther into controversy was a religious huckstering similar to what now appears on radio and television" (Nestingen 16). As Protestant revolts against papal rule strengthened, Catholic reform was then directed increasingly against Protestantism with the objective of opposing the reformers and restoring unity to the Christian faith: "there is no doubt that the Lutheran Reformation intensified the feeling of urgency--carrying forward the Catholic effort toward a deepened spirituality" (Bokenkotter 214). The result of Catholic reform was to transform the old medieval church into the modern Roman Catholic Church.

Reform within the Catholic Church started with t

. . .
ly and reside in their parishes. Perhaps the most important of the council's reforms was its decree that every diocese should have a seminary or college for the education and training of the young men who were to become priests. According to the reform decree: "The disobedient and incorrigible, and the disseminators of depraved morals they shall punish severely, even with expulsion, if necessary" ("Reform Decrees" 100). Such decrees resulted in giving the Church a better ministry, more respected and prepared for its work. Reforms, together with the council's doctrinal definitions, made the Catholic Church stronger than it had ever been. Although it had lost those who had broken away from papal authority, its power over its remaining members, both clerical and laypersons, was made more firm: "it established a firm foundation for the renewal of Catholic life, and it should be regarded as both the fruit of a Catholic reform movement which was now a century old and the cause of that Catholic Reformation which now enjoyed papal support" (Holmes and Bickers 169). The unity and clear beliefs of the Catholic Church now contrasted with the divisions and disagreements among the Protestants. Another important aspect of the Cou
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Catholic Church, Roman Catholic, Council Trent, Roman Inquisition, Paul IV, Exercises Jesuits, Trent Protestant, Congregation Oratory, Pius Dominican, Teresa Avila, catholic church, catholic reform, council trent, sixteenth century, roman inquisition, spanish inquisition, roman catholicism, council trent pope, religious life, history catholic, martin luther, history catholic church, popes paul iv,
Approximate Word count = 2208
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)