vier, Loyola founded the Society of Jesus in 1540. The order was organized on military lines from the start: "The preparation of a candidate for the Society was long and arduous and marked a significant contrast to the ease with which people had entered priesthood and religious life in earlier ages" (Holmes and Bickers 164). Those who aspired to become Jesuits were trained to subordinate all their powers to the service of God through the Society by a series of meditations drawn up by Loyola, called Spiritual Exercises. The Jesuits adapted their lives and methods to whatever work they undertook: "They re-examined everything traditional, in fact, only retaining what promoted their pastoral aims and main tasks: preaching, giving retreats, teaching, and administering the sacraments" (Bokenkotter 221). The Jesuits did more than any other body of men to stimulate the spiritual transformation of the Catholic Church.
Another important influence of Catholic reform was the Council of Trent. For years Protestant leaders had been hoping that a council would meet to accomplish the reforms in the church that they wanted, and perhaps succeed in restoring religious unity. The Protestants, however, were not ready to accept a council controlled by the papacy, because they did not believe that this would meet any of their demands. The popes feared that a council would reduce their own power. Finally, Pope Paul III was able to overcome various obstacles and summon a general council of the Church at Trent, a city in northern Italy.
From the outset at the Council of Trent, it was clear that the papacy did not want any compromise with the Protestants. It was not prepared to make to them any concessions such as agreeing to the marriage of the clergy or to services in languages other than Latin. The papacy wanted the council to deal with doctrine first and make definite statements which would show clearly where Roman Catholicism differed fr...