Ellenreformáció

Ellenreformáció, also known as the Catholic Reformation, was the period of Catholic revival that began in response to the Protestant Reformation. It is generally considered to have started with the Council of Trent in 1545 and lasted until the end of the Thirty Years' War in 1648. The primary goals of the Catholic Reformation were to address internal corruption within the Church, reaffirm Catholic doctrines that had been challenged by Protestants, and to revitalize the spiritual life of Catholics.

Key initiatives of the Ellenreformáció included significant reforms within the Catholic Church itself. The Council of Trent clarified and reasserted a wide range of Catholic teachings, such as the importance of both faith and good works for salvation, the seven sacraments, and the authority of tradition alongside scripture. The Council also addressed issues of clerical discipline, mandating better education for priests and prohibiting practices like simony.

New religious orders, such as the Jesuits (Society of Jesus), played a crucial role in this period. Founded by Ignatius of Loyola, the Jesuits became renowned for their missionary work, their commitment to education, and their staunch defense of Catholic orthodoxy. They were instrumental in re-Christianizing areas that had fallen to Protestantism and in spreading Catholicism to new parts of the world.

The Ellenreformáció also involved a renewed emphasis on art and culture to express Catholic devotion and reaffirm its teachings. The Baroque style, with its dramatic and emotionally charged imagery, became closely associated with this period, used to inspire awe and reinforce faith. While the Protestant Reformation led to a fragmentation of Western Christianity, the Ellenreformáció succeeded in revitalizing the Catholic Church, consolidating its doctrines, and regaining some of the influence it had lost.