The Council of Trent
The 95 theses were written during a period in European history known as the reformation. They furthered the ideology of the reformation by questioning the authority of the Catholic church. As a result, Protestantism began to get a hold in Europe. In response to these and other challenges, the Catholic church began the Counter-Reformation.
Martin Luther began the Reformation.
No, the Protestant Reformation occurred before the Catholic Reformation. The Protestant Reformation began in the early 16th century, with Martin Luther's 95 Theses in 1517 marking a significant moment. In response, the Catholic Reformation, also known as the Counter-Reformation, took place mainly in the mid-16th century, focusing on reforming the Church and addressing issues raised by the Protestant movement.
The Counter-Reformation in Italy began in the mid-16th century, particularly after the Council of Trent, which started in 1545 and concluded in 1563. This movement was a response to the Protestant Reformation and aimed to reform the Catholic Church and reaffirm its doctrines. The Counter-Reformation was characterized by a renewed emphasis on spirituality, the establishment of new religious orders, and the promotion of Baroque art and architecture to inspire faith.
The Catholic Church began a Counter-Reformation, spearheaded by the members of the Society of Jesus, called Jesuits. Beginning with the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation was comprised of several elements: ecclesiastical or structural reconfiguration, spiritual movements, creation of new religious orders, and increasing political dimensions. The Catholic Church recognized and acknowledged the concerns raised by Martin Luther, and by addressing them, created a stronger, more vibrant church that has resisted criticism and carried on for centuries.
The logical inference which can be made from the "counter reformation" which is actually the Catholic reform and began prior to the protestant revolt - so it should not be named with reference to it - is that there were major problems in the Catholic education system, both of the clergy and the laity and that many people, clerics, religious, and laity, had absolutely no idea what was involved with their faith - rather analogous to today's world - and the Catholic Church as a world wide institution was in major trouble.
St. Francis of Assisi lived in the 12th-13th century, prior to the Counter Reformation which began in the 16th century. However, his emphasis on simplicity, poverty, and care for the poor inspired other religious figures and movements, including those that emerged during the Counter Reformation. His teachings influenced a renewed focus on piety and humility among Catholics during this period.
Martin Luther
It started with Martin Luther speaking out against the Roman Catholic churchOne event that began the Reformation is that Martin Luther posted theses when the printing press came into use.
Martin Luther protested against the nature of penance, the authority of the pope and the usefulness of indulgences.
The movement intended to cure the corruption of the Catholic Church was the Protestant Reformation, which began in the early 16th century. Spearheaded by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, it sought to address issues such as the sale of indulgences, clerical abuses, and the Church's authority. The Reformation led to the establishment of various Protestant denominations and significant changes within the Catholic Church itself, including the Counter-Reformation, which aimed to reform the Church from within.
Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation.