The Catechism of The Council of Trent

                          

During the 16^th century, the Protestant Reformation inflicted great damage on the Church, much to where she kept losing more of her members. Even though the Church had recognized the problems that she needed to address, it was not done quickly enough; by the time the Church called for an ecumenical council, the Protestant Reformers had already begun their own denominations. Nevertheless, this did not shake the Faith of the Church to the point of losing hope. In December of 1545, she finally convened an ecumenical council to address her issues of corruption as well as defend her teachings against heretical ones. ¹

              The council met in three sessions over the course of 18 years. ² It was not initially intended though, for it to be extended this long. ³ The reason for this was because of both political and military factors as well as fear of disease; these tensions ended up forcing the council to suspend its gatherings. Regardless, the Council still provided the means of reform that the Church was in desperate need of. ⁴

               

The Council’s teachings are compiled together in a tome titled The Catechism of The Council of Trent. This Catechism was composed as a means for the clergy of possessing some official book that contained orthodox teaching which could authentically instruct the laity in the truths of the Catholic Faith. It consists of a four-part structure, much similar to that of the Church’s most recent catechism: the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The first part opens by reaffirming the doctrinal beliefs of the Creed. The next part goes into explaining the importance of sacraments and why they are necessary for salvation. The third part is based on the Ten Commandments, namely focusing them on Catholic morality and its effect toward eternal salvation. The final part breaks apart the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer so as to understand what prayer is and why it is important to grow in our relationship with God. ⁵

           

             Overall though, the Catechism was meant to refute the falsity of Protestant teachings. Namely justification by “Faith alone” was defined as incompatible with the effects of Original Sin. Furthermore, Sacred Tradition was re-acknowledged as a source of Divine truth vs. the notion of “Scripture alone.” ⁶

            

Even though this Catechism is not well known today among the laity, it is still highly treasured by the Church as one of her most outstanding authoritative works ever written. Within a few hundred years after it was first published, Pope Leo XIII recommended that it be used by all seminarians alongside St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica. Moreover, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had even referred to it as “…the most important Catholic Catechism.” Without a doubt, its authentic proclamation is easily comprehendible, which is why many theologians and saints have held high regard for it during these prevalent times of confusion. ⁷ In summation, it is arguable that neglect of this Catechism could potentially lesson proper instruction on the truths of the Catholic Faith.

Endnotes

                ¹ D.D. Emmons. “Did the Council of Trent Change the Church?,” Our Sunday Visitor Inc., 2012. (18 April 2016), at http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=11&sid=94b1611c-42ff-4c38-baa9-6b9eaa63291c%40sessionmgr4004&hid=4208.

² “Council of Trent: Roman Catholicism,” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016. (18 April 2016), at http://www.britannica.com/event/Council-of-Trent.

³ Emmons. “Did the Council of Trent Change the Church?”

⁴ “Council of Trent: Roman Catholicism.”

⁵ McHugh, John A., and Charles J. Callan (trans.). The Catechism of The Council of Trent. (South Bend, Indiana: Marian Publications, 1976), “Contents.”  

⁶ Masnovo, Alberto. “1545 The Council of Trent Begins,” Christianity Today/Christian History magazine, April 2016. (18 April 2016), at http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-28/1545-council-of-trent-begins.html.

            ⁷ McHugh and Callan. The Catechism of The Council of Trent, back cover.