The Distance from Reformation to Counter-Reformation

The Reformation marked the end of Middle Ages and the beginning of modern times. Instead of generating the true spirit of Christ, that is, the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, the Reformation made thousands suffer on account of their religion. The tragedy of the Reformation was the unresolved tension which arose from the fact that the interpretation of the fundamentals of faith was left to an unsure and changing Church government and its theologians. The Council of Trent took it as its mighty task to safeguard the Old Faith from the devastating attacks of the innovation and to restore Catholic faith and ecclesiastical discipline. Trent could valiantly defend her hierarchical constitution and successfully repel the religious subjectivism of the reformers. Thus the Reformation which threatened to destroy the Catholic Church gave the impetus for a counter-reformation, i.e., to the religious revival and Catholic restoration. Though the Reformation was religious in character, it had far-reaching effects in all fields. Thus it helped in the shaping of the modern world, along with other movements. The question whether Reformation helped the modern people or not could be answered from the effects it produced in different lands and at different times. Reformation paved the way for Catholic restoration or Counter-reformation