The rather belated Roman Catholic council called by Pope Paul III "for the double purpose of settling the doctrinal controversies, which then agitated and divided Western Christendom, and of reforming discipline, which the more serious Catholics themselves, including even an exceptional Pope (Adrian VI), desired and declared to be a crying necessity" (Philip Schaff). It ran, on an off, from 1545 to 1563 (1545-47, 1551-52, 1562-63), and was held in the alpine Austrian (Italian since 1917) city of Trento. 'Tridentine' is its corresponding adjective.
Often seen as the beginning of the Counter-Reformation, the Council of Trent was called in response to the cataclysmic splits in the churches as a result of the Reformation, especially in northern Europe. Martin Luther had originally called for just such a council to be convened to settle the questions he had raised. Had Rome listened instead of taking the hard line of insisting on him falling in line, the Reformation may never have occurred. The refusal to listen had, indeed, become a characteristic feature of the corruption at the heart of medieval Roman Catholicism, but was made worse by the political estrangement between two major reigning monarchs of Europe, Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, and Francis I of France. When the Council was finally convened, it came too late (coming nearly three decades after Luther had raised his theses and many nations had already broken away) and did too little. Much of the time were wasted on formalities, and whatever decisions it made simply hardened essentially into the requirement—though its formalization came later—of papal infallibility, and the sanctioning of a number of doctrines including tradition as a joint rule of faith (over against the Reformers sola scriptura, Scriptures alone), the inclusion of the Apocrypha in the canon, the authority of the Vulgate, justification by works as well as by faith, meritorious works, the seven sacraments (acting ex opere operato), transubstantiation, eucharist in one kind, mass for both the living and the dead, confession and absolution of sins by the priest, supreme unction, the doctrine of purgatory and indulgences, as well as priestly celibacy. Most of these feel remote to most of us. Trent, however, passed a resolution which would affect the majority of Christians today though most are unaware of it; it decreed that, henceforth, only marriages conducted in the Church would be recognized. Most of the reformed churches followed suit and, hence, was born the custom of the "Christian wedding."
The Council itself was unevenly represented, with Italians making up the majority of the participants (the Germans could not attend on account of on-going war) and theologians were elected for participation biased towards those closest to the pope. Out of deference to Emperor Charles V, the evangelicals were invited; though a number did attend but—with no right of deliberation—most saw not point in attending.
Little in Roman Catholicism changed from the time of the council's conclusion until Vatican II in 1962-65 (despite the calling of Vatican I in 1869-70).
By and large, Trent (and Roman Catholic theology in general) has not attracted the attention (except perhaps in sharp chriticism)of most evangelical theologians of all shades with the possible exception of those from the Anglican fold. Anglicans have almost always seen themselves as taking a "middle path" (however the expression is construed) between the Roman Catholic church and the Reformed which gives them a continuing interest in the former. This interest is especially reflected in recent years in the various ARCICs (Anglican-Roman Catholic Internation Commissions) which had explored various issues arising from Trent as well as the latter Roman Catholic councils, Vatican I and Vatican II.
Further Reading
Diarmaid McCulloch, All Things Made New. Writings on the Reformation. London: Penguin, 2017. See esp., pp.70-77.
Resources
Joe Carter, "9 Things You Should Know about the Council of Trent," The Gosple Coalition (US), 5 Dec 2013.
html N 5-6 (Open on Phone)
Catholic Encyclopedia, "Council of Trent" New Advent. This article gives an "insider" view of the matter.
html N 6 (Open on Phone)
©ALBERITH
190921lch