Trent: What Happened at the Council

by John W. O'Malley

Winner of the John Gilmary Shea Prize

The Council of Trent (1545–1563), the Catholic Church’s attempt to put its house in order in response to the Protestant Reformation, has long been praised and blamed for things it never did. Now, in this first full one-volume history in modern times, John W. O’Malley brings to life the volatile issues that pushed several Holy Roman emperors, kings and queens of France, and five popes―and all of Europe with them―repeatedly to the brink of disaster.

During the council’s eighteen years, war and threat of war among the key players, as well as the Ottoman Turks’ onslaught against Christendom, turned the council into a perilous enterprise. Its leaders declined to make a pronouncement on war against infidels, but Trent’s most glaring and ironic silence was on the authority of the papacy itself. The popes, who reigned as Italian monarchs while serving as pastors, did everything in their power to keep papal reform out of the council’s hands―and their power was considerable. O’Malley shows how the council pursued its contentious parallel agenda of reforming the Church while simultaneously asserting Catholic doctrine.

Like What Happened at Vatican II , O’Malley’s What Happened at the Council strips mythology from historical truth while providing a clear, concise, and fascinating account of a pivotal episode in Church history. In celebration of the 450th anniversary of the council’s closing, it sets the record straight about the much misunderstood failures and achievements of this critical moment in European history.

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Catholic, Christianity, Church History

335 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2000

About the author

Rev. Father John W. O’Malley, SJ, PhD was a professor of theology at the University of Detroit, Weston Jesuit School of Theology, and Georgetown University. His specialty was the history of religious culture in early modern Europe, especially Italy. He received best-book prizes from the American Historical Association, the American Philosophical Society, the Sixteenth Century Studies Conference, the American Catholic Historical Association, and from the Alpha Sigma Nu fraternity. His best known books are The First Jesuits (Harvard University Press, 1993), which has been translated into twelve languages, What Happened at Vatican II (Harvard, 2008), now in six languages, and The Jesuits: A History from Ignatius to the Present (Rowman & Littlefield, 2014), now in seven languages. A companion to the book on Vatican II is his Trent: What Happened at the Council (Harvard, 2012), in five languages. He has edited or co-edited a number of volumes, including three in the Collected Works of Erasmus series, University of Toronto Press. Of special significance is The Jesuits and the Arts, (Saint Joseph’s University Press, 2005), co-edited with Gauvin Alexander Bailey, and Art, Culture, and the Jesuits: The Imago primi saeculi, 1640) (Saint Joseph's University Press, 2015). In 2015 he also published Catholic History for Today's Church: How Our Past Illuminates Our Present (Rowman & Littlefield). He edited a series with Saint Joseph's University Press entitled Early Modern Catholicism and the Visual Arts, in which thirteen titles have appeared to date.

John O’Malley lectured widely in North America and Europe to both professional and general audiences. He held a number of fellowships, from the American Academy in Rome (Prix de Rome), the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies, and other academic organizations. He was a past president of the Renaissance Society of America and of the American Catholic Historical Association. In 1995 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, in 1997 to the American Philosophical Society, and in 2001 to the Accademia di san Carlo, Ambrosian Library, Milan, Italy. He held the Johannes Quasten Medal from The Catholic University of America for distinguished achievement in Religious Studies, and he holds a number of honorary degrees. In 2002 he received the lifetime achievement award from the Society for Italian Historical Studies, in 2005 the corresponding award from the Renaissance Society of America, and in 2012 the corresponding award from the American Catholic Historical Association. He was a Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Society of Jesus.

Reviews

[Kasper Nollet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wie had gedacht dat je het verhaal van een vijftien jaar durende kerkvergadering zó interessant kon maken...
O' Malley schrijft met een haast literaire, soms zelfs erg grappige pen, en onderscheidt mythe van werkelijkheid.
Aanrader voor al wie van ruziënde hoogbejaarde bisschoppen houdt!

[Aaron Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew the history of a church council could be so compelling? However, this Jesuit professor has told a delightful story of a foundational event for one of the world's largest religious groups. His skill as a writer is revealed in the way he navigates dozens of unfamiliar names and makes sense of the convoluted geopolitics of Renaissance Europe in order to present a well-paced narrative accessible to even the most devout Protestant. That said, his tone is decidedly neutral throughout, so much so, that I had to check after reading to discover whether the author was, in fact, Catholic! His treatment of Luther is fair, if not deep, and he doesn't shy away from noting the weaknesses of either council or papacy. His primary goal in this book is to demonstrate what Trent did, and did not, actually accomplish for the Catholic world, in the face of legend and myth. Justification, Original Sin, Transubstantiation, and much more, it's all in here, not just the conclusion of the council, but the debates, arguments, and (yes) politics that led them there.
I am no Catholic, but I enjoyed this book about "the other side" of the Protestant Reformation. As mentioned, the greatest strength of this book is the skill of its author. I look forward to reading more by this writer, possibly on any subject of his choosing.

[Colleen Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very informative and and well written. O'Malley managed to take a rather complicated subject and explain it in a wy that even the "laity" can understand it. Not surprisingly, politics played a huge role at Trent and perhaps prevented reforms that might have been beneficial to the Church being made. The initial goal of the Church was for reform and to perhaps bring the Lutherans back into the fold. While there was some reform, many things were simply side stepped, and needless to say, Lutherans were not brought back. Maybe that is not such a bad thing. Protestants developed different ideas over time and those ideas were simply not compatible with Catholic beliefs. Sadly, some of the abbesses that resulted in the schism were not addressed. This book explains a lot about absit how the Vatican works.

[MyLan · Rating 5 out of 5]

JWO, you are amazing

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that the story of the Council Of Trent (1545-1563) was not what I expected. My (mistaken) impression was that it was a theological conclave whose purpose was to strengthen the Catholic Church in its core beliefs and rituals in the face of the Reformation, and that as such, it was wildly successful. While that was certainly part of the meeting, it turns out that the real purpose of the Council was to reform the Church; to tighten up its discipline of the clergy, to rid it of abuses such as simony, indulgences, absentee and multiple sees, and nepotism. Here, progress was less than perfect, although it did have a positive effect. Anyway, these and all the other issues are covered with style and grace in Professor O'Malley's (himself a Jesuit, it should be noted) account of the Council. The issues of 16th century power politics in Europe are also touched upon, as they were relevant to the Council's work. One wishes for a few more illustrations of the participants, but that is to quibble. As a person who knows very little about the history of the Church and a non-Catholic, I found this book to be both enriching and entertaining.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice quick tour through the Council of Trent. The difficulty of this sort of history is that the politicking back and forth can be difficult to appreciate until you see what affects it had on the outcome. I probably should have read more about the theology of Trent to anticipate the outcome better, but reading it this way felt a bit like a mystery novel.

[Paige Laliberte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that does not hold any broad appeal. It is an extremely detailed book about an extremely niche topic that will have no mass market audience and I can see how many people would never in a million years be tempted to pick it up.

I implore everyone to reconsider.

This was the most engaging text on history that I have ever read. The Council of Trent, the Catholic reaction to the Protestant Reformation, was recounted in minute detail that never once felt as if it dragged. It is a masterpiece in non-fiction and I will definitely be reading every book on Catholic Councils that John O’Malley wrote.

It was so fascinating to learn about the depths of the political system of the Catholic Church in the late Renaissance. Modern Christians most likely cannot comprehend the political struggle going on in Western Europe during this tumultuous era and now I finally understand why the Church could not respond to Luther in a way most would have liked.

Fabulous book. Fabulous author. Never has Catholic history been so damn interesting!

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brings to readers who have little familiarity with this important historical event a fair, deep, and readable account of the Council of Trent. Though the author is a Jesuit, the writing is not full of anti-Protestant bias, and as far as I can tell does not promote any particular brand of Catholic understanding. Such even-handedness is appreciated by a non-Catholic reader like myself.

I came to see how deeply intertwined political realities and theological viewpoints were in this gathering. I was impressed by the openness displayed by some participants toward a proper understanding of Luther's writings on justification and by how readily some of them received the points Luther made about the need to reform certain practices in the Church. O'Malley helped make clear to me that the goal of the Council was two-fold: to make doctrinal clarifications and to implement reform. Despite intransigence and opposition, I think it is fair to say that the goals were accomplished at least in part, though if church and political leaders saw power as something not to be grasped surely better theological statements and clerical reforms would have resulted.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book on the Council of Trent. The author, John W. O'Malley, shows how "messy" this long council was. It was amazing to me to read how the bishops, theologians, and other churchmen who attended the council really struggled with the doctrine of justification. There were some who articulated a position very close to that of Luther. If the council had taken place 30 years earlier, the split between the "Lutherans" and the "papalists" might not have occurred. O'Malley introduces the major and minor characters involved and shows how political struggles between the Pope, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the French King shaped the council. He clearly grasps the history of the council and the political issues, but also the doctrinal issues as well. This is a must for anyone who wants to learn about The Council of Trent--it is so readable and very interesting.

[Cali · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid historiographical review (interrupted by a photoshoot coming to an Instagram near you soon)

[Deborah Steenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

John W. O’Malley has a knack for describing the overarching themes and influence of the council through carefully curated details without getting lost in the weeds. Thoroughly versed in this time period, the author doesn’t so much “tell you what he thinks” - instead he allows the his-story to speak. Every assertion and even criticism is evidenced, fair, kind, respectful of persons then and now. I wish he had been one of my professors in college.

[Justin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as his volumes on Vatican I and II, but I'm happy to blame that on the council not being quite as easy to research.

[Emily Strom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly a fun read, but certainly gave me a detailed picture of the Council of Trent. I had no idea how much drama there was surrounding and within the council.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book which tackles the history of the Council of Trent and shows how the political climate of Europe affected the agenda and decisions made.

It is a very readable book

[Peter Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please give my Amazon review a helpful vote - https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

This book is "meta." It is a book of history on the subject of historians plying their historical craft.

In this case, the subject is the term that historians use for the Catholic historical experience during the Protestant Reformation. The author, John W. O'Malley, SJ, is a Jesuit historian specializing in Catholic conciliar history. He has books on the councils of Trent, Vatican I, and Vatican II. The term used for the Catholic experience between 1500 and 1650 matters a great deal to him.

For example, the term "the Counter-Reformation" implies that all of Catholic history during that period was reducible to a response to Protestantism. Can this be true of Catholic art and music during this time? Unlikely. There was something intrinsically and enduringly Catholic about such things. Similarly, the term "Catholic Reformation" implies that everything in the period was tied up with "reform," which was not the case.

O'Malley traces the positions of the historians on what to call this part of the "Age of Reformation" which was not Protestant. The arguments are technical and require a great deal of attention to the players and their followers and opponents. These passages are really quite tedious for the lay reader. Ultimately, O'Malley suggests that the period should be called "Early Modern Catholicism." To me, it seems that this term is quite appropriate. Also, it fits in with similar descriptions such as Late Antiquity or the Early Medieval period.

Like one of the other reviewers, I was looking for a book that spent more time on Trent, its doctrines, and its legacy. Obviously, the author is not responsible for not writing the book I expected, and it would be uncharitable for me to rate his book on that basis. Nonetheless, forewarned is forearmed, so be aware of the book you are actually getting. If you are looking for the "inside game" of history, then this is your book. If not, then give it a miss.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Council of Trent appears in the background in many 16th century biographies, histories and fictional works. Not much is said of it, and my understanding of it was sketchy. This short volume was a great help in putting it together not just for my understanding of European history, but for general understanding of this important milestone in the development of the Catholic Church.

The first part, describing the political situation, the pressures on the Pope, The Holy Roman Emperor and the monarchs and the impetus for reform was the daunting. I wish I had had more background, because it was not easy reading. After you understand the historical context under which the Council was founded, what follows is easier to grasp.

"The" Council was really three councils spanning 18 years. The first was called to reconcile differences with the Lutherans and respond to Martin Luther's criticisms. Perhaps if this Council had lasted and dealt with the issues, history would have been very different. But the Protestant issues waned in importance as the separation became a done deal. By the third and final meeting of Council, much of northern Europe was Protestant, and the Council focused on doctrine and internal reform.

Reform wasn't easy since the delegates were and/or had ties to those who benefited from the status quo. The book shows how leadership was needed to build consensus. The third and final Council set the organization and laid out the doctrines that took the Church into the modern era.

Author John O'Mally states in the introduction that his goal is to make the work of the Council intelligible to the general reader and he succeeds.

[Vicky P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite O'Malley's protestations that he was leaving too much detail out of an enormously complex issue (and he definitely was), this book proceeded to be a relatively easy to follow account of Trent. I've been doing many other readings for a class aside from this one and this particular text continues to be the most clear-cut of all of them, perhaps because it was intended as an overview and introduction rather than any type of groundbreaking scholarship. But it's appropriate that O'Malley wrote such a work, as he is a premier scholar in this specialty. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to get their feet wet with this topic, especially if they are under the impression that the Council was as high-minded as many basic high school-level (or even some undergradate-level) courses lead you to believe.

[MargCal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading ... Trent : What Happened at the Council / John W O'Malley ... 28 December 2017
ISBN: 9780674066977 … 275 pp. + notes, index, etc (335 pp. in total)
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I started 2017 with Yves Congar's diaries, pre-Vatican II (1962-1965) and I've ended the year with O'Malley's impressive summary of the Council of Trent (1545-1563). This volume is more detailed than anything I've read on Trent in the distant past and have now mostly forgotten – but impressions always remained, most of those impressions 'not' having their origins in Council decrees, I've now discovered.

The Council was complex yet O'Malley makes a good fist of rendering it comprehensible. (A minor quibble. A few extra commas wouldn't have gone amiss in some of the longer sentences.)

Whilst ostensibly a response to the Reformation, the Council took place years later in an atmosphere more political than religious, although religion did influence the politics. In fact, 'heresies' of the Reformation barely got a look in. But foundations were laid that had long-lasting repercussions – more through following the post-Council practices of a few truly reforming bishops than in the decrees themselves.

One particularly interesting item in view of the clamour from the Latin Mass set ... Trent was silent on, i.e. did not rule out, Mass in the vernacular. Hmmmmm.

In the Epilogue, O'Malley gives an excellent overview of Trent and what followed. It could easily be read as a most helpful stand-alone piece.

Well worth the read although it will appeal to a quite limited audience. :-)

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Protestant, my previously vague understanding of the Council of Trent was that it was composed of religious hacks who promulgated formulaic responses to the Protestant Reformation at the dictation of the pope. In reality, the political and religious maneuverings at the three-session, eighteen-year council (overseen from afar by three different popes) were so labyrinthine as to virtually defy description.

John O’Malley is a fine scholar as well as a Jesuit priest, and he has done his best to disentangle this jumble of early modern history in the first one-volume, scholarly history of the Council ever written in English. O’Malley writes concisely, sensibly, and with an authoritative command of the sources--sometimes even with a dry sense of humor.

For all the bluster and partisan spirit exhibited at the Council sessions, not much was accomplished by the participants, who were more often concerned with exerting their own authority vis-à-vis Rome than in grappling with Protestant theology. In the end, they seemed overwhelmed by its many challenges and simply handed back the reins of the church to contemporary popes—who, while giving lip service to reform, continued to appoint pubertal relatives to high church office. Although many at the Council were learned and politically savvy, they often seemed smothered by the fog of Scholastic reasoning that was their heritage, seemingly unaware that a religious revolution had occurred that could not be undone by tinkering at the margins with ceremonials.

[Bob Lundquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

That the Council of Trent even happened was a miracle. The century previous was a time of exploration and discovery. This involved the enrichment and power-building of the European countries – especially France, Britain, and Spain. And through Spain to the Holy Roman Empire (Germany). There was also religious upheaval. Luther’s secession from the Catholic Church started in 1517 and successfully drew in German rulers sympathetic to his ideas. Especially the parts about leaving papal rule. It was France against Germany, Spain against France, Britain against everybody, Germany against Rome.
The Council meant to answer the Protestant movement. However, it failed to bring Luther’s followers back to the Church. Rather, it was a reinforcement of Catholic doctrine and reform. It started the Counter-Reformation and consolidated Catholic thought where it was still in force. It did so in fits and starts in three main meetings in Trent, Italy, over eighteen years starting in 1545. There are many myths about the results that continue to this day. This book debunks those myths and explains how misconceptions arose.
It is a good introduction to the topic but helps if one is familiar with the Catholic religion. Some terms are never defined, and many concepts never explained. Nevertheless, a good way to get started in this historical era. It was not only a time of great exploration in the physical world, but also the religious.

[Stephen Heiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read O'Malley's summary of a Church council (I first came across his work on Vatican I), and while it's clear where his sympathies lie (he's a Modernist) he does a fair job as a historian, and this text illustrates precisely why the Church must be divine: humans often do an abominable job of governing her! The Council of Trent looms large in the centuries after its closure, and the Church that flourished after its closing can give the impression that it was a triumphant, strongly governed council, when the reality is that it was a messy affair, spread out over almost two decades and three Popes, and subject to political winds that would continue to blow and develop into the Thirty Years War, to say nothing of the errors of conciliarism which had dominated the Councils of Constance and and Florence. O'Malley's book is part of the recent scholarship that has taken advantage of the Vatican Archives regarding Trent being open for researchers since the time of Pope Leo XIII. It should be read by anyone interested in what really happened in this council, certain one of the most important in Church history.

The book also contains two helpful appendices: a chronology of the 25 sessions of the Council and the Anti-Modernist Oath, still required of all Traditional Catholic priests and teachers.

[Andreas F · Rating 5 out of 5]

O livro é muito informativo e bem escrito, apoiado em inúmeras fontes.. O concílio de Trento foi convocado pela Igreja Católica para lidar não só com a questão da "Reforma Protestante", mas também com questões doutrinárias e políticas próprias. Foi uma época bem complexa (vide que o concílio demorou longos 18 anos para ser finalizado), mas que rendeu bons frutos para a Igreja Católica. Recomendo a todos que queiram conhece mais não só sobre o concílio em si, mas também sobre a administração e a influência da Igreja Católica na época.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Among these canons was one of extraordinary importance for the future clergy of the Catholic church. That was canon 16 (final version, canon 18), which mandated that every diocese was to provide a seminary for the education especially of poor boys for the priesthood. It is difficult to exaggerate the canon's long-range influence." (212)

"Is it true that when the religious spoils were divided in the sixteenth century. Catholics got the sacraments, and Protestants the word? Or Catholics got the altar, Protestants the pulpit? The answer has a ring of truth..." (257)

[Derek Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping and insightful overview of a misunderstood and often misrepresented council. It not only takes you through the major details and players of the three stages of Trent but also situates the council within history. Overall it is highly readable and I would recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about this pivotal time in western history.

[A.J. Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well researched and written account of the council. Sad to say it was a long time coming and a long time finishing this council. No doubt they could have done better but they did what they could with what they knew. Important reading for anyone interest in Trent. The late Fr. O'Malley's two books on Vatican 1 and Vatican 2 are also important reading for Catholics and Protestants alike.

[Susan Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very even-handed treatment.

[Michal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read for anyone interested in reformation history.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this to anyone who wants to understand the Christian forces that developed into the modern Catholic Church. O'Malley clarifies myths and reality when speaking of the Council and Trendentinism!

[Bruce Strom · Rating 5 out of 5]

John O'Malley argues that Trent was not a reactionary council but was a truly reforming council, a council that agreed in part with the Protestant doctrines on such matters as grace and justification by faith, a council that reinvigorated the Catholic Church, a council that steered the Catholic Church on a path that many centuries later would result in the Vatican II council. Indeed, he sees Vatican II as affirming the doctrines of Trent, he sees Vatican II as a continuation of the reforms begun by the Council of Trent.

The Council of Trent is seen by many historians as a reactionary counter-reformation because soon after the council ended the Vatican gathered as many of the records of the proceedings it could find and locked them up in the Vatican Library. The Vatican was reacting to the Protestant polemics and hostility, they thought that the politics would be misinterpreted and vilified. In the decades before Vatican II the Vatican made these records available to scholars, and these sources enables scholars like O'Malley to have a more balanced view of Trent.

John O'Malley also recorded a series of lectures on the Council of Trent which are a great complement to the book. They begin with the events and politics preceding the calling of the Council of Trent, and why the Popes were so reluctant to call a church council that Trent was finally called into session just before Luther passed away.
Now You Know Media, O'Malley lectures on Trent

Christopher Bellito in this history agrees with O'Malley's assessment that Vatican II built on the decrees of the Council of Trent:
Now You Know Media, Bellito lectures on History of Catholic Church

The following blogs give you a preview of the book and lectures, starting with the events and politics preceding the calling of the Council of Trent, including why .
Blog 1, Trent

The Council of Trent starts slowly with only a handful of bishops meeting at first, but they gather slowly and much is accomplished at the first session. Like Vatican II, attending theologians update the bishops on the current theological thinking. At both these councils the Church is first learning and pondering the theological questions, then the Church teaches the clergy and the laity.
Blog 2, Trent

After an interruption of many years, a new Pope and new Kings and Emperors agree to continue the council, tackling the tough questions of grace, original sin, and justification by faith.
Blog 3, Trent

O'Malley discusses the Trent decrees on the sacraments, why Trent was seen by many Catholics and Protestants as combative and reactionary, and its long term effect and some of the developments immediately after the Council of Trent adjourns.
Blog 4, Trent

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

O’Malley’s Trent and All That (2000) is an intellectual history that examines the terms historians have used to describe the “Catholic side” of the early modern period enduringly dubbed “the Reformation” by Lutheran historians in the late seventeenth century. O’Malley identifies a problem in how historians have unreflectively used loaded terms like “reform” and “reformation” to describe the Catholic side in this period, and he wants to propose his own solution—the term “Early Modern Catholicism.” In order to demonstrate the advantages of his solution, O’Malley provides an overview of how the many terms for this period developed. He starts by reviewing the earliest historical work and the “classic position” of Catholic historian Hubert Jedin (1900-1980), who emphasized the role of the Council of Trent and proposed the complex term “Catholic-Reformation-and-Counter-Reformation.” Importantly, Jedin puts a new spin on the idea of “Counter Reformation” by depicting it as a “defense” against Protestant aggressions. O’Malley then reviews how twentieth-century historians have adapted Jedin’s terms for their own purposes and/or proposed entirely new ones, examining the advantages and limitations of the following: “Counter-Reformation,” “Catholic Reform” or “Catholic Reformation,” “Tridentine Era,” and “Confessional Catholicism” or “Social Disciplining.” In summary, the advantage in using each of these terms is that they accurately capture different political, religious, or social aspects of the historical reality, but also minimize or obscure other aspects, with the attendant disadvantages of doing so. O’Malley closes by arguing that the comprehensive “Early Modern Catholicism” should be added to the existing list of historical terms, but that historians should use it in combination with other terms in order to most effectively describe the complexities of the early modern period.

O’Malley suggests that the main contribution of his book is to help his audience “view ‘the Catholic side’ with new eyes, so that we become more aware of a breadth, depth, and complexity that earlier historians frequently either missed, or more often, forced into an inappropriate or inadequate interpretative framework—by inadequate naming.”