Background1


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*Gaetano of Thiene and the Council of Trent:* While a great part of Gaetano’s life was devoted to the care of the poor and the sick, we have to take into account that the main scope of instituting the Theatine order was to start Reform from within the church. Gaetano, Carafa and their fellows were to be an ideal example of how disciplined Catholic priests should live. They wanted to start with themselves, reform their own lives and then serve as an example to the various parishes. They wanted to set the spark and kindle a fire of reform with the ‘common’ clergy, that is why the Theatine’s actual name was Clerics Regular. From the priests, this reform was hoped to spread to the Bishops (Carafa himself was a bishop when he became a member of the order) and to the whole church by example. The nineteenth ecumenical council opened in Trent on the 13th December 1545, and wrapped up there on the 4th December 1563. Its main aim was the definitive determination of the doctrines of the Church in answer to the heresies of the Protestants. A further objective was the execution of a thorough reform of the inner life of the Church by removing the numerous abuses that had developed in it. Gaetano died about a year and a half after the Council started but in his life he had already anticipated the need for reform. With his silent example he showed how the ideal Church should have acted. Many of his wishes found themselves ingrained in the decrees of the council, in fact through Carafa who was made Cardinal and later became Pope, the ideas that were lived within the order of Theatines, were the seeds at the preparations for the council and came to fruition with the Council’s recommendations for reform.

		*THE COUNCIL OF TRENT*
	*The canons and decrees of the sacred and ecumenical Council of Trent:* Bull of Indiction The First Session • Decree touching the opening of the Council • Indiction of the next session The Second Session • Decree touching the manner of living, and other matters to be observed, during the Council • Indiction of the next session The Third Session • Decree touching the symbol of faith • Indiction of the next session The Fourth Session • Decree concerning canonical Scriptures • Decree concerning the edition, and the use, of the sacred books • Indiction of the next session The Fifth Session • Decree concerning original sin • Decree on reformation • Indiction of the next session The Sixth Session • Decree on justification • On justification • Decree on reformation • Indiction of the next session The Seventh Session • Decree on the Sacraments • Decree on Reformation • Indiction of the next session • Bull with faculty to transfer the Council The Eighth Session • Decree concerning the translation of the Council The Ninth Session • Decree for the prorogation of the session The Tenth Session • Decree for the prorogation of the session • Bull for the resumption of the Council of Trent, under the Sovereign Pontiff, Julius III The Eleventh Session • Decree for resuming the Council • Indiction of the next session The Twelfth Session The Thirteenth Session • Decree concerning the most holy sacrament of the eucharist • On the most holy sacrament of the eucharist • Decree on reformation • Decree for postponing the definition of four articles touching the sacrament of the eucharist, and for giving a safe-conduct to Protestants • Safe-conduct granted to Protestants The Fourteenth Session • On the most holy sacraments of penance and extreme unction • On the most holy sacrament of penance • On the sacrament of extreme unction • Decree on reformation The Fifteenth Session • Decree for proroguing the session • Safe-conduct given to the Protestants The Sixteenth Session • Decree for the suspension of the Council • Bull for the celebration of the Council of Trent, under the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IV The Seventeenth Session • Decree for celebrating the Council • Indiction of the next session The Eighteenth Session • Decree on the choice of books, and for inviting all men on the public faith to the Council • Indiction of the next session • Safe-conduct granted to the German nation • Extension thereof to other nations The Nineteenth Session • Decree for the prorogation of the session The Twentieth Session • Decree for the prorogation of the session The Twenty-First Session • On communion under both species, and on the communion of infants • Decree on reformation • Indiction of the next session The Twenty-Second Session • Doctrine on the sacrifice of the mass • On the sacrifice of the mass • Decree concerning the things to be observed, and to be avoided, in the celebration of the mass • Decree on reformation • Decree touching the petition for the concession of the chalice • Indiction of the next session The Twenty-Third Session • The true and catholic doctrine, touching the sacrament of order, decreed and published by the Holy Synod of Trent, in the seventh session, in condemnation of the errors of our time • On the sacrament of Holy orders • Decree on reformation • Indiction of the next session The Twenty-Fourth Session • Doctrine on the sacrament of matrimony • On the sacrament of matrimony • Decree on the reformation of marriage • Decree on reformation • Indiction of the next session The Twenty-Fifth Session • Decree concerning purgatory • On the invocation, veneration, and relics, or saints, and other sacred images • On regulars and nuns • Decree on reformation • Decree for continuing the session on the following day • Decree concerning indulgences • On choice of meats; on fasts, and festival days • On the index of books; on the catechism, breviary, and missal • On the place of ambassadors • On receiving and observing the decrees of the Council • On reciting, in session, the decrees of the Council under Paul III and Julius III • On the close of the Council, and on suing for confirmation from Our Most Holy Lord • Acclamations of the Fathers at the close of the Council • Confirmation of the Council • Bull of Our Most Holy Lord Pius IV, by the providence of God, Pope, touching the confirmation of the Ecumenical (and) General Council of Trent.
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