This Week in Christian History: Council of Trent, Pioneering Female Preacher, 'End of the Spear' Martyrdom

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, January 07, 2018

Council of Trent Releases Decree on Justification - January 13, 1547

A seventeenth century painting of the Council of Trent, located at Santa Maria Maggiore church, Museo Diocesano Tridentino, Trento, Italy. | (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

This week marks the anniversary of when the Roman Catholic Church's Council of Trent released its official position on the Doctrine of Justification, denouncing the Protestant Reformation.

Called to order in December of 1545, the Council of Trent's decree on Justification labeled the Protestant idea of salvation through faith alone "the vain confidence of Heretics."

"Wherefore, no one ought to flatter himself up with faith alone, fancying that by faith alone he is made an heir, and will obtain the inheritance, even though he suffer not with Christ, that so he may be also glorified with him," stated the decree in part.

"If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema."