The Counter-Reformation Volume 11 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...extent. Thus the greater portion of the decree was at last passed in the penultimate session of the council (1 ith November). With the exception of Spain, all the powers now made known their consent to winding up the business closing of the f ne council without further loss of council. time. But Count Luna still immovably resisted the closing of. the council before the express assent of King Philip should have been received; nor was it till the news--authentic or not--arrived of a serious illness having befallen the Pope that the fear of the complications which might arise in the event of his death put an end to further delay. Summoned in all haste, the fathers met on December 3rd for their five-and-twentieth session, and on this and the following day rapidly discussed a series of decrees, some of which were by no means devoid of intrinsic importance. In the doctrinal decrees concerning purgatory and indulgences, as in those concerning the invocation of saints and the respect due to their relics and images, it was sought to preclude a reckless exaggeration or distortion of the doctrines of the Church on these heads, and a corrupt perversion of the usages connected with them. (Thus the abuse of the so-called 'privileged altars' was not revived till the papacy of Gregory XIII.) Of the disciplinary decrees, the most important and elaborate related to the religious of both sexes. It contained a clause, inserted on the motion of Lainez, which the Jesuits afterwards interpreted as generally exempting their Society from the operation of this decree. Another decree enjoined sobriety and moderation in the use of the ecclesiastical penalty of excommunication. For the rest, all possible expedition was used in gathering up the threads of the work done or attempted by t...