A Short Summary of the Protestant Reformation

During the sixteenth century in Western Europe, many objections to practices and doctrines in the Catholic church began to arise. The most unacceptable custom to many people was the sale of indulgences, certificates that promised escape from purgatory. Protests against the church grew, eventually leading to a demand by the pope for these heretical protests to be exterminated. He decreed that no religious innovation would be tolerated in the future and that Catholic Mass must be held as it was before.

This opened the way for Catholic doctrine to be enforced throughout Europe, including Germany, where Martin Luther and his followers (Lutherans) were worshiping. Their new theology included such doctrines as salvation by grace and the rejection of non-biblical traditions. According to Paul Nettl in his book Luther and Music, the Germans protested the pope's action claming that "no majority ha[s] the right to make resolutions in matters of religion." Because of this, they acquired the label "Protestant," but were, however, eventually successful in forming their own denomination completely separate from the Catholic church.

Back to Table of Contents

This page was created in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance class at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music.