How was the Council of Trent connected to the Protestant Reformation?

The Council of Trent (1545–1563) served as the formal Roman Catholic response to the doctrinal and disciplinary challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation. It was the most significant event of the Counter-Reformation, aimed at revitalizing the church by clarifying doctrine and enacting sweeping internal reforms.312

Doctrinal Clarification

The council rejected the "either/or" doctrines of Protestant reformers, such as justification by faith alone and the authority of Scripture alone. Instead, it established a "both/and" framework, affirming that justification is achieved through both faith and works, based on the authority of both Scripture and tradition. Additionally, the council:312
* Fixed the number of sacraments at seven.1
* Reaffirmed the Latin Vulgate Bible against Protestant reliance on original Hebrew and Greek texts.31
* Defined the Eucharist and the mass in opposition to Protestant interpretations.21

Disciplinary Reform

To address the corruption that had fueled the Reformation, the council implemented strict reforms, including:
* Mandating the establishment of seminaries for clergy education.21
* Requiring bishops to reside in their dioceses and focus on preaching.21
* Eliminating financial abuses and forbidding the appointment of relatives to church offices.21

While these measures helped consolidate the church, the council ultimately failed to heal the schism within Western Christianity.1