John W. O'Malley

The Council of Trent John W. O'Malley

Why should you care about what happened at the Council of Trent? After Luther, Calvin, and Henry VIII, Trent is one of the most frequently invoked names regarding the Reformation and Counter-Reformation of the sixteenth century. Even so, few know much about it. Now, the celebrated author of Trent: What Happened at the Council helps you set the record straight. This twelve-lecture course will impress upon you the wide-reaching cultural and religious influence that the Council of Trent has had over the centuries. Georgetown’s Fr. John O’Malley explains the ripple effect of decisions directed toward members of the Catholic Church but felt throughout Europe. A colorful and tumultuous affair, the Council of Trent was dogged by war and conflict from beginning to end. The leading political figures of the day were deeply involved, as were the five popes who reigned during the eighteen fateful years over which it stretched. Lurching from one crisis to the next, they all had something at stake in the council. The story of the Council of Trent continues long after its implementation. Historians have dubbed the 400 years following the council the “Tridentine Era.” Discover how vital the legacy of Trent is to your understanding of the Church today.