Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent

About the Author

The Canons and Decrees of the Sacred and Ecumenical Council of Trent, as the document is officially named, was prepared by the Roman Catholic Church. Even though historians know and are able to describe practically all participants of the council at various stages of its work, with their particular background and theological beliefs, the final document was presented by the Church as an entity. The passages, formulas, and doctrinal assertions were accepted by all participants present at a certain session. Moreover, the whole document was read and approved point by point in December 1563 by all those present at council (except for one person). Finally, in 1564, it was Pope Pius IV who approved without change the work of the council. Thus, to this day, the Canons and Decrees have been an official voice of the Roman Catholic Church presented by the See of Rome and the pope. In the sixteenth century Catholics believed that the documents were written by the Holy Ghost, who inspired and overlooked the works and writings of the highest Church authority. On the other hand, for the Protestants the same documents were authored by Antichrist, that is, the devil himself.