Final answer:
The most striking example of the second aspect of the Counter-Reformation is the construction of St. Peter's Basilica, representing the humanistic influence and the Catholic Church's use of sacred art to glorify God. Notable reforms also included the foundation of new religious orders, spiritual movements, and the Roman Inquisition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most striking example of the second aspect of the Counter-Reformation can be seen in the monumental construction of St. Peter's Basilica. This period marked a time of humanistic influence, reflected through the vast interaction with Greek culture and increasing interest in philosophy, poetry, classics, rhetoric, and political science. Moreover, the Catholic Church's engagement with art during the Counter-Reformation was significant - art was strictly religious, dedicated to glorifying God and Catholic traditions.
In addition to structural changes, the Catholic Reformation involved several key reformative elements such as ecclesiastical reconfigurations, foundation of new religious orders like the Jesuits, establishment of seminaries, and new spiritual movements that sought to strengthen personal relationships with Christ. Along with these reforms, architects and artists such as Michelangelo contributed to a new wave of religious art that supported Catholic doctrines and helped reaffirm the Church's influence during the Reformation period, countering the Protestant Reformation, which had different views on religious art and its place in society.
Political reform was another key facet of the Counter-Reformation. The establishment of the Roman Inquisition and the attempts to reconvert areas back to Catholicism, exemplify the lengths to which the Church went to assert its dominance and preserve its traditions in the face of Protestant challenges.