Final answer:
The Catholic/Counter-Reformation had two main goals: to internally reform the Church and to reaffirm Catholic doctrine in the face of the Protestant Reformation challenges. The Council of Trent played a pivotal role in these efforts, as did cultural and political activities, aiming to maintain Catholic influence both in Europe and globally.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Goals of the Catholic/Counter-Reformation
The Catholic Reformation, also known as the Counter-Reformation, was the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation. It had two main goals: internal reform and the reaffirmation of Catholic doctrine. To achieve these goals, the Council of Trent was convened, establishing both faith and good works as necessary for salvation and reinforcing the authority of scripture (as interpreted by the Church) and tradition.
Indulgences were maintained but their sale was prohibited, and measures were introduced to improve the education and discipline of clergy. Simultaneously, new avenues of learning during this period embraced humanism, impacting various cultural aspects such as art, which was used by the Catholic Church to communicate religious stories and glorify Catholic traditions effectively.
Moreover, political reform was essential in stopping the spread of Protestantism while also attempting to reconquer previously Catholic regions. The global mission included evangelizing in colonized territories and reasserting Catholic dominance in regions swayed by Protestantism.