Final answer:
The defense of the seven sacraments was a response by the Catholic Church to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation and aimed to assert the authority and importance of the sacraments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the defense of the seven sacraments was to reaffirm the authority and importance of the Catholic Church and its sacraments in the face of the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther, a key figure in the Reformation, challenged the Catholic Church's beliefs and practices, including the sacraments. The Council of Trent, held from 1545 to 1563, issued a decree defending the seven sacraments as essential rituals for salvation.