A Study On The Counter-Reformation Under Mary Ⅰ

Reformation was the most important part in the construction of the“Church-State Relations” in early modern England,but Reformation was not going very well at all.Actually it was a tortuous and repeated process,and also experienced the religious restoration the “Counter-Reformation” of Mary Ⅰ.Historians at home and abroad have two main opinions about Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation.The first opinion is that this historical event doesn’ t get the attention and attention it deserves.The second opinion is that the study of Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation is tendentious.Because influenced by the historical interpretation of the “the Whig”,this kind of studies evaluate Mary’ s political and religious policies from the perspective of her own character,religious fanaticism and so on.Therefore,it is necessary to re-examine the political and religious initiatives of the reign of Mary Ⅰ and give it a more objective historical assessment.First of all,Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation was carried out in a complex historical context.The religious policies enacted by Henry VIII and Edward VI were destined to become the resistance to Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation.But the domestic Catholic forces which retained the foundation of Catholicism in England and the international Catholic forces all were beneficial for Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation.Secondly,England’ s returning to the Catholic Church is an important step of Mary’ s Counter-Reformation.In the process of Mary Ⅰ guiding England to return to the Catholic Church,although she recognized the authority of the Pope and made the Church of England a part of the Catholic Church,Mary Ⅰ still retained some of the achievements of the English Reformation.She recognized the legitimate possession of the England aristocracy in the church,maintained the single form of taxation during the Reformation and didn’ t restore the taxes originally given to the Holy See.Thirdly,Mary Ⅰ also took some measures to promote the process of returning England to the Catholic Church in the social life,including of the restoration of Catholic liturgy,the reconstruction of Catholic religious sites,the resumption of Catholic holiday celebrations.These measures basically restored the Catholicism in England.At the last,Mary Ⅰ also took a series of measures such as banning Protestant books,distributing Catholic books,and Re-Catholicizing England universities.Thus,Mary Ⅰ restored Catholicism in the field of culture and education.In the process of Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation,all relevant measures and decrees were promulgated and issued through Parliament,which shows that Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation was not the result of her personal monarch’ s will.So it is necessary to analyze the specific measures and relevant results of Mary Ⅰ’ s Counter-Reformation and give her an objective and fair historical evaluation.