Religious Reforming Currents in Sixteenth‐Century <scp>I</scp>taly: The <i>Spirituali</i> and the <scp>T</scp>ridentine Debates over Church Reform

Abstract

The history of religious reform in sixteenth century I taly has been the subject of much scholarly debate in recent decades, as well as uncertainty about how best to conceptualise the period, so indelibly marked by epoch‐changing events, such as the P rotestant R eformation (from 1517) and the C ouncil of T rent (1545–1563). Reforming currents in I taly were swept along by these events, and indeed appear to have been overwhelmed by them. Commonly, these currents are explored for their theological nature and especially their heterodox, even P rotestant, character. Less well studied is their role in the debates over organisational church reform. It is here that we can discern the tenacity of these currents well into the T ridentine period. This article explores key protagonists of reform, known as the spirituali , with particular reference to the humanist bishop, L udovico B eccadelli, and his role in the debate over episcopal residence. Through an analysis of his contribution to this divisive debate at the C ouncil of T rent, the article seeks to shed light on a strand of the spirituali that was both resilient and prominent in the battle for the future direction of the C atholic C hurch.