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How did Mary restore Catholicism?
Explain how Mary viewed her religious commitment to, herself and to the country?
Mary was a devout Catholic, her personal worship was very important to her, she would hear Mass
at least once a day and say prayers every night in her chapel. Mary viewed her initial popularity
more as an endorsement of the Catholic faith. She wanted to rescue England from ‘mortal sin’ and
it was evident from some of her subjects that they were eager to go back to Catholicism.
Explain who you feel was the most influential advisor to Mary
Cardinal Pole was probably the most influential advisor to Mary as he agreed to the restoration of
Papal Supremacy in England, but would have recognised that the matter would need to be dealt
with delicately and reintroduced slowly. He was also papal legate so he would have had influence
from Pope Julius III which would have been imposed on Mary. Plus he would have had the task of
restoring Catholicism to England and this was close to Mary’s heart. He would have had significant
status and presence at English court.
Key religious developments during Mary’s reign
- 1553:
• Her aims: religious conformity, imprison Protestants, repeal Edwardian reformation and to give
up the title or Royal Supremacy
• Her successes: Was able to repeal the Act of Supremacy at the end of the year, she arrested
key Protestant figures and passed the Act of Repeal which undid the Edwardian reformation
• Problems you can forsee: Protestant uprising
- 1554:
• Aims: suppression of heresy, removal of married clergy, reintroduce heresy laws and have the
excommunication sentence lifted
• Successes: excommunication sentence lifted, suppression of heresy, removal of married
clergy, re-ordain clergy, restore Holy Days, processions and ceremonies. Replace Protestant
Bishops with Catholic ones and promised that former monastic lands would not be returned to
the Church
• Problems: Pope might require the monastic lands be returned to the church. Protestant
uprisings
- 1555:
• Aims: rebounding of religious houses, execute Protestant heretics and make someone
Archbishop of Canterbury
• Successes: execute Protestant heretics and made Reginald Pole, Archbishop of Canterbury
• Problems: Protestant uprising and people going against her
- 1556:
• Aims: Issuing of Twelve Decrees
• Success: Issuing of the Twelve Decrees
• Problems
- 1557:
• Aims: Refounding small religious houses
• Success: Refounding small religious houses
- 1558:
• Aims: Execute Protestants
• Success: Execute Protestants
• Problems: Death
Catholicism under Mary
How did Mary restore Catholicism?
Explain how Mary viewed her religious commitment to, herself and to the country?
Mary was a devout Catholic, her personal worship was very important to her, she would hear Mass
at least once a day and say prayers every night in her chapel. Mary viewed her initial popularity
more as an endorsement of the Catholic faith. She wanted to rescue England from ‘mortal sin’ and
it was evident from some of her subjects that they were eager to go back to Catholicism.
Explain who you feel was the most influential advisor to Mary
Cardinal Pole was probably the most influential advisor to Mary as he agreed to the restoration of
Papal Supremacy in England, but would have recognised that the matter would need to be dealt
with delicately and reintroduced slowly. He was also papal legate so he would have had influence
from Pope Julius III which would have been imposed on Mary. Plus he would have had the task of
restoring Catholicism to England and this was close to Mary’s heart. He would have had significant
status and presence at English court.
Key religious developments during Mary’s reign
- 1553:
• Her aims: religious conformity, imprison Protestants, repeal Edwardian reformation and to give
up the title or Royal Supremacy
• Her successes: Was able to repeal the Act of Supremacy at the end of the year, she arrested
key Protestant figures and passed the Act of Repeal which undid the Edwardian reformation
• Problems you can forsee: Protestant uprising
- 1554:
• Aims: suppression of heresy, removal of married clergy, reintroduce heresy laws and have the
excommunication sentence lifted
• Successes: excommunication sentence lifted, suppression of heresy, removal of married
clergy, re-ordain clergy, restore Holy Days, processions and ceremonies. Replace Protestant
Bishops with Catholic ones and promised that former monastic lands would not be returned to
the Church
• Problems: Pope might require the monastic lands be returned to the church. Protestant
uprisings
- 1555:
• Aims: rebounding of religious houses, execute Protestant heretics and make someone
Archbishop of Canterbury
• Successes: execute Protestant heretics and made Reginald Pole, Archbishop of Canterbury
• Problems: Protestant uprising and people going against her
- 1556:
• Aims: Issuing of Twelve Decrees
• Success: Issuing of the Twelve Decrees
• Problems
- 1557:
• Aims: Refounding small religious houses
• Success: Refounding small religious houses
- 1558:
• Aims: Execute Protestants
• Success: Execute Protestants
• Problems: Death
Catholicism under Mary
