Young Universities and a Long Council

In the West the university is a relatively recent phenomenon. In Europe universities began to emerge in the 13th Century. Early they had faculties of theology, which trained a new, professional class—theologians. Jesuit John W. O’Malley noted in an America Magazine podcast that the first professional differed from their

earlier counterparts, who trained themselves. In the 13th Century the distinction was between training and office, usually ordination.

The Council of Trent was held in the mid-16th Century. Fr. O’Malley suggests in the podcast that the relationship between theologians and pastors then carries a lesson for the Church today.
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Wiki-image of a session of the Council of Trent is in the public domain.