The Council of Trent reconvened after a break of 10 years (caused by religious wars) today in 1562. In this last part of its 18-year history it would decree on purgatory (pictured above), the sacrifice of the mass and marriage.
Today in 1525 the Protestant city council of Zürich ordered compulsory infant baptism. A handful of radical Protestants had come to the conclusion that baptising babies was unbiblical, and had failed to have their own done.
‘All those who have hitherto left their children unbaptised shall have them baptised with in the next eight days. And anyone who fails to do this shall, with wife and child and possessions, leave our lords’ city and jurisdiction and domain, and never return, or await what happens.’
Instead of complying, the radicals rebaptised themselves three days later.
Image: Wikimedia Commons