What practice was explicitly forbidden by the Council of Trent?

The Council of Trent, which took place between 1545 and 1563, was a pivotal event in the Roman Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation. One of the key issues addressed during the Council was the practice of indulgences, which had been criticized for being abused and exploited, leading to the perception that salvation could be bought. The Council explicitly condemned the sale of indulgences, affirming that indulgences should not be a means of generating revenue for the Church, but rather a spiritual aid to encourage genuine repentance and penance.

This action was part of a broader effort to reform Church practices and address the corruption that had been associated with various clerical activities. By forbidding the sale of indulgences, the Council aimed to restore the integrity of Church teachings and practices, thereby countering some of the claims made by Protestant reformers. The focus on spiritual rather than financial considerations in the context of indulgences was essential for the Catholic Church's reformative movements during this period.

The other options presented, such as the preaching in vernacular languages, marriages between clergy, and reading the Bible independently, were eitherallowed to varying degrees or were transformed rather than outright forbidden, thus differentiating them from the strict prohibition placed on the