... that it was the only way to ensure eternal salvation. They believed that excommunication; the exclusion from the Catholic Church, 'condemned the deceased to suffer eternally the torments of the damned'2. As a consequence, it is not surprising that this 'alien intruder'3 imposed by the Crown was not accepted by all. Furthermore, Catholics were extremely superstitious and believed in the importance of sacraments such as Holy Water which would banish evil demons and bring blessings upon individuals. Similarly ceremonies were believed to bring 'holy assistance'. There were specific seasonal ceremonies to provide protection from the hazards of agriculture, whilst others were believed to aid in the settlement of local disputes. Such superstitions were not a part of the Protestant religion. Furthermore, Catholics were superstitious about working on the days of festivals of Saints. The majority of these festivals were outlawed as early as 1536 with the imposition of the Royal ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now