1. Terminology
Until well into the 19th century, the term seminary (German Seminar; from Latin seminarium, “seed plot”) was used for educational institutions in general, but at first especially for institutions training clergy (Pastors and priests, training of). The Council of Trent (1545-1563) already mandated the establishment of seminaries (College) to advance the Catholic Reformation (see Cum adolescentium aetas). In…