Reformation and its Influences: A Deep Dive

The council of Trent took place because over previous years within the Catholic Church there was corruption with different issues/beliefs. The Reformation was influenced by 3 main men; Martin Luther, Henry VIII and John Calvin.

The specific issue of selling of Indulgences angered Martin Luther into objecting against them. Martin Luther was born in 1483 in the state of Saxony, Germany. In Christian history, Martin Luther became one of the most significant leaders while he founded the Protestant Reformation. He questioned some of the basic beliefs and practises from the Roman Catholicism. His followers then parted from the Roman Catholic Church to start the Protestant tradition. During 1501, where he received a Master of Arts degree while

attending the University of Erfurt it seemed as though he was on his way to becoming a lawyer. However, during July in 1505, Martin Luther had a life-changing experience. He was caught in a dreadful thunderstorm and promised if he survived to become a monk. The conclusion of becoming a monk was also driven by not only God’s fury but also the fears of hell, and felt that life in a monastery could assist him in finding salvation.

He was given the option of being a delegate to the church conference happening in Rome at the age of 27.

While taking this opportunity, he recognised the immorality/corruption amongst the present Catholic priests and came away more disappointed and discouraged. When returned to Germany, he joined the University of Wittenberg intending to restrain his spiritual confusion. He succeed in his studies, receiving a doctorate and at university becoming a professor of theology. In 1517 he wrote a document committing to the sense that only salvation could be achieved through faith and divine grace. This document was called “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” also known as “The 95 theses”, a list of questions and propositions for debate written by himself. On the 31st of October, 1517, the “95 theses” were nailed onto the chapel door of the university. He objected to the selling of Indulgences because it went against his enlightened view of God being merciful and acting with

grace.

During the Middle ages of the Catholic church, they taught that salvation could only be granted through good works that was pleased by God. Though his intentions for this was to be discussion points, the document brought to others attention the destructive review of the indulgences towards corrupting Roman Catholics faith. Martin Luther sent a one copy “Archbishop Albert Albrecht of Mainz”, demanding him to end the sale of indulgences. Assisted by the printing press, copies of the document (The Ninety-Five Theses) spread around Germany within two weeks and throughout Europe within two months. During October 1518, at a meeting with the present Cardinal (Thomas Cajetan) in Augsburg, Martin Luther was ordered to withdraw from his Ninety-Five Theses by the influence of the Pope. Luther was determined to not withdraw the document unless scripture could prove him wrong. He went on stating that he didn’t recognise the ability of the Pope had the authority to interpret the scriptures. The meeting ended establishing his excommunication from the Church.

Martin Luther continued to lecture and write in Wittenberg throughout 1519. During June and July of that year, Martin publicly announced that the Bible and scriptures did not give the pope the exclusive right to interpret the scriptures. Finally, on 15 June 1520, the Pope issued threatening on Luther with excommunication. Luther then again publicly burned the letter on 10 December 1520. Martin Luther was officially excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church in January, 1521. Later in March, he was summoned before the “Diet of Worms”, (a general assembly of secular authorities) refusing to withdraw his statements, demanding he be shown any scripture that would go against his position. On May 8, 1521, the council released the “Edict of Worms”, which forbid Luther’s writings and proclaiming him a “condemned heretic.” Others helped him to stay hidden at the Wartburg Castle. He translated the New Testament into the German language, to give others an opportunity to read God’s commands while in seclusion.

Though he was still currently under the threat of arrest, Martin Luther returned to Wittenberg Castle Church, in Eisenach, during May 1522. He was able to avoid being caught and captured while beginning to organise a new church called “Lutheranism”. He gained followers and got supported by some German princes. When a peasant revolt began in 1524, Martin Luther declaimed the peasants and defended the rulers, who he depended on to keep the growth within his church to continue. Many peasants died, but Luther’s church grew over the years.

John Calvin also known as “theological genius” of the Reformation (1509-1564) was born in the city of Paris. Initially, Calvin's father requested him to become a priest however later changed his mind and directed him towards studying law. After he experienced a conversion, Calvin studied theology in Geneva. He implicated to reforming the church.

During the years 1533-1534, Calvin experienced a sudden conversion. He agreed to the teachings from Protestant Reformers and went to Geneva to study theology.

“Institutes of the Christian Religion” was published during 1536, intended to be used as an introduction to the Protestant beliefs.

Presbyterian or Reformed churches are churches that follow Calvin's ideas in faith.

Calvin was established the leader of Geneva and founded a government based on theocracy.

The Reformation in Germany was supported by German princes due to political reasons however they weren't the ones to start it. In England, the division between “the Church of Rome” and “the Church of England” was established by Henry VIII for not only political reasons but also personal.

Henry VIII’s (1491-1547) wife “Katherine of Aragon” had originally been married to his older brother Arthur. Since Arthur had died the previous married was declared as to never had happened due to non-consummation. Henry had no son and therefore no one to follow his lead on the English throne. This created crisis and war during 1455-1487 with the “War of the Roses” between contenders wanting the throne.

Martin Luther received no support from Henry VIII.

He went against Luther's idea that there were only two sacraments; Baptism and Eucharist, by a short self-written book called “Defence of the Seven Sacraments”. He was given the title “Defender of the faith” for his work by Pope Leo X.

Henry VIII requested Pope Clement VII to withdraw his marriage with Katherine. He stated that the previous Pope’s call for the marriage of Arthur and Katherine was incorrect and in conclusion it was wrong that he had married his brother's wife. He quoted the “Book of Leviticus”- ‘if a man takes his brother’s wife, they will die childless’ and used this to support his thought of of his lack of having a son was a sign of god’s displeasure.

When Henry's request for an annulment reached Pope Clement VII, Rome was currently surrounded by armies from Emperor Charles V which was Katherine’s uncle. Charles objected to the annulment due to not only family but also political reason. After delaying, the Pope officially refused to allow the annulment to go

forth.

The Reformation of Parliament passed a numeracy of laws during the time of 1529 - 1536 that caused a split within Rome. He started the development of division from Rome. Henry VIII was established in 1534 the “head of the Church in England” by The Supremacy of the Crown Act. Once again Henry VIII ordered the Archbishop of Canterbury “Thomas Cranmer” to approve the divorce. He was then excommunicated by Pope Paul III during 1535. He ended up marrying six times. two were divorced, two were beheaded, one died while in childbirth and the last was in danger of execution at his time of death, 1547.

The church of England, while under the authority of Henry VIII was Catholic and allegiance to the current Pope. In 1539 “The Six Articles” maintained not only the clerical celibacy but also the doctrine of transubstantiation. The closing down of the monasteries in 1534-1541 were an action of Henry VIII anti-Catholic beliefs.

During 1539, Parliament accepted a law which ended in closing over 400 minor religious communities. They also accepted to close large monasteries. Reading, Glastonbury and the Abbots of Colchester resisted to close and therefore executed. This behind this is due to Henry VIII need for money to not only pay off debts, but also to support his military campaigns and for buying “support” from the aristocracy for his divorce to occur. The consequence of this was many monks and nuns were turned out and no longer needed. Monastic hospitals, libraries and schools were shut down. In result of the social displacement, there was an uprising in rebellions including “The Pilgrimage of Grace” in 1536.