My Lord Katie: Katharina von Bora Luther

Martin Luther & the Reformation

Pre-Reformation

During the Middle Ages (500-1500 AD), the Roman Church, with the Pope as its head, became the greatest power in the western world. Kings and princes could only reign successfully with the Pope's approval.

The church suffered too. What had been intended by Jesus Christ to be gifts to His church on earth, namely the Gospel and the Sacraments (or Means of Grace), were wrongfully administered, abused, withheld and even sold. This selling of forgiveness came in the form of the sale of indulgences. For money, and sometimes even goods, like poultry and cheese, a person could buy an indulgence which claimed to offer the merits of the saints on behalf of the owner, and in that way sins were forgiven and a place was secured in heaven.

Dr. Martin Luther
Nineteenth century engraving
published by Concordia Publishing House
St. Louis, MO, USA

Young Luther

It was into this age that Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483, the son of Hans Luder, a mine and foundry owner in Mansfield, Germany. Martin attended school for nine years, learning Latin. He began studying to become a lawyer at the University of Erfurt in 1501. In July of 1505, during a terrible thunderstorm, and fearing for his life, Martin promised Saint Anna that if she would spare his life he would become a monk. When he survived, he promptly quit his university studies and joined the Augustinians in Erfurt.

The young monk took his vows very seriously. Soon he experienced great spiritual conflicts over the forgiveness-of-sins-through-good-works system of the monastery, which he came to realize was a completely inadequate way to be forgiven. In order to save the young monk from spiritual ruin, his superior, Johann Staupitz, directed Brother Martin to the Scriptures.

Martin Luther and Wittenberg

Luther began his studies again-only this time in biblical theology-and by 1508 was lecturing, and in 1512 earned his doctorate. Upon completing a trip to Rome (from the fall of 1510 until the spring of 1511), Martin Luther became all the more unsure about the medieval penitential system, especially in light of what he saw in the "holy" city. At the same time, he was transferred to Wittenberg, to eventually take the place of Father Staupitz as professor of biblical theology. It was in the Scripture that he was to find the answers that troubled his soul, and that lighted the way for the Reformation.

At last, by the mercy of God, meditating day and night, I gave heed to the context of the words, namely, "In it the righteousness of God is revealed, as it is written, He who through faith is righteous shall live." There I began to understand that the righteousness of God is revealed by the Gospel, namely, the passive righteousness with which merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates. There a totally other face of the entire Scripture showed itself to me. Thereupon I ran through the Scriptures from memory. I also found in other terms an analogy, as, the work of God, that is, what God does in us, the power of God, with which he makes us strong, the wisdom of God, with which he makes us wise, the strength of God, the salvation of God, the glory of God.

--Luther describing his "tower experience" at Wittenberg: from "Preface to Complete Edition of Latin Writings, 1545."

Tetzel and Indulgences

Against the wishes of Luther's prince, Frederick the Wise of Electoral Saxony, indulgences were hawked to the peoples of his land, albeit in neighboring Ducal Saxony. One only needed to cross the border to purchase them. To make matters worse, the indulgence-salesman and friar John Tetzel told Luther's parishioners they could purchase indulgences for sins they had not yet committed.

In Wittenberg, Luther's own prince offered the pious the opportunity of indulgence through his enormous collection of relics in the Castle Church on November 1, the Day of All Saints. Luther took advantage of the occasion. On the Eve of All Saints, October 31, 1517, in a manner customary to the university, he posted on the door of the Castle Church ninety-five statements, or thesis, that called into question and for discussion the abuses associated with indulgences. The posting of the 95 Theses became the spark that ignited the Reformation.

Progress of the Reformation

The event known as the Reformation means a lot more than simply the story of the life of Dr. Luther and the nailing of the 95 Theses. Reform came to the church and to the lives of the people in Luther's day in many ways. There were great struggles over doctrine and practice. Monks and nuns gave-up their vows to the church and married. The Bible was translated into German, introduction of the Divine Service and hymnody in the language of the common people.