Meet Martin Luther
Leader of the Reformation
Martin
Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, in 1483, nine years before Columbus
discovered America. His parents worked hard for a living and, like most
parents of the time, they were strict disciplinarians. They taught young
Martin to pray to the Saints, do good works and revere the Pope and the church.
At age five, Martin began to study Latin in a local school. At 13 he attended the school of a religious brotherhood in Magdeburg, Germany. A brilliant student, Luther received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Erfurt in 1505 and began to study law.
Shortly after beginning his law studies, Luther was caught in a violent storm and knocked to the ground by a lightning bolt. "Help me, St. Anne, and I'll become a monk," he cried. Shortly after, he joined the Augustinian Cloister in Erfurt.
Luther was ordained in 1507. He left Erfurt to teach moral philosophy at the University of Wittenburg. In 1510 he journeyed to Rome on business for the Augustinians. The spiritual laxity that Father Luther found in the Holy City was shocking to him.
Continuing his studies after returning from Rome, Luther soon earned his Doctorate of Theology. From 1513 to 1518 he lectured on Biblical Theology at the University of Wittenberg. He became widely known. In 1515 Doctor Luther was appointed District Vicar for the Augustinian Order.
Throughout his career, Luther was torn by inner turmoil. If people are ruled by sin, how could they hope to gain redemption in the eyes of God? He continually sought peace through "good works" -- including fasting and punishing his flesh. His failure to cleanse himself drove him to the edge of despair.
Luther's crisis continued until study of the Holy Scriptures brought a new conviction. Luther saw that there is no way in which human beings can "gain credit" with God and "merit" God's favor, BUT people can RECEIVE through FAITH God's divine gift of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then sins are forgiven by the SHEER MERCY of God. This doctrine of "justification by faith" soon came to form the basis of Luther's religious thought.
On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed a critique of indulgences, known as the 95 Theses, to the door of Castle Church in Wittenburg. Originally in Latin, the 95 Theses were later translated into German and were widely circulated. Many Germans secretly agreed with Luther and greeted his ideas enthusiastically.
The Church ordered Luther to appear in Rome to answer charges of heresy. But Luther's Prince, Elector Frederick the Wise of Saxony, intervened to insist that Luther's hearing be held on German soil. Examined by the papal representative, Cardinal Cajetan, Luther refused to recant his views. Fearing that he might be taken in chains to Rome, he fled from Augsburg.
Because Luther's Prince Frederick was in favor with the Pope, Luther was temporarily safe and free to debate his ideas publicly with the scholar, John Eck. Luther argued that the papacy was of human, not Divine origin. He quickly became a national figure.
Reform ideas spread. The Pope's answer was to issue a Bull (papal order) threatening Luther with excommunication unless he recanted. Luther publicly burned the Bull and was excommunicated in January, 1521. He was 38 years old. In the year following his excommunication, Luther set about to reform and revitalize the Church.
The reformer was summoned to appear before the Imperial Diet at Worms to answer charges of heresy and subversion. In April, 1521 Martin Luther stood before Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
"Unless I am convicted by Scripture or by right reason . . . I neither can nor will recant anything, since it is neither right nor safe to act against conscience. Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen."
Emperor Charles issued an Edict that proclaimed Luther a heretic and put him under the Ban of the Empire. All of his works were proscribed.
Luther's life was in danger. The Ban meant that he could be killed if he stayed in the Empire for more than 21 days. But Prince Frederick sent soldiers to "capture" and spirit him away to Wartburg Castle where he hid for a year under Frederick's care. In the Wartburg, Luther translated the Bible into German to make it available to all people.
In Luther's absence, the reform movement in Wittenberg had become more and more disorderly. Some reformers began to destroy church property. The town council asked Luther to return and quell the commotion. At great risk, Luther returned to Wittenberg in March, 1522. He pleaded with the reformers not to use violence, fearing that reform might give way to revolution.
However, many German peasants, who had been long oppressed, felt the time had come to revolt. Luther called for swift suppression of the rebellious peasants. He lost support among radical reformers. Luther remained in Wittenberg where he wrote, taught and preached for the next 20 years.
In June, 1525, Martin married Katharina von Bora, a former nun whom he had sheltered at Wittenburg. Theirs was a happy marriage. They had six children of their own and gave a home to 11 orphans.
Despite the Ban of the Church and Empire imposed upon him, Luther was able to carry on. Emperor Charles was too busy fighting other enemies and Luther enjoyed widespread support in Germany. He published almost 400 works during his lifetime. His output included Biblical commentaries, catechisms, sermons and tracts. He also worked on revisions of his translation of the Bible.
Luther helped people take part in church services by writing hymns, both words and music. He loved to sing his own hymns and was said to have an excellent singing voice. In 1546, Luther traveled to Eisleben to arbitrate a dispute. Here, in the town of his birth, he died of a stroke at age 63. His body was interred in the Castle Church in Wittenberg, where he had posted his 95 Theses almost 30 years before.