Martin Luther

Acest reformator nu poate fi inteles decat in contextul epocii in care a trait: Columb tocmai descoperise America , misticismul facea ravagii Colonianismul spaniol si portughez era in floare, trecerea la crestinism a popoarelor cucerite facandu-se de cele mai multe ori brutal.

Superstitiile de toate felurile se dezlantuiau in popor. Umanismul, al carui exponent principal a fost Erasm din Roterdam, lupta si el impotriva acestor curente ale vremii. Se descopera tiparul fara de care opera reformatorului german n-ar fi cunoscut o asemenea raspandire.

Biserica catolica este in declin , popii se dedau la orgii si nepotism , vand ,, indulgente’’ fac tot soiul de abuzuri in numele credintei.
Martin Luther n-a cunoscut biserica din est, biserica Ortodoxa si de aceea nu se poate afirma ca ar fi fost vreodata impotriva preceptelor ei. Biserica Ortodoxa nu vindea nici indulgente, nu predica nici purgatoriul si nu avea nici inchizitie… Martin Luther a fost botezat o zi dupa nastere , la 11 noiembrie 1483 in localitatea Eisleben, unde va si muri printr-un ciudat joc al sortii.

Dupa mutarea parintilor la Mansfeld urmeaza scoala latina unde invata sa scrie, sa citeasca, sa socoteasca si sa cante. In 1497 se muta cu scoala la Magdeburg, unde isi descopera si piosenia. Ajutat cu bani de Ursula Hotta urmeaza mai departe la Eisenhacher si la universitatea din Erfurt. Tatal sau dorea sa-l vada avocat. In urma unei intamplari care il socheaza ( pe camp e lovit de un traznet si scapa cu viata) se hotareste pt. MANASTIRE si o cariera teologica .

In 1505 e promovat Magister artium, in 17 iulie intra la Manastirea augustinilor din Erfurt. In 1511 termina si facultatea de teologie si in 1512 este promovat doctor in teologie si lasat sa predea Noul si Vechiul testament.

In 31 octombrie 1517 bate pe usa bisericii din Wittenberg celebre sale 95 de Teze ca inseamna defapt ruperea doctrinara de biserica catolica.

E de mentionat ca in Transilvania toate bisericile catolice au trecut spontan la reforma renuntandu-se cu acordul general al Enionasilor si preotilor la randuiala catolica.

THE NINETY-FIVE THESES: Disputation of Dr. Martin Luther Concerning Penitence and Indulgences

In the desire and with the purpose of elucidating the truth, a disputation will be held on the underwritten propositions at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Monk of the Order of St. Augustine, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and ordinary Reader of the same in that place. He therefore asks those who cannot be present and discuss the subject with us orally, to do so by letter in their absence. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, in saying "Repent ye," etc., intended that the whole life of believers should be penitence.

2. This word cannot be understood of sacramental penance, that is, of the confession and satisfaction which are performed under the ministry of priests.

3. It does not, however, refer solely to inward penitence; nay such inward penitence is naught, unless it outwardly produces various mortifications of the flesh.

4. The penalty thus continues as long as the hatred of self--that is, true inward penitence--continues: namely, till our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

5. The Pope has neither the will nor the power to remit any penalties, except those which he has imposed by his own authority, or by that of the canons.

6. The Pope has no power to remit any guilt, except by declaring and warranting it to have been remitted by God; or at most by remitting cases reserved for himself; in which cases, if his power were despised, guilt would certainly remain.

7. God never remits any man's guilt, without at the same time subjecting him, humbled in all things, to the authority of his representative the priest.

8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and no burden ought to be imposed on the dying, according to them.

9. Hence the Holy Spirit acting in the Pope does well for us, in that, in his decrees, he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.

10. Those priests act wrongly and unlearnedly, who, in the case of the dying, reserve the canonical penances for purgatory.

11. Those tares about changing of the canonical penalty into the penalty of purgatory seem surely to have been sown while the bishops were asleep.