The Reformation Flashcards
Who was Martin Luther
Martin Luther was the man who started The Reformation. Luther was born in Saxony, Germany in
1483. He was a professor of Theology in the University of Wittenberg. Luther spent much of his time studying the bible to ensure he was doing all he could to go to heaven. Luther believed in the teaching ‘justification by faith alone’ which meant that only faith in god could get you to heaven.
In 1517 John Tetzel arrived in Wittenberg selling indulgences. Half of the money he raised was for the rebuilding of St Peter’s Basilica, with the other half going to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther wasn’t happy, especially as Tetzel was telling the locals they were guaranteed a place in heaven if they bought an indulgence from him. Luther was furious and wrote 95 theses in Latin and nailed them to the door of a church in Wittenberg. Thanks to the printing press the 95 theses were translated into German and they were spread across Germany. Pope Leo X ordered Luther to recant but Luther refused. Leo then sent a papal bull threatening excommunication (formal letter and command) to Luther but he publicly burned it and he was excommunicated.
Charles V called a meeting (Diet) of German princes at Worms in 1521 about Luther.
Luther was given safe passage there to discuss his beliefs, but he refused to change his mind and recant (take back what he said. After the Diet, Charles issued the Edict of Worms, making Luther an outlaw. Luther’s supporters protested against this and afterwards became known as Protestants’. Luther was to be arrested and punished for heresy (knowingly holding beliefs that went against the official teachings of the Church). Prince Frederick of Saxony feared for Luthers safety and arranged a fake kidnapping and hid Luther in Warburg Castle for a year. There Luther translated the Bible into German, so that everyone could read it for themselves.
Luther had many beliefs such as ‘justification by faith alone’, thinking the clergy should be allowed to marry and mass and the Bible should be in the vernacular instead of Latin, so that everyone can understand them.
Protestant origin
• Charles V invited Luther to the Diet of Worms where Luther, again, refused to recant.
• An arrest warrant was issued for Luther, but he was captured and protected by Frederick the Wise, a supporter of Luther.
• Supporters of Luther protested against his treatment and therefore became known as… Protestants.
Jesuits
Roman Catholic organisation of religious men
95 theses
•Luther wrote out 95 theses (arguments) against the Catholic Church, in Latin.
• It is rumoured that he nailed them to the door of a church in Wittenberg.
• These theses were quickly translated into Latin and spread all over Germany.
Inquisition
•Mainly active in Spain and Portugal, crushed Protestantism there.
• Burnt heretics (enemies of God) at the stake.
Heretic
A heretic was an enemy of god
Heresy
Heresy was doing or saying something that was knowingly against the church
Justification by faith alon
Justification by faith alone was the idea spread by Martin Luther that said you could go to heaven by having faith in god alone hence the name “justification by faith alone”
Abuses in the church
There were abuses of power within the Catholic Church. This led to people thinking priests were more interested in wealth, than serving God.
Pope Leo X spent loads of the Church’s money on his own entertainment. He was always thinking of new ways to make more money. Things like..
Simony - Allowing people to pay, to become priests, or other positions in the church. Priests were often willing to accept bribes.
Nepotism -Appointing relatives to church positions, even if they didn’t deserve them.
Pluralism- Priests would often preside over multiple parishes, to increase their wealth
Absenteeism - Many priests were absent from their parish for long periods of time. This meant that people could not go to Mass or receive the sacraments.
Simony
Simony - Allowing people to pay, to become priests, or other positions in the church. Priests were often willing to accept bribes.
Nepotism
Nepotism -Appointing relatives to church positions, even if they didn’t deserve them.
Pluralism
Pluralism- Priests would often preside over multiple parishes, to increase their wealth.
Absenteeism
Absenteeism - Many priests were absent from their parish for long periods of time. This meant that people could not go to Mass or receive the sacraments.
Indulgences
Selling indulgences - These were special prayers, to get into heaven more quickly. People bought them before they sinned, or even for people who’d already died.
Papal bull
• A Papal Bull (formal letter and command)
