Martin Luther The Great Reformer

Martin Luther The Great Reformer by J.A. Morrison and revised by Michael J. McHugh is the story of Martin Luther and the great impact that he made during his life, 1483-1546. This man made a huge impact not only on those in Germany, but those everywhere even today. With his posting of his ninety-five thesis he opened the eyes of many and started a controversy that was to shake up the world. Because of this, he not only made numerous friends, but just as many enemies.

Luther grew up in a strong, but poor, Catholic home in Germany. He went to school in Mansfeld until he was 13. After this he went to Magdeburg where Luther sang for food as a beggar. About a year later, he went on his way to Eisenach where he attended the School of St. George. While there, a lady named Ursula Cotta had pity on him and invited him to stay with her and her husband. He spent 4 years with this generous couple. He then left for Erfurt where he received the degree of Master of Arts.

While Luther was struggling to find a way to Heaven, the Roman Catholic Church was advising him to consider being a monk. And he believed the Church, so he joined the Augustinian monastery in Erfurt. However, during his time as a monk, he found that he was the only one there who actually was worried about his soul. For the others had used their title as monk to become lazy and gluttonous.

In May of 1507, Martin Luther was ordained a priest. He was invited, about a year and a half after he was ordained, to teach on moral philosophy at the University of Wittenberg and accepted this invitation. While lecturing there, there arose a dispute which resulted in needing someone to bring an honest message to the pope. Martin was selected to do this task, and he accepted most happily. To see the pope, had been a great ambition of young Luther's. However, this trip did not go as he had planned. During his journey, he realized that all he had ever thought and felt toward Rome and Pope Leo X had been wrong. For he found out how truly corrupt the Roman Catholic Church and its leaders were.

Luther, changed by this revelation of the evil in Germany, prompted him to nail up a Ninety-Five Theses upon the door of the Wittenberg church. At noon on this day, October 31, 1517, Luther's small stand brought about a large reformation. Word spread quickly and soon the news about Luther's stand had reached the ears of the pope. Pope Leo ordered for Luther to announce that he was teaching false doctrine. For at this trial in Augsburg, Luther refused to renounce what he believed, but only stood his ground. The trial resulted in an agreement from both parties to keep quiet, but this wasn't possible. Those in favor of Luther's teachings couldn't keep silent about the immorality that filled the Roman Church.

Luther's famous Address to the German Nobility, written in 1520, was revealed to the people the three walls that were built up to hide all that the ill practices of the pope and his advisors. The first wall insisted that the pope was above the law and he could not be charged with any wrong doing because of his title. The second wall was that of saying that the pope was the only person who could translate the scriptures correctly. For whatever he said the scriptures meant were to be believed and accepted. The third wall was that the pope wasn't subject to man, the Bible, or anyone else without his approval. For he was a judge himself, therefore was considered as one who could not be judged.

The pope was very displeased with the riots that had been caused by Luther and sent a bull to him because of it. This bull commanded him to stop preaching and writing, that he apologize for what he had said against the Roman Church,