The Reformation was the renaissance for religion. It was brought on by people like Martin Luther, and turned one unified church into many different churches. Before the Reformation, the Christian majority in Western and Central Europe shared a common set of beliefs and practises, and one Central Church was a primary source for education, for getting medical help to the poor and for people's spiritual needs. None of these come cheaply. For centuries the churches had been imposing taxes and selling indulgences, but as the Renassaince monarchies became more powerful, they wanted the tax revenue for themselves, to build strong, unified kingdoms. The tension between the kings and the church would help to set the stage for the Reformation. According to the church, if a Christian died without fully paying penance for their sin, they could still go to heaven, after suffering in purgatory first; purgatory being a place between heaven and hell where dead souls were made to suffer to fulfill their penance. To shorten the time spent in purgatory, Christians could buy indulgences.
The Renaissance writings flourished because of the new invention, the printing press. Humaninsts, like Martin Luther and patriarchs began to study the Bible in its original language and found key differences in the original text and those in the Church's writings and teachings. It was obvious to them that the Church had lost touch with the ideas and values of the early Christians. In the year 1517, a 33 year old Friar and Professor of Theology named Martin Luther, who had been struggling with a profound inner doubt about his own salvation, began to question the Church's use of indulgences. His study of the Bible led him to believe in the doctrine of salvation by grace, not by works, thereby rendering the actions of priest or even a pope, unnecessary. Believing it his mission to share this theology with others who were deceived by the church, Luther drew up a list of 95 Theses, or debation points and nailed them to church doors and posts. It was, of course, the very kind of action any respected scholar would be expected to take. These questions raised by Luther were already in the minds of many others who were struggling with the doctrines and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
Luther did not originally set out to break away from the church, but to "reform" it, hence the name given to this movement, The Reformation. Luther's challenge came at a time in the Renaissance when rulers had strong political reasons for wanting to weaken the authority of the Church, and when humanists of that time were trying (and had been for the past 100 years) to encourage people to study things for themselves. It was also a time when the printing press could flood Europe with printed arguments for and against Luther's challenge, and when the current passion for education helped create a population where more people could read than ever before. All these factors lead to things happening even faster than Luther or the Church could ever predict or control. The church would eventually make some of the reforms that Luther and others were calling for, but not before insisting Luther apologize and admit he was wrong in his statements against the Church. At a meeting of German Princes and other rulers, Luther said,
"Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and counsels. My consciense is captive to the World of God. I cannot and will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me, Amen!"
Withing the church, reformers made dramatic changes, but once Luther started to hammer at the bottom line of the Church authority, making a few reforms wasn't enough anymore. Luther's challenge to the church was the spark that started a Reformation movement known as Protestantism, because it began in protest against the established Church of that time and it's laws and practises. This movement provided a basis for many new protestant churches. By making the Bible the only source of truth, Luther had opened the door to all kinds of different interpretations of what the Bible really says. From then on, Christianity would be a religion of many different denominations, and no longer under the authority of one central church.
(Martin Luther's wife)
Katherina was about 5 when her father left her at a convent after her mother's death, and was still there at age 18 when Martin Luther issued his 95 thesis from Whittenberg. Katherina and several of the other nuns heard of them, and began to study and believe what Luther was teaching. She and her friends at the convent contacted Luther, asking for help to escape from the convent. Luther arranged for the women to be smuggled out in a tradesman's wagon. If they were caught, both the women and the tradesman would have been executed.
Luther and his associates helped the women find homes with reformed families, and eventually arranged marriages for all but Katherina. She lived with a family for 2 years, and then she sent a message to Luther. Katherina said that she would marry either Luther or his associate, Dr. Amsdorf. Katherina was determined to marry not just the first avalible man, but a man she respected. Luther "accepted", and they were married soon after.
Luther's life changed drastically after his marriage. Katie, as he called her, was a force to be reconed with. She rose at 4:00 a.m. to oversee the workings of their large home and farm. Luther sometimes called her the morning star of Whittenberg. Luther and Katie had 6 children and adopted 11 more. Katie learned to do everything- paying the bills, gardening, raising livestock, running the houshold, and even brewing beer for the family's use. They moved into a former abby, and as it was usually full of guests, Katie took care of those visitors as well. Katie was called upon to care for the sick, as well as support her husband through both physical and spiritual difficulties. Katie helped
to cure Luther's reckless side, asking him to stay home instead of going on dangerous journeys. Katie's calming influence on the household allowed Luther the time to write, teach, travel and to preach.
Katherina's influence on the reformation was more behind the scenes- supporting and challenging her husband and caring for her family. Katherina provied a new example of what it means to be a woman dedicated to God - not cloistered in a convent, but unselfishly serving her family and the church. Katherina lived her life depending on Christ alone.
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