Grad School Formatted Final

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Grad School Formatted Final Contextualizing Sixteenth-Century Lutheran Epitaphs by Lucas Cranach the Younger: The Influence of Luther’s Two Realms on the Composition and Content of a Set of Reformation Funerary Monuments DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Anastasia Christine Nurre Graduate Program in History of Art The Ohio State University 2015 Dissertation Committee: Professor Barbara Haeger, Advisor Professor Christian Kleinbub Professor Andrew Shelton Copyright by Anastasia Christine Nurre 2015 Abstract Painted epitaphs dominated the visual landscape of newly claimed or constructed sixteenth-century Lutheran churches. In consideration of Lutheran attitudes toward art, icons, and the worship of saints, the appearance and proliferation of memorials dedicated to prominent Lutheran leaders is noteworthy. Careful study of set of extant epitaphs by Wittenberg-based artist Lucas Cranach the Younger uncovers continuities between compositional format, subject matter, and types of donors, pointing to a connection between cultural factors and the role of epitaphs in the space of the Lutheran church. Within the historical context of Reformation Saxony, the continuities in the appearance of Lucas Cranach the Younger’s Lutheran epitaphs indicate that the artist harnessed the concept of Luther’s two realms, an earthly realm and a spiritual realm, as inspiration for a new epitaph format. Adapting the visual language of pre-Reformation devotional artworks, Cranach depicted donors demonstrating their adherence to and confession of the ‘true’ faith in the terrestrial realm, pictorializing the donor’s desire for their constituents’ continued adherence to a Lutheran confession in the face of sixteenth- century religious upheaval. Concurrently, the donor appears in a representation of the real but invisible spiritual realm that, according to Luther, appeared in the hearts of the faithful upon hearing the Word of God, thereby setting an example of devoutness for parishioners to follow. The donors’ example of leadership and expectation of obedience ii to their directives reinforces the perceived importance of local leadership in the solidification of territorial religious confession in Saxony during the second half of the sixteenth century. iii Dedication Dedicated to my husband, David, and children, Daphne and Elliot. iv Acknowledgments Funerary monuments surround my workspace, prompting me to recall my days playing in the rooms of our family-run funeral home during my childhood. These experiences and the family that facilitated them were integral in shaping my goals and research focus. In addition to the family business piquing my interest in funerary culture, I have been inspired by my grandmothers’ modeling of strong women, my father’s love of history, and my sister’s lively discussion of social identity. Generous babysitting offers from parents, particularly Katrien Hayes, have allowed me to immerse myself in this research safe in the knowledge that my children were cared for. Of course, my greatest advocates are my husband, who supported me while pursuing his own studies, and my two children. Conventional wisdom dictates that it takes a village to raise a child. Bringing a dissertation to fruition is no different. In addition to my family, I must thank my excellent adviser, Dr. Barbara Haeger, who pushed me beyond what I thought were my limits, as well as my committee members, Dr. Christian Kleinbub, and Dr. Andrew Shelton, who took time to read and comment on my finished paper. Colleagues Dr. Ariana Maki and Dr. Lizzy Ellis-Marino listened as I vetted ideas. Editor Cosimo Giovine guided me through initial revisions. Friend, colleague, and editor Deirdre McMurtry was an invaluable asset, talking for hours about history and theology, and polishing rough v chapters into clearly articulated ideas. My support network, including friends, family, and a community of mamas, formed a dispersed and diverse cheering squad. I am indebted to and grateful for the people in my village. Each of you has contributed to my achievement. I wouldn’t be here without you. vi Vita 2004................................................................M.A. Art History, University of Cincinnati 2001................................................................B.S. Anthropology, University of Cincinnati 1997................................................................Colerain High School, Cincinnati, Ohio 2005-2009 Graduate Assistant- Ohio State University Libraries, User Education 2002-2004 Teaching Assistant- University of Cincinnati, Art History Department 2005-2009 Contract Registrar- A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People 2005 Regional Project Director- A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People , Cincinnati, Ohio venue 2004-2005 Webpage Coordinator- Pangea Productions & Voyageur Media, Cincinnati, Ohio: Ohio Archaeology Project, 2002-2004 Production Assistant- Pangea Productions & Voyageur Media, Cincinnati, Ohio 2003-2005 Program Assistant- Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington, Kentucky 2003 Museum Intern- Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington, Kentucky 2004 Gallery Manager- University of Cincinnati, DAAP Galleries 2003 Gallery Monitor- University of Cincinnati, DAAP Galleries vii 2001-2004 Volunteer- Cincinnati Museum Center: Geier Collections & Research Center, Archaeology & Ethnology Collections 1998 Researcher- University of Cincinnati: CERHAS Earthworks Project Publications 2015 “Memorializing Christian Authority: Secular Leadership and Lutheran Ideology in Epitaph for Johannes Bugenhagen ” in Lucas Cranach der Jüngere und die Reformation der Bilder , forthcoming. Fields of Study Major Field: History of Art viii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... v Vita .................................................................................................................................... vii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ................................................................................................................... xii Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Epitaphs in the Context of the Reformation .................................................................... 7 The Cranach Workshop and the Visualization of Lutheranism .................................... 14 Cranach the Younger, Artist.......................................................................................... 17 Current state of Literature ............................................................................................. 20 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 26 Chapter Outline ............................................................................................................. 28 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 30 Chapter 1: Epitaphs and the Two Dimensions of Human Existence ................................ 32 ix A Common Type ........................................................................................................... 34 Carefully Rendered Positions ........................................................................................ 39 Lutherans In Two Realms ............................................................................................. 40 The Two Realms and the Wittenberg Predella.............................................................. 49 Variations in Placement ................................................................................................ 52 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 2: In the Heavenly Kingdom ............................................................................... 75 Confessionalization ....................................................................................................... 77 Setting the Stage ............................................................................................................ 81 Core Themes in Lutheran Confession ........................................................................... 86 In the Heart .................................................................................................................... 94 Revelation.................................................................................................................... 104 Following Christ .......................................................................................................... 114 External Signs ............................................................................................................. 117 The True Worshippers ................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018
    Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 Conforming to General Convention 2018 1 Preface Christians have since ancient times honored men and women whose lives represent heroic commitment to Christ and who have borne witness to their faith even at the cost of their lives. Such witnesses, by the grace of God, live in every age. The criteria used in the selection of those to be commemorated in the Episcopal Church are set out below and represent a growing consensus among provinces of the Anglican Communion also engaged in enriching their calendars. What we celebrate in the lives of the saints is the presence of Christ expressing itself in and through particular lives lived in the midst of specific historical circumstances. In the saints we are not dealing primarily with absolutes of perfection but human lives, in all their diversity, open to the motions of the Holy Spirit. Many a holy life, when carefully examined, will reveal flaws or the bias of a particular moment in history or ecclesial perspective. It should encourage us to realize that the saints, like us, are first and foremost redeemed sinners in whom the risen Christ’s words to St. Paul come to fulfillment, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The “lesser feasts” provide opportunities for optional observance. They are not intended to replace the fundamental celebration of Sunday and major Holy Days. As the Standing Liturgical Commission and the General Convention add or delete names from the calendar, successive editions of this volume will be published, each edition bearing in the title the date of the General Convention to which it is a response.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Pyrrhonism As a Sect of Buddhism? a Case Study in the Methodology of Comparative Philosophy
    Comparative Philosophy Volume 9, No. 2 (2018): 1-40 Open Access / ISSN 2151-6014 www.comparativephilosophy.org EARLY PYRRHONISM AS A SECT OF BUDDHISM? A CASE STUDY IN THE METHODOLOGY OF COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY MONTE RANSOME JOHNSON & BRETT SHULTS ABSTRACT: We offer a sceptical examination of a thesis recently advanced in a monograph published by Princeton University Press entitled Greek Buddha: Pyrrho’s Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia. In this dense and probing work, Christopher I. Beckwith, a professor of Central Eurasian studies at Indiana University, Bloomington, argues that Pyrrho of Elis adopted a form of early Buddhism during his years in Bactria and Gandhāra, and that early Pyrrhonism must be understood as a sect of early Buddhism. In making his case Beckwith claims that virtually all scholars of Greek, Indian, and Chinese philosophy have been operating under flawed assumptions and with flawed methodologies, and so have failed to notice obvious and undeniable correspondences between the philosophical views of the Buddha and of Pyrrho. In this study we take Beckwith’s proposal and challenge seriously, and we examine his textual basis and techniques of translation, his methods of examining passages, his construal of problems and his reconstruction of arguments. We find that his presuppositions are contentious and doubtful, his own methods are extremely flawed, and that he draws unreasonable conclusions. Although the result of our study is almost entirely negative, we think it illustrates some important general points about the methodology of comparative philosophy. Keywords: adiaphora, anātman, anattā, ataraxia, Buddha, Buddhism, Democritus, Pāli, Pyrrho, Pyrrhonism, Scepticism, trilakṣaṇa 1. INTRODUCTION One of the most ambitious recent works devoted to comparative philosophy is Christopher Beckwith’s monograph Greek Buddha: Pyrrho’s Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia (2015).
    [Show full text]
  • St. Augustine and the Doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ Stanislaus J
    ST. AUGUSTINE AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST STANISLAUS J. GRABOWSKI, S.T.D., S.T.M. Catholic University of America N THE present article a study will be made of Saint Augustine's doc­ I trine of the Mystical Body of Christ. This subject is, as it will be later pointed out, timely and fruitful. It is of unutterable importance for the proper and full conception of the Church. This study may be conveniently divided into four parts: (I) A fuller consideration of the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ, as it is found in the works of the great Bishop of Hippo; (II) a brief study of that same doctrine, as it is found in the sources which the Saint utilized; (III) a scrutiny of the place that this doctrine holds in the whole system of his religious thought and of some of its peculiarities; (IV) some consideration of the influence that Saint Augustine exercised on the development of this particular doctrine in theologians and doctrinal systems. THE DOCTRINE St. Augustine gives utterance in many passages, as the occasion de­ mands, to words, expressions, and sentences from which we are able to infer that the Church of his time was a Church of sacramental rites and a hierarchical order. Further, writing especially against Donatism, he is led Xo portray the Church concretely in its historical, geographical, visible form, characterized by manifest traits through which she may be recognized and discerned from false chuiches. The aspect, however, of the concept of the Church which he cherished most fondly and which he never seems tired of teaching, repeating, emphasizing, and expound­ ing to his listeners is the Church considered as the Body of Christ.1 1 On St.
    [Show full text]
  • Adiaphora, Luther and the Material Culture of Worship Andrew Spicer
    Adiaphora, Luther and the Material Culture of Worship Andrew Spicer During the seventeenth and eighteenth century, English merchants and travellers to Germany and the Baltic were surprised by the pre-Reformation furnishings that remained in the Lutheran churches they visited, particularly commenting on the altarpieces, organs and statues.1 The survival of these aspects of late medieval worship has been attributed to the so-called ‘preserving power’ of Lutheranism. Significant numbers of images, ecclesiastical plate and vestments together with altarpieces remain even to this day through having been retained by Lutheran congregations.2 Recent scholarship, however, has acknowledged that this material culture has not always survived without some adaptation to accord with the needs of Lutheran worship.3 Furthermore, it has been questioned whether ‘preservation’ or ‘survival’ are the appropriate terms to refer to these items associated with pre-Reformation worship but with which the Lutheran faithful continued to engage.4 Adiaphora has become a convenient term to explain the retention of this ecclesiastical material culture, particularly in relation to religious art and images, within the Lutheran tradition.5 Adiaphora, a Greek term, had its origins in classical philosophy but had been adopted by the some of the Church Fathers. The meaning of the concept gradually evolved so that by the late middle ages, it had come to refer to things that were permitted because they had neither been divinely commanded nor prohibited, as determined by the New Testament. These were matters, which were not regarded as necessary for salvation. It was this understanding of the term that was applied by the Reformers in the early sixteenth century.
    [Show full text]
  • Church History
    Village Missions Website: http://www.vmcdi.com Contenders Discipleship Initiative E-mail: [email protected] Church History Ecclesiology Church History History of Christian Doctrine Church History - Ecclesiology and the History of Christian Doctrine Contenders Discipleship Initiative – Church History Instructor’s Guide TRAINING MODULE SUMMARY Course Name Church History Course Number in Series 5 Creation Date August 2017 Created By: Russell Richardson Last Date Modified January 2018 Version Number 2 Copyright Note Contenders Bible School is a two-year ministry equipping program started in 1995 by Pastor Ron Sallee at Machias Community Church, Snohomish, WA. More information regarding the full Contenders program and copies of this guide and corresponding videos can be found at http://www.vmcontenders.org or http://www.vmcdi.com Copyright is retained by Village Missions with all rights reserved to protect the integrity of this material and the Village Missions Contenders Discipleship Initiative. Contenders Discipleship Initiative Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in the Contenders Discipleship Initiative courses are those of the instructors and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Village Missions. The viewpoints of Village Missions may be found at https://villagemissions.org/doctrinal-statement/ The Contenders program is provided free of charge and it is expected that those who receive freely will in turn give freely. Permission for non-commercial use is hereby granted but re-sale is prohibited. Copyright
    [Show full text]
  • Testzentren Landkreis Leipzig Stand 07.05.2021
    Testzentren Landkreis Leipzig Stand 07.05.2021 Zu den genannten Einrichtungen bieten auch Ärzte die Tests an Name der Einrichtung Standort / Gebiet Versorgungsform Öffnungszeiten TmH Transport mit Telefonische Terminvereinbarung mobil Sonstiges Herz,Hauptstr. 66 unter 034345 55751 Kerstin 04668 Otterwisch Engelmann DRK Kreisverband Terminvergabe: mobil Sonstiges Muldental e.V. www.drkmuldental.de/schnelltest Standorte Walther-Rathenau-Str. oder 0174 5499100 oder 0174 Nerchau, 1, 04808 Wurzen 5399163 Dürrweitzschen, Mutzschen, Großbardau, Großbothen lola-Aquarium Netto-Markt 9-17 Uhr mobil Sonstiges Ostenstr. 9 Montag: Carsdorfer Str. 8 Pegau Netto-Märkte in 08527 Plauen Dienstag: Schusterstr. 6 Groitzsch Pegau, Mittwoch / Freitag: Groitzsch und Pawlowstr. 2a Borna Borna Donnerstag: Deutzener Str. 7 Borna Löwen Apotheke Termine ww.apo-hultsch.de oder Bad Lausick Apotheke Straße der Einheit 10 034345/22352 04651 Bad Lausick Pflegedienst Kühn Mo - Fr von 13 - 14:30 Uhr, So von Bad Lausick amb. PD GmbH, Str. der Einheit 8 - 15 Uhr Terminvergabe: 4, 04651 Bad Lausick www.pflegedienst-kuehn.de DRK-Kreisverband Kur- und Freizeitbad Riff Bad Lausick Geithain e.V. Am Riff 3, 04651 Bad Lausick Kreisgeschäftsstelle Dresdener Str. 33 b Mo / Mi / Do 9 – 11 Uhr 04643 Geithain Di / Fr 16 – 18 Uhr Häusliche Kranken- Mittwoch 9 - 15 Uhr Bad Lausick Sonstiges und Altenpflege Dorothea Petzold GmbH, Fabianstr. 6 04651 Bad Lausick DRK-Kreisverband Kur- und Freizeitbad Riff Bad Lausick Hilforga- Geithain e.V. Am Riff 3, 04651 Bad Lausick nisation Kreisgeschäftsstelle Mo / Mi / Do 9 – 11 Uhr Dresdener Str. 33 b Di / Fr 16 – 18 Uhr 04643 Geithain DRK WPS im DRK Pflegedienst Bennewitz Bennewitz Sonstiges Muldental GmbH, Leipziger Str.
    [Show full text]
  • The Limits Upon Adiaphoristic Freedom: Luther and Melanchthon1 Bernard J
    THE LIMITS UPON ADIAPHORISTIC FREEDOM: LUTHER AND MELANCHTHON1 BERNARD J. VERKAMP Vincennes University, Indiana HEN LUTHER and his principal spokesman, Philip Melanchthon, Wlaunched their attack against the many ecclesiastical laws and regulations which had cropped up over the centuries, it was not so much a matter of attacking the traditions in themselves as it was an attempt to restore the doctrine of solafideism, which in their opinion the traditions had severely jeopardized. Once that doctrine was fully appreciated, Luther wrote, the Christian would "easily and safely find his way through those myriad mandates and precepts of popes, bishops, monas­ teries, churches, princes, and magistrates."2 As it turned out, that way, according to both Luther and Melanchthon, was an adiaphoristic via media. But whether such a path was as "easily and safely" to be discerned as Luther thought, may be doubted; for, as a matter of fact, the adiaphoristic freedom championed by the two Wittenberg Reformers was closely circumscribed by "limits" from without and within, which, because of their subtlety and complexity, could be and not infrequently were overlooked. In what follows, it will be my intention to show exactly what those limits are. I will begin by trying to establish the outer boundaries, or, in other words, the precise locus of the adiaphorism proffered by Luther and Melanchthon. At its sixth session the Council of Trent declared: "Si quis dixerit, nihil praeceptum esse in Evangelio praeter fidem, cetera esse indifferentia, ñeque praecepta,
    [Show full text]
  • 01-04 Titel Innen Und Inhalt.Indd
    Vogelmonitoring in Sachsen-Anhalt 2014 Herausgegeben durch das Landesamt für Umweltschutz Sachsen-Anhalt Staatliche Vogelschutzwarte in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Ornithologenverband Sachsen-Anhalt (OSA) e.V. 1 2 Vogelmonitoring in Sachsen-Anhalt 2014 Berichte des Landesamtes für Umweltschutz Sachsen-Anhalt, Halle Heft 5/2015 1. Monitoring seltener Brutvogelarten Stefan Fischer und Gunthard Dornbusch: Bestandssituation ausgewählter Brutvogelarten in Sachsen-Anhalt – Jahresbericht 2014 5 2. Monitoring Greifvögel und Eulen André Staar, Gunthard Dornbusch, Stefan Fischer & Andreas Hochbaum: Entwicklung von Bestand und Reproduktion von Mäusebussard (Buteo buteo), Rotmilan (Milvus milvus) und Schwarzmilan (Milvus migrans) im Naturschutzgebiet Steckby-Lödderitzer Forst / Untersuchungsgebiet Steckby von 1991 bis 2015 43 3. Wasservogel- und Gänsemonitoring Martin Schulze: Die Wasservogelzählung in Sachsen-Anhalt 2014/15 55 4. Bestände Stefan Fischer & Gunthard Dornbusch: Bestand und Bestandsentwicklung der Brutvögel Sachsen-Anhalts – Stand 2010 71 Sven Trautmann, Stefan Fischer & Bettina Gerlach: Ermittlung der Zielwerte nach der Delphi-Methode für den LIKI-Indikator „Artenvielfalt und Landschafts- qualität“ in Sachsen-Anhalt 2015 81 3 4 Bestandssituation ausgewählter Berichte des Landesamtes für Umweltschutz Sachsen-Anhalt Brutvogelarten in Sachsen-Anhalt Halle, Heft 5/2015: 5–41 – Jahresbericht 2014 Stefan Fischer & Gunthard Dornbusch Einleitung Insbesondere bitten wir die Melder bei der Zuord- nung von Beobachtungen zu einzelnen Gebieten Vogeldaten
    [Show full text]
  • To Volume II
    Index to Volume II 2 announcement, 171, 296, 297, 302 Antichrist, 164, 556, 598, 600, 603, 604, 609, 610, 2 Clement 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 598– merits and justification, 370 620 2 Maccabees any opponent of Christ an antichrist, 598–600 prayer for dead, 442 Lutherans teach this doctrine others support this as well, 610 A one great Antichrist spoken of, 600 ability, 39, 43, 49, 105, 110, 213, 254, 306, 323, 343, distinuished from other anitchrists, 600 369, 403, 404, 410, 430, 549, 583 names for Abraham’s bosom (heaven), 722 Little Horn, King of the North, the Beast, absolute decree, 311, 477, 715 the Great Prostitute, 601 accident, 72, 633 Man of Sin or Lawlessness, 600 actio, 270 Pope in Rome is the Antichrist additions to Scripture. See Word of God:sufficiency of agent of Satan, 616 adiaphora, 416–18, 542 archtypal representative of unbelief and Christian's attitude governed by opinio legis, 606 must defend liberties when attacked in claims infallibility, 606, 607 principle, 417 claims to be vicar (subsitute) of Christ, 606 own conscience, 416 curses justification by grace alone, 606 respect for liberty of others and welfare of weak damns those not subject to him, 608 brother, 416 doctrine highly deceptive, 616 Christian's attitude governed by, 416 fits historical outline given in Scripture, offense, 418 609–10 adoption, 19, 111, 204, 213, 214, 226, 325, 358, 394, lies are his chief strength, 609 463, 620, 731 Lutherans teach this doctrine, 613–16 adoration of the host, 278 others support this as well, 616 advent, second, 669, 649–73 objections to, 611–13 Aeschylus, 685 opposes Christ in church and state, 604 agreement of Word of God.
    [Show full text]
  • Saxony: Landscapes/Rivers and Lakes/Climate
    Freistaat Sachsen State Chancellery Message and Greeting ................................................................................................................................................. 2 State and People Delightful Saxony: Landscapes/Rivers and Lakes/Climate ......................................................................................... 5 The Saxons – A people unto themselves: Spatial distribution/Population structure/Religion .......................... 7 The Sorbs – Much more than folklore ............................................................................................................ 11 Then and Now Saxony makes history: From early days to the modern era ..................................................................................... 13 Tabular Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 17 Constitution and Legislature Saxony in fine constitutional shape: Saxony as Free State/Constitution/Coat of arms/Flag/Anthem ....................... 21 Saxony’s strong forces: State assembly/Political parties/Associations/Civic commitment ..................................... 23 Administrations and Politics Saxony’s lean administration: Prime minister, ministries/State administration/ State budget/Local government/E-government/Simplification of the law ............................................................................... 29 Saxony in Europe and in the world: Federalism/Europe/International
    [Show full text]
  • THE ICONOGRAPHY of MEXICAN FOLK RETABLOS by Gloria Kay
    The iconography of Mexican folk retablos Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Giffords, Gloria Fraser, 1938- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 03/10/2021 20:27:37 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/552047 THE ICONOGRAPHY OF MEXICAN FOLK RETABLOS by Gloria Kay Fraser Giffords A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF ART In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS WITH A MAJOR IN HISTORY OF ART In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 19 6 9 STATEMENT BY AUTHOR This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for an advanced degree at The University of Arizona and is deposited in the University Library to be made available to borrowers under rules of the Library. Brief quotations from this thesis are allowable without special permission, provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for permission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this manu­ script in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate College when in his judgment the proposed use of the material is in the interests of scholarship. In all other instances, however, permission must be obtained from the author. APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR This thesis has been approved on the date shown below: Robert M.
    [Show full text]
  • Peter Canisius and the Protestants a Model of Ecumenical Dialogue?
    journal of jesuit studies 1 (2014) 373-399 brill.com/jjs Peter Canisius and the Protestants A Model of Ecumenical Dialogue? Hilmar M. Pabel Department of History, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada [email protected] Abstract Some modern interpreters have incorrectly suggested that Peter Canisius was an ecumenist before his time. Their insistence on his extraordinary kindness towards Protestants does not stand the test of the scrutiny of the relevant sources. An analysis of Canisius’s advice on how Jesuits should deal with “heretics” in Germany, of his catechisms, and of his polemical works reveals a typical Catholic controversialist of the Reformation era. Canisius was disposed to display hostility, more than good will, to Protestants. Keywords Peter Canisius – Protestants – Reformation – apologetics Introduction: The Celebration of a Saint Peter Canisius’s path to canonization was a long one. He died in 1597. The for- mal ecclesiastical process to declare him a saint began in 1625, but his beatifica- tion, solemnly pronounced by Pope Pius IX, had to wait until 1864.1 In Militantis ecclesiae (1897), Pope Leo XIII marked the 300th anniversary of Canisius’s death by hailing him as “the second apostle of Germany.” St. Boniface, the eighth- century Anglo-Saxon missionary, was the first. Pius XI not only canonized Canisius in 1925; he also declared him a doctor of the universal church.2 This 1 Forian Rieß, Der selige Petrus Canisius aus der Gesellschaft Jesu (Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder, 1865), 552, 554. 2 Otto Braunsberger, “Sanctus Petrus Canisius Doctor Ecclesiae,” Gregorianum 6 (1925): 338. © koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2014 | doi 10.1163/22141332-00103002Downloaded from Brill.com09/26/2021 04:37:36AM via free access <UN> 374 Pabel was a rare distinction, as Yves de la Brière reported two weeks later in the Jesuit journal Études.
    [Show full text]