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Struggles for Reform 1 Primary Source 7.2 STRUGGLES FOR CHURCH REFORM1 Even before the Reformation, there were many divisions and calls for reform within the church. The following passages highlight this struggle both within the church leadership and among the clergy and the laity. The first document is from the Council of Constance, which met from 1414 to 1418 and ended the Western Schism—a split within the church when two and then three prelates concurrently claimed to be the pope (1378–1418). The council participants declared general councils2 to be the ultimate authority in the church, even over the pope, and insisted that such a council should meet every ten years. The next document is a condemnation by Pope Pius II (r. 1458–64) of general councils, asserting the supremacy of the pope. The last three documents depict various complaints against the corruption of the church or, in the case of the fifth document, complaints regarding the pope directly. The first of these documents protesting corruption comes from common church member, while the final two are by church officials, respectively, a group of German clergymen and a Franciscan monk, Friedrich Myconius (1490–1546), who later became a Lutheran theologian. Despite these calls for reform—or, rather, in part because of them—the Reformation soon began: in 1517 with the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses. For the texts online, click here. The Council of Constance Claims Supreme Authority, 1415 This holy synod of Constance, being a general council, and legally assembled in the Holy Spirit for the praise of God and for ending the present schism, and for the union and reformation of the church of God in its head and in its members, in order more easily, more securely, more completely, and more fully to bring about the union and reformation of the church of God, ordains, declares, and decrees as follows: And first it declares that this synod, legally assembled, is a general council, and represents the catholic church militant and has its authority directly from Christ; and everybody, of whatever rank or dignity, including also the pope, is bound to obey this council in those things which pertain to the faith, to the ending of this schism, and to a general reformation of the church in its head and members. Likewise it declares that if anyone, of whatever rank, condition, or dignity, including also the pope, shall refuse to obey the commands, statutes, ordinances, or orders of this holy council, or of any other holy council properly assembled, in regard to the ending of the schism and to the reformation of the church, he shall be subject to the proper punishment; and unless he repents, he shall be duly punished; and if necessary, recourse shall be had to other aids of justice. 1 Oliver J. Thatcher and Edgar Holmes McNeal, eds., A Sourcebook for Mediaeval History (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905), 328-29, 332, 336-40. 2 A conference of church dignitaries and theologians assembled to settle matters of church doctrine and practice, representing the entire Catholic world. 2 Pius II, by the Bull3 “Execrabilis,” Condemns Appeals to a General Council, 1459 The execrable and hitherto unknown abuse has grown up in our day, that certain persons, imbued with the spirit of rebellion, and not from a desire to secure a better judgment, but to escape the punishment of some offence which they have committed, presume to appeal from the pope to a future council, in spite of the fact that the pope is the vicar4 of Jesus Christ and to him, in the person of St. Peter, the following was said: “Feed my sheep” [John 21:16] and “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” [Matt. 16:18]. Wishing therefore to expel this pestiferous poison from the church of Christ and to care for the salvation of the flock entrusted to us, and to remove every cause of offence from the fold of our Saviour, with the advice and consent of our brothers, the cardinals5 of the holy Roman church, and of all the prelates,6 and of those who have been trained in the canon and civil law, who are at our court, and with our own sure knowledge, we condemn all such appeals and prohibit them as erroneous and detestable. Popular Dissatisfaction that the Church Had So Much Wealth, ca. 1480 It is as clear as day that by means of smooth and crafty words the clergy have deprived us of our rightful possessions. For they blinded the eyes of our forefathers, and persuaded them to buy the kingdom of heaven with their lands and possessions. If you priests give the poor and the chosen children of God their paternal inheritance, which before God you owe them, God will perhaps grant you such grace that you will know yourselves. But so long as you spend your money on your dear harlots7 and profligates, instead of upon the children of God, you may be sure that God will reward you according to your merits. For you have angered and overburdened all the people of the empire. The time is coming when your possessions will be seized and divided as if they were the possessions of an enemy. As you have oppressed the people, they will rise up against you so that you will not know where to find a place to stay. Complaints of the Germans against the Pope,8 1510 (1) That popes do not feel bound to observe the bulls, agreements, privileges, and letters which have been issued by their predecessors, but often dispense with, suspend, and revoke them at the request of people even of low birth. (2) That the pope sometimes refuses to confirm the canonical election9 of bishops. (3) That the pope sometimes rejects the election of præpositi [provosts],10 although made by chapters which have paid a high price for the right to elect. .11 (4) That the better benefices and higher offices are reserved 3 A letter or charter from the pope, named from the seal used to authenticate it. 4 Representative. 5 Highest clergymen after the pope. 6 High-ranking members of the clergy, in particular bishops. 7 Prostitutes. 8 Julius II (1443–1513), pope from 1503 to 1513. 9 Elections required by canon law, or church law. 10 A senior official in the church. 11 All ellipses in original. 3 for the cardinals and the chief officials of the papal court. (5) That an unlimited number of expectancies are granted, and many are given for the same office to different persons. And many expectancies are sold to one and the same person. From this practice, lawsuits arise daily, which cause all concerned to incur heavy expenses. For if a man buys an expectancy, he will probably never get the office, but he will surely become involved in a lawsuit about it which will cost him a great deal of money. On this account the proverbial saying has arisen: “If anyone obtains an expectancy from Rome, let him lay aside one or two hundred gold coins, for he will need them in his lawsuit about it.” (6) Even when a bishopric is several times within a few years made vacant by death, the pope without any mercy demands the prompt and full payment of the annates.12 And sometimes when the pope creates new offices and enlarges his court, more is demanded as annates than is just. (7) Churches are given to members of the papal court, some of whom are better fitted to be mule drivers than pastors. (8) Old indulgences13 are revoked and new ones sold, merely to raise money, although the laymen14 are thereby made to murmur against their clergy. (9) Tithes15 are collected under the pretext that a war is to be made against the Turks, but nothing of the kind is ever done. (10) Cases which could easily be settled in Germany, since there are good and just judges there, are indiscriminately called before the papal court at Rome. St. Bernard,16 in writing to Eugene III,17 severely criticised this practice. Abuses in the Sale of Indulgences, 1512 Anno18 1512. Tetzel19 gained by his preaching in Germany an immense sum of money which he sent to Rome. A very large sum was collected at the new mining works at St. Annaberg,20 where I heard him for two years. It is incredible what this ignorant and impudent monk used to say. He declared that if they contributed readily and bought grace and indulgence, all the hills of St. Annaberg would become pure massive silver. Also, that, as soon as the coin clinked in the chest, the soul for whom the money was paid would go straight to heaven. The indulgence was so highly prized that when the agent came to a city the bull was carried on a satin or gold cloth, and all the priests and monks, the town council, schoolmaster, scholars, men, women, girls, and children went out in procession to meet it with banners, candles, and songs. All the bells were rung and organs played. He was conducted into the church, a red cross was erected in the centre of the church, and the pope’s banner displayed. Anno 1517. It is incredible what this ignorant monk said and preached. He gave sealed letters stating that even the sins which a man was intending to commit would be forgiven. He said the pope had more power than all the apostles, all the angels and saints, 12 The practice of giving the first year’s revenue of a benefice to the pope.
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