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Week 3: Luther the Monk MARTIN LUTHER PAGE 13 WEEK 3 - Luther The Monk The Neurotic That Changed The World Just a Lightning Storm? On July 2nd, 1505 Martin Luther was returning to law school in Erfurt after visiting his parents in Mansfeld (85 km or 51 miles). Speculation for his visit right in the middle of the semester, range from Martin being unsure that he wanted to continue law school, to his father Hans calling him home to announce they had arranged a bride for him. Whatever the reason for the visit, on the return outside of Stottenheim a few miles from Erfurt, lightning almost struck Martin. This was “Isaiah Mighty Seer the second time he almost died on this same journey. A few years earlier he in Days of Old”” severed an artery in his leg and almost bled to death. Luther fearing his impeding Isaiah, mighty seer, in days of old death cries out to St. Anne and vows… The Lord of all in Spirit did behold High on a lofty throne, in splendor bright, With fowing train that “Help me St. Anne, I will become a Monk” flled the Temple quite. Above the throne were stately seraphim, Six wings had they, these messengers of Other factors contributing to Luther’s vow and his decision include: Him. With twain they veiled their faces, as was meet, 1. Continued battle with Luther’s “Anfechtungen” (see below) With twain in reverent awe 2. The recent deaths of 2 professors and 2 classmates from Plague. they hid their feet, And with the other twain aloft they 3. Luther’s affection and respect of his 2 favorite professors both Augustinians soared, One to the other called and praised the Jodokus Trutfetter and Bartholomäus Arnoldi von Usigen. Lord: "Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! His friends broken hearted, try to convince Martin not to go into the Monastery. Holy is God, the Lord of Sabaoth! 2 weeks after the storm on July 16th Luther meets with friends for a farewell meal Behold, His glory flleth all the earth!" The beams and lintels trembled at the cry, together. The next day they walk with him to the gate, he hugs his friends who And clouds of smoke were in tears and says, ”Today you see me, but never again”. Martin walks enwrapped the throne on high. through the gate. He has just “put an end to his worldly past”. 2 Words & Music by The Observant Augustinian Hermits of Erfurt Words & Music by Martin Luther 1 Why did Luther choose the Augustinians? The Erfurt “Observant” (strict & conservative) and “Mendicant” (committed to a “Begging”, social compact with the city) cloister had a very “I had been called by heavenly scholarly, theological, and educational reputation. terrors, for not freely or desirously did I become a The process Luther went through to join was like monk, much less to gratify my this: belly, but walled around with Erfurt Augustinian Monastery, 1505 the terror and agony of sudden death I vowed a 1. Candidate goes into the Monastery for an evaluation period of a few months in constrained and necessary vow.” 3 which he learns about the history of the Augustinians, participates in the life of the Monastery, and is examined by the Prior. Martin Luther 2. If he still wants to go forward, he takes the Novitiate vows and becomes a monk. The Novice (Probation) period lasts 1 year and 1 day. Think Fräulein Maria in the Sound of Music… PAGE 14 ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL 3. After the novice year pursuits are established for education / study / vocation and optional ordination to Priesthood and/or advanced degrees. The monks were sworn to total obedience - The Prior and/or Vicar General assigned positions, roles, and there would be no questioning your lot. Life in The Monastery Life in the Augustinian Monastery was strict. Luther as a Novice could not walk or have a posture with his head up. Eyes to the ground unless addressed. He could not speak about his former life or family, could not speak critical of or praise a fellow monk. The days revolved around the daily “Praying of the Hours” - In Erfurt they systematically went through all 150 Psalms every week. Within 2 years Luther (and for the rest of his life) had the entire Psalter memorized. Each day began at 3 a.m. and ended at 9 p.m. The “hours” were a part of Luther’s life as late as 1520 even after being released from his vows by St. Anne & Mary Staupitz in 1518. cir. 1500 “At the time of the infusion Lauds or Dawn Prayer (3 a.m.) of the soul into the body of Prime or Early Morning Prayer (First Hour - 6 a.m.) Mary most holy, the Almighty Terce or Mid-Morning Prayer (Third Hour - 9 a.m.) desired that her mother, the Sext or Midday Prayer (Sixth Hour - Noon) holy Anne, should feel and None or Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Ninth Hour - 3 p.m.) recognize the presence of the Vespers or Evening Prayer ("at the lighting of the lamps", 6 p.m.) Divinity in a most exalted Compline or Night Prayer (before bed, 9 p.m.) manner. She was flled with Matins (Optional, at midnight for some) the Holy Ghost and was moved interiorly with a joy Besides the “Hours”, each Monk must take turns “begging”, ministering to and devotion altogether townspeople, and either studying full time to advanced degrees (while also above the ordinary. She was sharing duties at the brewery, farms, livestock, tending the grounds) or other wrapped in exalted ecstasy, in jobs. Luther gets 2 additional degrees while a Monk in Erfurt, a BA in Biblical which she was enlightened Studies and a BA in The Sentences (Lombards Sentences) with deep intelligences of the most hidden mysteries and praised the Lord with new Luther’s Heart & Troubled Soul “Anfechtungen” canticles of joy. These effects lasted during all the rest of Because every aspect of Luther’s life was observed and supervised according to her life; but they were greater Luther “outward” sin was almost impossible to commit. Yet Luther’s heart, that during the nine months in had yet to experience grace, burned within his chest. As he recalls, his “secret which she bore in her womb sins” nearly drove him to total despair. The cycle of confession and penance 4 the Treasure of heaven.” led Luther to continual bouts of extreme fasting to the very brink of consciousness “3 days without food or water”, “self-flagellation” and ‘self St. Anne while pregnant with loathing.’ the Virgin Mary According to Luther without Staupitz his father in the faith and father confessor he never would have survived. MARTIN LUTHER PAGE 15 Luther’s “Anfechtungen” Attacks Luther on “Anfechtungen” Luther defined these attacks of anxiety, depression, despair, and satanic oppression as “Anfechtengen”. There is no English equivalent. They would continue off and on his entire life. “It is not as reason and Satan argue: See there God fings you Historian David Steinmetz describes the terror which Luther experienced at into prison, endangers your life. Surely he hates you. He is angry these times as a fear that “God had turned his back on him once and for all,” with you; for if He did not hate abandoning him “to suffer the pains of hell.” Feeling “alone in the universe,” you, He would not allow this Luther “doubted his own faith, his own mission, and the goodness of God— thing to happen. In this way doubts which, because they verged on blasphemy, drove him deeper and Satan turns the rod of a Father deeper” into despair. His prayers met a “wall of indifferent silence.” He into the rope of a hangman and experienced heart palpitations, crying spells and profuse sweating. He was the most salutary remedy into the deadliest poison” 8 convinced that he would die soon and go straight to hell. “For more than a week I was close to the gates of death and hell. I trembled in all my members. Christ was wholly lost. I was shaken by desperation and blasphemy of God.” 5 His faith was as if it had never been. He “despised himself and murmured “Anfechtung is the against God.” Indeed, even after the start of the Reformation his friend Philip touchstone which teaches you not only to know and Melanchthon said that the terrors afflicting Luther became so severe that he understand, but also to almost died. The term “spiritual warfare” seems more than apt. experience how right, how true, how sweet, how lovely, These times of “Anfechtungen” would drive Luther back to Scripture and to how mighty, how comforting the sacraments of Baptism and the Eucharist. Another valuable medicine in the the Word of God is, wisdom struggle for Luther was “the fellowship of the church:.“ “No one should be beyond all wisdom” 9 alone when he opposes Satan. The church and the ministry of the Word were instituted for this purpose, that hands may be joined together and one may help another. If the prayer of one doesn’t help, the prayer of another will.” 6 “If I live longer I would like to write a book about An example of Luther’s dependence on his friends is this letter to Melancthon Anfechtungen [dark nights], for without them no person from the Wartburg castle on July 13, 1521, while he was in the middle of a 10 is able to know Holy moth seclusion working feverishly on the translation of the New Testament Scripture, nor faith, the fear into German: and love of God; indeed he is not able to know what the “I sit here at ease, hardened and unfeeling—alas! praying little, grieving little Spirit is, having never been in for the Church of God, burning rather in the fierce fires of my untamed flesh.
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