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10-2017 The Ancient Waldenses: Did the Predate ? P. Gerard Damsteegt Andrews University, [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Damsteegt, P. Gerard, "The Ancient Waldenses: Did the Reformation Predate Luther?" (2017). Faculty Publications. 529. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pubs/529

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. P. GERARD DAMSTEEGT

P. Gerard Damsteegt, DTh, serves as associate professor of history at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, United Sates.

The ancient Waldenses: Did the Reformation predate Luther? 1

n 2017, as many Protestants cel- had already inhabited the Alpine valleys calling them insabbatati, sabbatati, or ebrate the five hundredth year of from earlier times. similar names. Throughout the centuries ’s nailing of the Ninety- These Waldenses opposed many two major streams of interpretation have IFive Theses to the church door in teachings and practices of the been proposed for the meaning of these , , it is appropriate Church that were not biblical. names. to ask, Did the Reformation really begin They rejected the doctrine of , One interpretation considers the with Luther? the , the use of , ashes, Waldenses a new heretical movement While significant attempts to candles, kissing of , and the cel- whose members distinguished them- the Church had taken ebration of papal holy days, or festivals. selves by wearing a peculiar type of place before Martin Luther, Luther with They shared the Scriptures, or portions shoes. It identifies of his 1517 work, the Ninety-Five Theses, of them, in the common language of the as the originator of this movement, is widely acknowledged to have started people and were known for insisting on which broke away from the Roman the Reformation. But there were others, the as their only rule of doctrine . It assumes that the before Luther, who preached similar and life, calling on fellow to Waldenses had adopted this unique reforms but did not succeed in chang- reform and embrace the teachings and style of dress to impress upon people ing the Roman Church of their time. simplicity of the . that they were a religious order intent To the names of , Peter Waldo, As a result of the Waldenses’ call for on restoring the simplicity of the New and we may also add a reformation, from the twelfth century Testament of , with their nearly forgotten group of reformers—the onward, Catholic councils condemned simple style of footwear distinguishing ancient Waldenses. them as heretics,2 resulting in severe them from other Catholic orders and . Consequently, they fled giving them the appearance of being Peter Waldo to more hospitable regions, further genuine apostles of Christ. The Waldenses lived throughout spreading their biblical teachings to The other interpretation holds that , especially in the Alpine regions countries as far-flung as England, these names describe the Waldensian of , , and . Many his- Germany, , Austria, , as a movement that rejected all torians date their origin to the twelfth and . This underlines why sev- nonbiblical traditions, festivals, and holy century and to a rich merchant, Peter eral Protestant historians consider the days designated as that the Waldo of Lyon, who, after his conversion, ancient Waldenses precursors of the Roman Catholic Church had instituted. shared his wealth with the poor. He and Protestant Reformation.3 Unlike other This view argues that the Waldenses his followers were called the “Poor of reform-minded groups of the Middle were not a new movement and that Lyon.” They wore simple clothing and Ages, the Waldenses were not annihi- their presence was already known before shared the teachings of the Bible in the lated or absorbed into other movements Waldo, and their teachings were based common language of the people, a prac- but continue until today. on the Bible and the Bible only. tice outlawed by the Roman Catholic The first time the word insabbatati Church. While this is a popular scholarly The insabbatati or was used for Waldenses was in an 1192 view, others believe Waldo’s followers sabbatati edict against heretics by King Alfonso II joined with the “Vaudois” (Waldenses), From the end of the twelfth century, of Aragon (1152–1196). This identified people who had similar convictions and opponents of the Waldenses began them as “Insabbatatos” and “the Poor

Ministry® OCTOBER 2017 of Lyon.”4 The edict did not explain why named ‘Insabbathas,’ regarders not of the Waldenses were called Insabbatatos. the Sabbaths.”8 The next source was an 1197 edict Perrin’s explanation showed that against heretics by the son of King the prefix in of the word insabbatati Alfonso, called King Peter II of Aragon expresses a negation of the root word (1174–1213). This time the Waldenses sabbat, indicating that the Waldenses were called “Sabbatati.”5 This edict also rejected Catholic holy, or rest, days, did not give any explanation of sabbatati called sabbaths.9 Perrin’s explanation or why the prefix in is absent. The fact reflected the historic Waldensian self- that neither edict explains these names image of being followers of the simple indicates that people must have known apostolic teachings.10 their meanings at that time. Prior to Perrin, the Huguenot The second, and more plau- historian Nicolas Vignier wrote in his sible, interpretation of insabbatati Bibliotheque Historiale (1588) that The rugged Alpine mountains, a place of refuge for the and sabbatati comes from historians Waldenses “were called Insabathaires, Waldenses who associate these words with the because they despised the [Catholic] Waldenses’ persistent refusal to observe feasts.”11 Dutch Reformed historian Catholic traditions, festivals, and holy Balthasar Lydius (1577–1629), following days, or sabbaths. Vignier and Perrin, argued that since During the time that Ebrardus Waldenses “observed no other day of introduced the shoe theory, another rest or holiday, than Sunday, they were explanation was in use that has not styled Insabbathi or Insabbathas, that is, caught the attention of historians. At the Sabbathless, for not observing [Catholic] Council of Tarragon (1242), insabbatati Sabbaths.”12 Even some Catholic authori- was mentioned in connection with the ties mentioned Waldensian rejection of “Waldensian ” in Spain. The council Catholic holy days. Several nineteenth- defined the term as those “who refused century historians also maintained this to swear an oath, or to obey ecclesiasti- view.13 cal or secular powers, or denied that a With few exceptions, corporal punishment could be inflicted today deny that the ancient Waldenses in any case.”6 kept the seventh-day . However, The Alpine meadows in spring against the snow capped Instead of referring to the wearing historical evidence indicates that many mountains. The mountain on the right is the Barion near of unique shoes, insabbatati pointed did observe Sabbath during the Middle the village of Bobbio Pellice, where Catholics pursued to the Waldensian faith and rejection Ages. During the early part of the Waldenses during times of persecution, throwing them of nonbiblical Catholic practices and seventeenth century, the Swiss histo- from the top of that mountain. teachings. The fact that this term was rian Melchior Goldastus (1576–1635) first used in Spain a decade and a half commented on Emperor Frederic II’s before the shoe controversy’s short life Constitution of 1220 against heretics. and continued to be used to describe He reasoned that the label insabbatati Waldenses after that period until the was used to describe heretics during the Reformation suggests that insabbatati thirteenth century “because they judaize must have another meaning than the on the Sabbath,” that is, they kept the wearers of unique shoes. The following Sabbath like the . He mentioned arguments support this theory. that the “Valdenses” were often called “Insabbatati,” 14 indicating that dur- Sabbath keepers? ing that time there were Waldenses Because their earliest records were who kept the seventh-day Sabbath destroyed during times of persecution,7 (Saturday) as a day of rest. the first Waldensian testimony about the designation insabbatati comes from the A Sunday defense Waldensian and historian Jean One of the most significant primary The entrance of a cave in the Valley of Angronia near Perrin (1580–1648). In 1618 Perrin wrote, source evidences for the presence of , where Waldenses worshiped during times “The Waldenses rejected the Romish a substantial group of Waldensian of persecution. It could contain about 200 persons. When festivals, and observed no other day Sabbath keepers during the first half discovered they were smoked out and died of suffocation. of rest than Sunday; whence they were of the thirteenth century was brought

OCTOBER 2017 Ministry® P. GERARD DAMSTEEGT

out in a polemic of five books written The Waldenses today practices and holy days, or sabbaths, about 1241–1244 by the Inquisitor Father This research about the names of throughout the centuries. Moneta of Cremona, . the ancient Waldenses resulted from my 2. The view in the first finding Moneta defended himself against the yearly study tours to the was the prevalent view in the earliest criticism of the Cathars (Albigenses) Waldensian communities in the Alpine Waldensian literature and describes the and Waldenses that Catholics trans- valleys of Northern Italy since 1994. ancient Waldensian custom of refusing gressed the Sabbath commandment. In These tours included the Waldensian to observe Catholic holy days. a chapter entitled “De Sabbato, & de die Cultural Center, where Waldensian 3. From a linguistic viewpoint, it is Dominico,” he discussed the significance guides recited the history of this unique the best explanation for the meaning of of the seventh-day Sabbath of Exodus people. These presentations revealed the prefix in in insabbatati, describing 20:8 in contrast to ’s day, by the stark contrast between the ancient the Waldensian of reform, of which he meant the first day.15 faith of the Waldenses and their descen- calling people away from the nonbiblical In defending himself against their dants today. The ancient Waldenses teachings of the Roman Catholic Church criticism, Moneta asserted that the had a great burden to share their faith to the simple biblical teachings of the Sabbath was for the Jews a memorial of in the teachings of the Bible and the New Testament Christians. Creation and their liberation from Egypt. of Daniel and Revelation to 4. Primary sources show that, in He argued that this Jewish Sabbath reform the church, at the cost of their the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, was “a sign and figure of the spiritual lives. Waldensians today are still proud there were two groups of Waldenses— sabbath of the Christian people. . . . It of their heritage, but they are quick to tell one group that observed Sunday as must be understood, however, that as you that they are now part of the wider the Lord’s day, the other that kept the the Jews observed the sabbath, so also, ecumenical, evangelical community. seventh-day Sabbath of the Bible. Our we observe the Lord’s day.” He added, Today their major contribution is their research reveals that the title insabbatati “This day we observe as an ordinance involvement in noble humanitarian could apply to (1) Waldenses who of the Church, and it is in reverence to work, but absent is the ancient burden rejected Catholic festivals and holy days, Christ who was born on that day, who to share the truths and prophecies of the or sabbaths, and observed only Sunday rose on that day, who sent the Bible, which will bring reformation in the as the Lord’s day and (2) Waldenses on that day.” lives of fellow Christians. who, in addition, rejected Sunday as Moneta defended the observance When asked about the meaning a Catholic institution and kept the of the Lord’s day as an ordinance of the of the ancient labels of insabbatati seventh-day Sabbath of the Bible. The Church with the question, “If the Jews and sabbatati given by their Catholic title sabbatati, as applied to heretics, declared that we have to keep the sab- persecutors, the Waldensian guides was used to characterize Waldenses who bath as a memorial of the benefit of their replied that these names described their stood out because of their observance of liberation, to honor their liberator, why unique ancient character as displayed the seventh-day Sabbath. is the church not allowed to institute a by their special shoes. This understand- 5. This research confirms the correct- festive day in honor of Christ, in remem- ing results from their accepting the ness of Ellen G. White’s statement that brance of the spiritual freedom from opinions of Catholic persecutors—but “Through ages of darkness and the bondage of the devil, accomplished without investigating the reasons why there were Waldenses who denied the by Christ?” 16 Catholics called the Waldenses by these supremacy of , who rejected image Moneta’s charges against these names. The continued characterizing worship as , and who kept the heretics clearly show that there was of Waldenses as wearing unique shoes true Sabbath.”18 a significant group of Waldenses and has relegated their role in the history 6. As for the role of the Waldenses Cathars in Northern Italy and Southern of the Christian church to that of an in the history of the Christian church, France during the thirteenth century insignificant, late heretical off shoot of research shows that they saw them- that was worshiping on another day the Roman Catholic Church, limited to selves as an ancient movement that than Sunday, namely, the seventh-day the Alpine regions of Italy and France. remained true to the New Testament. Sabbath. Their mission was to reform the Church Sabbath keeping among the Conclusion and to call Christians back to faithful- Waldenses was most widespread in The analysis of the second major ness to the Bible, in spite of bloody Bohemia and . An inquisitor’s interpretation of insabbatati and sab- and massacres that nearly manuscript from the fifteenth century batati as characteristic of the Waldensian exterminated them. They traveled exten- reported that Waldenses in Bohemia “do faith has led to the following significant sively through Europe and were sowing not celebrate the feasts of the blessed findings: the seeds that contributed to the coming virgin Mary and the Apostles, except 1. Primary sources confirm the Protestant Reformation. Their work the Lord’s day. Not a few celebrate the Waldenses as a reformation movement influenced Wycliffe and his followers and Sabbath with the Jews.”17 that opposed nonbiblical Catholic Hus and and their followers, and

Ministry® OCTOBER 2017 their influence came to full fruition in the fontium Valdensium: Recueil critique de sources and Palm Sunday (Sabbatum Vacat). See Du Cange, time of the Anabaptists, Luther, Zwingli, concernant les Vaudois au moyen age du IIIe concile de Glossarium, vol. 4, 718. Lateran au synode de Chanforan (1179–1532) (Torre 10 Studies such as Peter Biller, “The Oral and the and Calvin. They have given Protestants Pellice, Italy: Claudiana 1958), 92. Written: The Case of the Alpine Waldensians,” in an inspiring example of faithfulness 5 Ibid., 94. Bulletin of the Society for Studies 4 to the Word of in times of great 6 C. Baraut, “Elsinicis de la inquisició a Catlunya i les (1986), 19–28, and Audisio, The Waldensian Dissent, apostasy and ruthless persecution. seves actuacions al bisbat d’Urgell (segles XII–XIII),” 143–160, have addressed the validity of Waldensian Urgellia, 13 (1996-1997), quoted in Damian J. Smith, oral tradition, of which Perrin is one of the earliest Their role in the history of the Christian Crusade, and in the Lands of the representatives. church is a worthy example for Christians (c. 1167–1276) (Boston: Brill, 11 Nicolas Vignier, Bibliotheque Historiale [. . .], vol. 3 to continue the arrested Reformation, 2010), 197. (Paris: L’Angleir, 1588), 130. which Luther started five hundred years 7 Because theirs was viewed as a heretical movement, 12 D. Balthasar Lydius, Waldensia, id est, conservatio all Waldensian documents were destroyed during verae ecclesiae, vol. 1 (Rotherdam: n.p., 1622), 4, ago, calling people back to the Bible so the repeated persecutions, leaving no primary 5, quoted in Thieleman J. van Braght, The Bloody that they are ready for the soon return sources for the movement from the . Theater, or Mirror of the Defenseless Christians of Christ. See James Hastings, Encyclopaedia of and (1660), trans. F. Sohm (Scottdale, PA: Herald Ethics, vol. 12 (Edinburgh: T and T Clark, 1954), 665; Press, 1886; repr. 2002), 277. 1 This article is based on the author’s research Henry Charles Lea, The Inquisition of the Middle Ages: 13 See Damsteegt, “Ancient Waldensian Names,” 250. published as P. Gerard Damsteegt, “Decoding Ancient Its Organization and Operation (New York: Barnes and 14 Goldastus, Rationale Constitutionum Imperialium Waldensian Names: New Discoveries,” Andrews Noble, 1993), 250, 251. ( am Main: n.p., 1607), 78. University Seminary Studies 54, no. 2 (Autumn 2016), 8 Jean Paul Perrin, Robert Baird, and Samuel Miller, 15 Moneta of Cremona, and Tommaso Agostino 237–258. History of the Ancient Christians Inhabiting the Valleys Ricchini, Venerabilis patris Monetæ Cremonensis 2 Gabriel Audisio, The Waldensian Dissent: Persecution of the Alps (Philadelphia, PA: Griffith and Simon, ordinis prædicatorum s. p. dominico æqualis and Survival c. 1170–c. 1570 (New York: Cambridge 1847), 25. His original work was published in 1618 Adversus Catharos et Valdenses libri quinque: quos University Press, 1999), 15–17. as Histoire des Vaudois (Genève, 1618), 9. ex manuscriptis codd. Vaticano, Bononiensi, ac 3 Earle E. Cairns, Christianity Through the Centuries: 9 In this instance the word sabbath meant a Neapolitano (Rome: 1743; reprinted, Ridgewood, NJ: A History of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. (Grand festival instituted by the Catholic Church, which Gregg Press, 1964), 475. Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 221; Peter Biller, The the Waldenses rejected because the Bible did 16 Moneta and Ricchini, Venerabilis patris, 475. Waldenses, 1170–1530: Between a Religious Order not mandate them. In the medieval literature, 17 Johann Döllinger, Beiträge zur Sektengeschichte des and a Church (Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2002), 191. sabbatum, in the sense of rest, was sometimes used Mittelalters, vol. 2 (München: Beck, 1890), 662. 4 King Alfonso II of Aragon, “Edictum contra for Sunday and at other times for Catholic holy days 18 Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (Mountain View, Haereticos,” quoted in Giovanni Gonnet, Enchiridion such as Passover Sabbath (Sabbatum Magnum) CA: Pacific Press Pub. Assoc., 1911), 65.

DATELINE

After 500 years of , will the rift of the Reformation finally be healed?

n ecumenical service in October a joint text calling for a “healing of in areas of common concern, “the issues A2016, led by Francis at memories” of past divisions. The com- that gave birth to the Reformation 500 in southern , her- memorations are the latest step in years ago are still very much alive in alded a year of events running up to the a slow rapprochement between the the 21st century for the whole church.” 500th anniversary (, 2017) Catholic and Protestant traditions [Harriet Sherwood | The Guardian, Oct. of the Reformation that resulted in the pursued by Francis, who has put 29, 2016] greatest schism in ecumenicalism and Photo credit: L’Osservatore Romano/AP and a string of religious wars. healing past wounds at Christian leaders and congregations the heart of his papacy. spent the next 12 months consolidating A recent document moves towards greater cooperation and signed by dozens of dialogue after centuries of division. In Protestant evangelicals the first papal visit to Sweden in more and entitled “Is the than 25 years, Francis led asking Reformation Over?” “forgiveness for divisions perpetuated says that although by Christians from the two traditions.” cooperation between In Germany, leaders of the Catholic the two traditions and main Protestant churches issued should be encouraged

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