COUWER-pURNAL Wednesday, November 9,1983 New Understanding Marks Luther's Birthday By Cindy Wooden The Edict of Worms condemned Luther as an NC News Service outlaw in the epire, but he was given safe In November many Catholics in the United conduct to Wartburg Castle and protective States will join in observances marking the 500th custody by one of the imperial electors, birthday of Martin Luther, a man they were once Frederick the Wise. taught to revile as a heretic who led millions Luther believed in the priesthood of all from the faith. believers, that the Mass should be celebrated in Behind this shift is a new understanding of the the vernacular, that celibacy for priests should be man who started out to reform Roman Catholi­ optional and that the faithful should receive cism but ended up forming- his own church. Communion under both species. Behind it also is a new understanding of the Luther married a former nun, {Catherine von doctrines he taught and of the faults in the Bora, in 152S and had six children. In 1532 the church that he was seeking to correct. monastery at Wittenburg was secularized and Martin Luther was born Nov. 10, 1483, to deeded to Luther. He and his family lived there Hans and Margaret Luther in Eisleben in what is along with relatives and needy students. now East Germany. Baptized the next day, the A prolific writer, Luther's major Reformation feast of St. Martin of Tours, he received the teachings were written in 1520: "Freedom of the name Martin. Christian," "On the Babylonian Captivity of the Though he was the son of a miner in an age Church," and "Address to the Christian Nobili­ when few outside the noble and merchant classes ty of the German Nation.'' could read and write, he began school at age 7. Working at the Wartburg Castle, Luther wrote At the University of Erfurt he received his 14 works, including his German translation of bachelor's and master's degrees before beginning the New Testament which was published in 1522. law studies in 1304. From the Wartburg he also kept informed of Like St. Paul, Luther could mark a dramatic developments of the Reformation and wrote event as a turning point in his life. In July 1505, several exhortations based on what he heard. while returning to Erfurt from home, he was In 1530, the Diet of Augsburg met, but Luther thrown to the ground by a lightning bolt. was not granted safe'conduct. In his stead, Philip Praying to St. Anne, Luther promised to become Melanchthon went in a final attempt to reconcile a monk if his life were spared. the views of Luther and Rome. That same month, he entered the Augustinian Melanchthon drafted the Augsburg Con­ monastery in Erfurt and began studies for the fession, a summary of Lutheran beliefs. Howev­ priesthood. He was ordained a priest on April 4, er, the church of Luther and the Church of 1507. Rome would not come to an agreement on the Luther taught moral philosophy at Wittenburg confession for another 450 years. University while he completed his theological The statement issued by the Roman studies, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1509. Catholic-Lutheran Commission in 1980 explains His only journey to Rome took place in 1510 that "the express purpose of the Augsburg when he was sent there with his order's vicar Confession is to bear witness to the faith of one, general. At the time St. Peter's Basilica was holy, catholic and apostolic church." under construction, funded heavily by the selling The international commission continued, "Its of indulgences. concern is not with peculiar doctrines nor indeed While the Church later saw the selling of with the establishment of a new church, but with indulgences as an abuse, it believes that Christ the preservation and renewal of the Christian and the communion of saints have accumulated faith in its purity." a treasure of merits. The indulgences were sold believing that the But the eyes of the 16th century could not see faithful can draw upon those merits and credit the striving for agreement. Eck helped write the them to sinners, thus lessening the time they church's refutation of the confession. would spend in purgatory. In June 1983 the commission issued a joint Luther returned to Germany in 1511 and statement on the "legacy" of Martin Luther, received his doctorate in theology from Witten­ saying that "any thought of dividing the church burg in 1512. For the next five years he was was far from his mind and was strongly rejected the elucidation of truth" on the castle church at The theologian Johann Eck was appointed to by him." But as Luther's teachings increasingly professor of Scripture there and district vicar of Wittenburg on Oct. 31, 1517. It marked the face Luther at a IS 19 debate at the university in the Augustinian order. came into conflict with the Church, the question beginning of debates and inquisitions which led Leipzig. Since several of Luther's theses called of final authority became most prominent. And In what is traditionally called Luther's Tower to his excommunication and the start of the for reform of practices endorsed by the pope, it Experience, his insight into how people are in the mind and heart of Luther Scripture won Reformation less than four years later. took little effort for Eck to prompt Luther into out. justified in the eyes of God and so obtain eternal In seeking to reform the practices of the admitting his belief that the pope's authority in life was clarified. Church, Luther threatened the power, income Church teaching was not ultimate. Not only was the Lutheran Church to divide One of Luiher's chief concerns was the and intertwined interests of princes, Church Eck then went to Rome where he helped Pope from the Roman Catholic, but many divisions "terrified consciences" of people who not only leaders and priests. Leo X write the papal bull issued in 1520 grew within the Reformed churches as well. had faith and tried to live moral lives, but also One of the chief targets of Luther's attacks, ordering Luther to recant in 60 days or be When it was evident that separation from scrupulously followed many Church rules and for example, was the Dominican Johann Tetzel, excommunicated. When the 60 days had passed, Rome was inevitable, Luther complied a book of penances, and paid for Masses and indulgences who was selling indulgences near the northern Luther and his students burned the document. devotions, published a hymnal containing many to ensure their salvation. border of his territory. It was Tetzel who Leo issued the final decree of excommunica­ of his own compositions and two catechisms Focusing on the words of St. Paul's Epistle to preached, "As the coin in the coffer rings, so the tion on Jan. 3,1521. summarizing the principles of his faith. the Romans, Luther taught that humanity's soul from purgatory springs." In April of 1521 Luther was summoned to the Immigrants from Germany and Scandinavia entire hope of justification rests on God's Luther was not aware that Tetzel was selling imperial Diet at Worms — a legislative assembly brought Lutheranism to North America in the merciful judgment, made known in Christ and indulgences at the request of Archbishop of the seven most powerful civil and religious early 1600s. The Lutheran churches in the United the Gospel. Justification by faith alone became Albrecht of Mainz and Magdeburg. Half the magistrates in the empire. States have 8.5 million members and are divided the major doctrinal basis of the Protestant money collected by Tetzel went for the construc­ When asked if he would revoke the "heresies" o 18 bodies, or synods. There are 68.9 million Reformation. tion of St. Peter's and the other half went to the contained in his writings, Luther replied that he Lutherans in the world. In the medieval spirit of a scholastic debate, archbishop who was in debt after buying could not. Saying that "my conscience is captive Martin Luther formulated his famous 95 theses, multiple bishoprics against Church law. to the word of God," Luther would not deny his The Lutheran Church in America, the Ameri­ a list of topics on which, he believed, the church Archbishop Albrecht called Rome's attention belief that neither the pope nor church councils can Lutheran Church and the Association of needed to reform. to Luther's theses, expanding what could have were infallible; Scripture was the ultimate American Evangelical Churches are working He hung the theses "out of love and zeal for been an isolated, local Church conflict. authority. toward a merger expected in 1988. DEATHS Natural Family James Dagon Dies at 56 Merle Sweet Planning Hornell — Mass of Chris­ business for four genera­ his wife, Marieka Dagon; Class Set tian Burial was celebrated tions. James Jr. and John N.; five Memorial Set A Natural Family Planning Nov. 3 at St. Ann's Church Well known in the com­ daughters, Mrs. Ellen The second annual Merle Class will begin Tuesday, for James J. Dagon who died munity for his promotion of Schumann of Erie, Pa., Mrs. Sweet Memorial Dinner Dec. 6, at St. James Church, Oct. 30, 1983. Mr. Dagon local sports, Mr. Dagon was Mary Clark of North Dance will take place Satur­ 130 Brett Road. Enrollment had been ill for five months. past president of the Hornell Hornell, Mrs. Molly An- day, Nov. 14, at Sweet's is limited and pre- At the time of his death Little League, a former coach dolina, Mrs.