Martin Luther (1483-1546) |
In 1505, the 22 year old Martin Luther became a monk. He entered the cloister of the strict Augustinian order in the German town of Erfurt. And events started that split the medieval church, and brought about the Protestant Reformation.
Luther did nothing by halves. As a monk he was devoted to his duties, and always worried that he had not done enough to satisfy God. He was sure that God wanted more from him than he could provide. He tried all the ways the church then offered to help someone find peace with God. |
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Martin Luther |
The Lateran Steps in Rome
(The Scala Santa) Photo by M Strange |
When he was sent to Rome on business, he used the opportunity to make his visit a pilgrimage. This, he was told, would please God. He visited the churches that claimed to have sacred relics, things like the head of St Peter. He even climbed, on his hands and knees, the 28 steps in front of the Lateran church, at each step saying the Lord's Prayer. At the top, instead of feeling a deep sense of peace, he found himself asking "But what if it doesn't work?" In Rome he also saw how dishonest were many of the most powerful men in the Church. He came back to Germany with two things he had to do. He had to put right the many wrong practices of the church of his time. And he had to find the way to be sure he was right with God. |
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