1. The Protestant Reformation

2. Corruption in the Medieval Catholic Church
What forms of corruption existed within the Church during the Late Middle Ages?
Popes used excommunication to force monarchs to obey the Church
Many priests were illiterate
Many clergy broke their vows of chastity
Some officials lead lives of luxury and leisure
Some clergy:
Charged repentant Christians to see holy remains and objects
Sold church offices to the highest bidder (simony)
Sold indulgences

3. Early Calls for Reform John Wycliffe of England
Thought Christians didn’t need Church or sacraments to achieve salvation
Regarded Bible as most important source of religious authority
Completed first translation of Bible into English
Outcome: the Church persecuted his followers, the Lollards, as heretics

4. Jan Huss Criticized wealth of Church
Wanted religious services conducted in the language of the worshippers
Opposed the sale of indulgences
Outcome: Was burned at stake for refusing to accept importance of church rituals

5. Catherine of Siena Popularized Mysticism
Believed people could experience God through intense prayer
Outcome: Maintained that Christians didn’t need priests, rituals, or sacraments

6. Girolamo Savonarola Launched crusade against immoral society
Encouraged book burning
Claimed Vatican was filled with sin and corruption
Outcome: Was burned at the stake by angry citizens of Florence

7. The Protestant Reformation
By 1500s, educated Christians calling for a complete change in the Church’s ways and practice of Christianity
In Germany, the movement for Church reform resulted in a split of the Church

8. Martin Luther Son of middle-class townspeople, became a monk at age 22
Worried that God may not find him acceptable
Read in Romans: “He who through faith is righteous shall live
Luther’s justification of faith

9. Luther’s Protest
Luther’s ideas brought him in conflict with the Church
Pope Leo X selling church positions and indulgences to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica
Certificates sold by the Church to reduce or cancel punishment of sins
Indulgences were said to be a sure ticket to heaven

10. Luther’s Protest John Tetzel
German Church agent for selling indulgences
Promised indulgences would relieve for FUTURE sins
Encouraged people to buy indulgences for dead relatives
“Once you hear the money’s ring, the soul from purgatory is free to spring”
Luther preached against indulgences and nailed on the Wittenberg Church his 95 theses
Statements criticizing indulgences and other church policies
Luther’s Protest

11. Luther’s Protest
The Ninety-five Theses spread quickly and sale of indulgences declined
Leo X persuades Luther to withdraw criticism
1520- the pope formally condemns Luther, excommunicates in 1521
A council meets in Worms to bring Luther back and get him to take back statement
Rushed out of Worms and hidden in a castle by Prince Frederick of Saxony
While in exile, translates New Testament in German

12. Lutheranism First Protestant faith Emphasized salvation by faith alone
Emphasized the Bible’s role as the only source of religious truth
Services centered on Biblical preaching rather than ritual and held in the language of the people
The Church was not a hierarchy of clergy but community of believers
The seeds are sown for more radical Protestant movements to transform Europe