What Was the "Reformation"?

Protestantism is a commonly Christian sect of some hundreds of various denominations which share the theological views of Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide. But regarding those who call themselves “non-denominational,” create their own denomination, and thus, there are millions upon millions of Protestant sects. The sect as a whole was brought about by a so-called “reformation,” though it was a deformation and a permanent destruction of Christian unity in the West. Protestantism was created primarily by three heresiarchs: John Wycliffe, John Hus, and Martin Luther.

Proto-Reformation

The “Proto-Reformation” was initiated by John Wycliffe, who was born around 1324 in Yorkshire. In around 1372, he received his doctorate in theology at Balliol College at Oxford. After his death, he gained popularity, with his disciples starting a movement in England called the “Lollardy.” His heretical works were anathematized by the ecumenical council of Constance. One of his heretical excerpts stated, "The pope is antichrist made manifest. Not only this particular person but also the multitude of popes, from the time of the endowment of the church, of cardinals, of bishops and of their other accomplices, make up the composite, monstrous person of antichrist [1]." Besides this, Wycliffe had many other strange propositions. Wycliffe died in 1384, before the council began in 1414. 

Secondly, there was John Hus. Born in 1369 in Bohemia (Czechia), he attended the University of Prague, and in 1396, received his master’s. In 1400, he was ordained a priest, and after, was made rector of the University. Wycliffe’s works influenced him and he even translated one of them into Czech. Moreover, he circulated the heretical works of Wycliffe, by both writing and speech. In 1406, after endorsing Wycliffe, pope Gregory XII was notified. Because of the circulation of the Wycliffian heresies, a synod ordered that all of Wycliffe’s works be given to the archdiocesan chancery. Hus obeyed and claimed that he anathematized the errors of Wycliffe. In 1410, the archbishop commanded that Wycliffe’s writings be burned, but Hus and his followers refused in protest; all of whom were excommunicated by the archbishop. Hus was urged by King Sigismund (future emperor) to attend the council of Constance, so he went.  In 1415 he was tried, condemned, and burnt at the stake at Constance. 

REFORMATION

Lastly, there is Martin Luther, who was born in 1483 at Eisleben. In 1505, he was beaten by his mother so badly, it subsequently led him to flee to the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt and become an Augustinian friar; he was ordained a priest in 1507. In the winter of 1508-1509, he was sent to the University of Wittenberg, where he taught as a professor. While on his pilgrimage at Rome, he had a supposed experience at the Scala Santa. While he was scaling the stairs on his knees, he thought suddenly in his mind that “the just  shall live by faith.” After this thought, he quit his devotion of scaling the holy stairs. 

Later, in 1516, after transgressing many rules and obligations, such as divine office, so that he could have more time for study, out of remorse, he forced on himself mortifications, such as locking himself in his room, abstinence from food and drink, and insomnia for five weeks at one time. All of which was his disorder of scrupulosity and distortion of view on justification. His view was that all of these works and mortifications were necessary for forgiveness, and in himself he saw complete depravity. To him, God was a person of wrath and vengeance, and this wrath could only be appeased by his own righteousness and works. His justification was that man was totally depraved because of original sin, and was without free will.  All good works and pious devotions done by us, to  him, were counted as venial  sins; they are all only part of his depravity. This led to his most popular heresy of Sola Fide. 

In 1517, at the Castle Church in Wittenberg, he posted ninety five of his theses to the door for a theological disputation, mainly assailing the doctrine of indulgences. They were sent to the councillors at Aschaffenburg and the professors of the University of Mainz. They were deemed heretical by the councillors, and this determination of the theses and the theses themselves were sent to pope Leo X. In 1519, Luther and another Hussite, Andrew Carlstadt, lost a debate to the renowned theologian John Eck (i.e., the Leipzig Disputation) Two years later, in 1521, Luther was anathematized by pope Leo X, with Leo X writing, “In fact, they twist and adulterate the Scriptures. As a result, according to Jerome, ‘It is no longer the Gospel of Christ, but a man’s, or what is worse, the devil’s [2].’” That same year, Luther was condemned further by the Diet of Worms, where he said, “Yes, I am a Hussite,” proclaiming himself as a heretic. In 1529, with heresies spreading as cancer, the Second Diet of Speyer was held and ordered all Lutherans to renounce their schism, but this demand was protested against, whereof the term “Protestant” comes from, those people who protest against the authority of God and body of Christ. This Protestantism is the wildfire which has destroyed the beautiful green plants of God. The west was once a beautiful garden, but now, a desert.

PRAYER FOR THE PROTESTANTS

This deformation and scission from God’s intended unity was the “Great Revolt of the West.” May we, Christians, anathematize all heresies that oppose orthodoxy. All falsities that detest truth. May we be ready always to satisfy every one that asketh us a reason of that hope which is in us. Our father, who art in heaven, sacred be thy name. Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Deliver those who are not members of thy Body from every kind of heresy, that they may believe in truth, and so that they may be in the vine, which art thou Lord. So that they may not revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ. That we may be one as you and the Father are one.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. All of you saints in heaven, pray for us.Amen.

“They shall not keep silence like dumb dogs that cannot bark, but incessantly cry and lift up their voice, preaching and causing to be preached the word of God and the truth of the Catholic faith against the damnable articles and heretics aforesaid [3].” - Holy Father Leo X

NOTES

1. Wycliffe’s 20th heretical proposition from the Ecumenical Council of Constance (Decrees of the Ecumcnial Councils Volume I, Tanner, N. P.)
2. Exsurge Domine by pope Leo X (The Reformation in its own Words, Hillerbrand, H. J.)
3. Decet Romanum Pontificem by pope Leo X (unknown translator)