Today is...the Birth Anniversary of Martin Luther

Today is Birth anniversary of Augustinian monk and leader of the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther.

Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483 in Saxony, than part of the Holy Roman Empire, now Germany.

Luther was baptized a Catholic and became an Augustine monk.

Luther started the reform movement that led to Protestantism as a protest of Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar and papal commissioner for indulgences.

An indulgence in the Catholic church is given after a confession and absolution. They are also granted by good works and prayers.

Tetzel was sent to Germany to sell indulgences in order to raise money to rebuild St. Peter's Basilica. This essentially means that the Roman Catholic Church was allowing people to purchase their way out of purgatory, at least according to Tetzel and as interpreted by Luther.

Luther wrote a letter called Disputations of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, which became known as the Ninety-Five Theses.

Due to his refusal to retract his writings, Martin Luther was excommunicated by the pope and was made an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.

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