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== History ==
== History ==
=== Pre-Monk Years ===
In 1505, Martin Luther was a law student caught outside in the middle of a thunderstorm. A bolt of [[lightning]] struck the ground near him. Terrified, he cried out to St. Anne for protection and promised to become a [[monk]] if he survived the storm. He did survive, and then left law school to join an Augustinian monastery.
In 1505, Martin Luther was a law student caught outside in the middle of a thunderstorm. A bolt of [[lightning]] struck the ground near him. Terrified, he cried out to St. Anne for protection and promised to become a [[monk]] if he survived the storm. He did survive, and then left law school to join an Augustinian monastery.
== Years in the Catholic Monastery ==
At the monastery, Martin Luther felt plagued by the [[devil]] and began to realize how corrupt the [[Catholic church]] had become, being especially disenchanted during a trip to [[Rome]]. He began to form his own opinions about the [[Bible]].
At the monastery, Martin Luther felt plagued by the [[devil]] and began to realize how corrupt the [[Catholic church]] had become, being especially disenchanted during a trip to [[Rome]]. He began to form his own opinions about the [[Bible]].
Here were two of Luther's most important Theses:
=== Founding of Protestantism ===
Martin Luther tried to revive the Catholic Church on October 31, 1517, when he nailed [[the 95 Theses]] or issues to the door of his [[Wittenberg Church]] in what is now Germany. The source of Luther's complaint was a project to rebuild [[St. Peter's Basilica]] in Rome, for which church officials were offering [[indulgences]] in exchange for donations. Martin Luther objected and produced a list of 95 complaints to spark public debate.
Here were four of Luther's most important Theses:
*Thesis 82<sup>a</sup>: ''Scilicet. Cur Papa non evacuat purgatorium propter sanctissimam charitatem et summam animarum necessitatem ut causam omnium iustissimam, Si infinitas animas redimit propter pecuniam funestissimam ad structuram Basilice ut causam levissimam?''
*Thesis 82<sup>a</sup>: ''Scilicet. Cur Papa non evacuat purgatorium propter sanctissimam charitatem et summam animarum necessitatem ut causam omnium iustissimam, Si infinitas animas redimit propter pecuniam funestissimam ad structuram Basilice ut causam levissimam?''
But German nobles did not like the flow of money to Rome, and they backed Martin Luther in order to cut off the donations by Germans to support Rome.
But German nobles did not like the flow of money to Rome, and they backed Martin Luther in order to cut off the donations by Germans to support Rome.
In 1520, Pope Leo X announced the papal bull [[Exsurge Domine]], which required Luther to withdraw 41 of his 95 Theses or be [[excommunicated]]. Luther refused and was then excommunicated by the Catholic Church.
In 1520, Pope Leo X announced the papal bull [[Exsurge Domine]], which required Luther to withdraw 41 of his 95 Theses or be [[excommunicated]]. Luther refused and was then excommunicated by the Catholic Church.
It was then up to [[German]] authorities to take any legal action against Luther. The 21-year-old Holy Roman Emperor [[Charles V King of Spain|Charles V]] ordered him to stand trial before an assembly (a "[[Diet]]") of estates of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] that met in Worms, a small town in what is now Germany. This famous assembly is therefore known as the "[[Diet of Worms]]." The verdict (the "[[Edict of Worms]]") was "guilty". Luther was declared an outlaw who should be arrested.
It was then up to [[German]] authorities to take any legal action against Luther. The 21-year-old Holy Roman Emperor [[Charles V King of Spain|Charles V]] ordered him to stand trial before an assembly (a "[[Diet]]") of estates of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] that met in Worms, a small town in what is now Germany. This famous assembly is therefore known as the "[[Diet of Worms]]." The verdict (the "[[Edict of Worms]]") was "guilty". Luther was declared an outlaw who should be arrested.