Or, a defence of the seven sacraments, against martin luther. Later the church stripped henry of this title but it was again bestowed on english monarchs by. Henry viiis assertion of the seven sacraments defence of the seven sacraments against martin luther was published in the summer of 1521. Jul 03, 2010 after luthers theological assaults on the church, it was time for the young henry viii to take a stand and write in defense of the church. In 1521 henry viii was awarded with the title defender of the faith by pope leo x which was used as english monarch title until not. Which leader started the protestant reformation by speaking out against papal abuses and the sale of indulgences in the ninetyfive theses. What was the name of the book that henry viii wrote. In 1521 king henry viii 15091547 of england wrote a pamphlet against the reformation movement called declaration of the seven sacraments against martin luther. Henry viii wrote a theological book against martin luther and luthers book.
John clark, orator to his majesty on the delivery of this book to his holiness. By henry the eighth, king of england, france, and ireland. Defender of the faith english royal title britannica. Aug 14, 2017 recently i discovered an entire online translation of martin luthers tract, against henry viii, king of england 15 july 1522, translated by e. Bertram lee woolf, reformation writings of martin luther, london 1956, ii. Thomas more then wrote responsio ad lutherum as a reply. Henry viiis relationship with the pope jacks history. In 1521, king henry viii wrote a scathing letter in. The british library also holds another text that shines a light on henrys piety. Being a clever man, and proud of his learning and knowledge about religion, he wrote a book against martin luther and his teaching. Jan 06, 2020 when martin luther issued grievances about the catholic church in 1517, king henry viii took it upon himself to personally repudiate the arguments of the protestant reformation leader. In 1509, he married catherine of aragon, who failed to produce a male heir. This essay was in response to a piece that henry viii wrote in 1521 titled, assertio, which defended the catholic church against heretics like luther. Henry viii wrote a book dedicated to the pope, denouncing martin luther, and defending the.
In 1517 martin luther nailed his ninetyfive theses to the door of the castle church at wittenberg and, in 1533, an amorous henry viii gave his assent to the act of restraint of appeals, thus making a constitutional break with rome and beginning the english reformation. Now, i am not totally lost on this, but i would like some help. What work did henry viii write against luther s ideas. Compare and contrast of the motivations of henry viii and martin luther. Nov 30, 2017 martin luther and king henry viii had the greatest impact on their countries and religious affiliations. Henrys book included a vigorous defence of papal authority as well as arguments in.
His pen dripped sarcasm and disdain for that ape in purple. How henry viiis divorce led to reformation and the church of. He was also deeply interested in theological disputes. For though we have not touched all things contained in his book, yet so far as was necessary to defend the sacraments which was our only design, i suppose i have treated, though not so sufficiently as might have been done, yet more than is even. Henrys book was called assertio septem sacramentorum or defence of the. The defence of the seven sacraments is a theological treatise published in 1521, written by king henry viii of england, allegedly with the assistance of thomas. For ye also have written in the margin of henry s book. Martin luthers theological war with henry viii a textbook. Henry viii, martin luther and defense of the seven sacraments. One way in which martin luther s ninetyfive theses and henry viii s act of. Martin luther and englands king henry viii lived at the same time, yet lived very different lives and had very different goals. Sep 26, 2011 search the library for more like this from the life and letters of martin luther by reserved smith ph. Differing from luthers motives, henry viiis motive for religious change stemmed from his personal desire for a son and his love for anne boleyn. Henry viii and the reformation the british library.
Compare and contrast of the motivations of henry viii and. Charles v needed to find luther, arrest him, and have him executed. Henry viii wrote the defence of the seven sacraments against martin luther in. The pope subsequently named the king defender of the faith. When word of the vastness of luthers teachings and all of the new ideas of change and reform against the church reached king henry the viii, he was livid. Assertio septem sacramentorum, or an assertion of the. Assertio septem sacramentorum, or an assertion of the seven sacraments, against martin luther classic. The pope becomes happy with the fact of henry defending the church. The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding recordkeeping made possible by advances. Henry viii, martin luther and defense of the seven. Their motives for disassociating themselves from the everpowerful catholic church were completely different. Henry started to write it in 1519 while he was reading martin luthers attack on. Henry s book, written in latin, offers an argument strongly in favour of traditional medieval doctrine, and excoriates luther for his impertinent calumnies.
The title was first conferred by pope leo x on henry viii oct. William tynedales first english language translation of the bible, made due to his being influenced by lutheranism. Even before he split with the church of rome, the english king henry viii was no stranger to controversy. When martin luther s protest against the sale of indulgences sparked off the german reformation, henry defended the practice in his rebuttal, defence of the seven sacraments. When king henry heard what martin luther had done, he was very angry. Defence of the seven sacraments by henry viii of england. A beleaguered and grateful pope rewarded him with the title defender of. However, just six years later in 1533, henry had passed legislation that removed the popes influence in england and had made himself the head of the church of england.
Martin luther, born in germany in 1483, was a man of logic. Martin luther changed germany and christianity in a very great way. Defense of the seven sacraments against martin luther special. This book he had bound most beautifully, and then he sent it to the pope. King henry viii and the reformation essay custom university. Henry viii s book defense of the seven sacraments supported the catholic church and attacked martin luther. The extent of mores involvement with this project has been a point of contention since its publication. Martin luther was born in eisleben, germany on november 10, 1483. Henry s book, written in latin, offers an argument strongly in favour of traditional medieval doctrine, and excoriates luther. In 1527 henry viii began to have doubts about the validity of his marriage to catherine of aragon. This theological treatise aimed to disagree with luther on his opinions about indulgences. His eminence kindly received me in his office, where i presented him with a copy of the royal book of catholic apologetics, in defense of the seven sacraments against martin luther written by king henry viii of england, which i had edited and published in english. Martin lutherto henry viii of england wittenberg, september 1, 1525.
The book finishes with exhorting readers not to be influenced by heretics like luther. Yes, henry viii is the king that brought protestantism to england, but until his divorce to catherine. The venetian senate received the report of luthers burning of the papal bull. The british library also holds another text that shines a light on henry s piety. Faith against the onslaught of martin luthers new religion. Henry began writing it in 1519 whilst he was reading martin luther s attack on. In 1521, henry published a book defending catholic teaching against martin luther s positions on the seven sacraments.
Compare and contrast the motivations of martin luther and henry viii in the reformation. Timeline of the life of henry viii and the english reformation 1509 henry viii becomes king. Martin luther had nailed his 95 thesis to the church door in wittenberg, germany on the 31 october 1517. In 1521 henry viii published a booklength excoriation of the german protestant reformer martin luther, referring to luther as a venomous serpent, a pernicious plague, infernal wolf, an infectious soul, a detestable trumpeter of pride, calumnies and schism.
The book was published in london in 1521, with a dedication to pope leo x. Luthers reply to the assertio against henry, king of the english was, in turn. Henry fancied himself as a warriorphilosopher, but he was entering a gladiatorial arena where both luther and henry were equals, the arena of ideals. The catholic church has begun to sell indulgences, a way to pay off sins to reduce time in purgatory, to raise money. Henry viii burns luthers books, 12 may 1521 the journal of. In 1521, he excommunicated luther and ordered all christian princes to suppress his errors that luther and others had spread. By 1527, henry was determined to divorce queen catherine, who had not borne him a living male heir. How two men of different backgrounds revolutionized religions of the reformation europe, 1600s. Response to luther 1523 sir thomas more martin luther. In recognition of henry s forceful piety, pope leo x awarded him the title fidei defensor. Recently i discovered an entire online translation of martin luthers tract, against henry viii, king of england 15 july 1522, translated by e. This book thoroughly rejected luther and dutifully vindicated papal dogma on all the sacraments as well as the doctrine of transubstantiation in the sacrifice of the mass. Compare and contrast martin luther and king henry viii december 12, 2005 martin luther and englands king henry viii lived at the same time, yet lived very different lives and had very different goals.
Rcin 1006836 assertio septem sacramentorum adversus. Henry viii, the king, having received training in religion, responded with his own book, defense of the seven sacraments 15218. Prominent catholic prelates support german publication of. The book went through 20 editions and earned him the title of defender of the faith from pope leo x. Cardinal muller and bishop schneider praise english king.
Extract from king henry viii s assertio septem sacramentorum, his treatise against martin luther. Search the library for more like this from the life and letters of martin luther by reserved smith ph. Henry viii 1509 1547 was aligned with the new and young age 19 holy roman emperor, charles v. Against henry, king of the english, originally in latin as contra henricum regem anglie, was a book written in 1522 by martin luther against henry viii of england. Pope leo x gave him the title of defender of the faith.
Henry s book was called assertio septem sacramentorum or defence of the seven sacraments. Do not listen to the insults and detractions against the vicar. In many ways, their lives show some interesting parallels. Martin luther writes to henry viii the ultrapedia blog. We have in this little book, gentle reader, clearly demonstrated, i hope, how absurdly and impiously luther has handled the holy sacraments. Ironic, since his later antics would lead to excommunication by the pope. Henry the viii, who was a catholic at the time, fell in love with a protestant woman name. Ap euro reformation essay by connor powell during 16th century europe, major religious changes swept over the continent. Defense of the seven sacraments against martin luther. Compare and contrast martin luther and king henry viii. Assertio septem sacramentorum, or an assertion of the seven sacraments, against martin luther classic reprint england, henry viii king of on. Assertio septem sacramentorum is a theological treatise published in 1521, written by king henry viii of england, allegedly with the assistance of thomas more.
Henry started to write it in 1519 while he was reading martin luthers attack on indulgences. The venetian senate received the report of luthers burning of the papal bull, interpreted in part as a retaliation for the burning of his books. In the sixteenth century religious reform led many people away from the catholic churchs monopolistic control over europe. Leader of the protestant reformation, luther went against some of the false teachings being spread by the catholic church. Martin luther, john calvin, and henry viii all played a key role in the. During his early years henry viii wrote the book called the declaration of the seven sacraments against martin luther with sir thomas more in 1520. Henry viii burns luthers books, 12 may 1521 the journal. Henry viii, king of england 14911547 assertio septem. Nov 06, 2018 henrys book was called assertio septem sacramentorum or defence of the seven sacraments. Martin luther created the protestant reformation to change the ways of the holy roman catholic church.
In 1521, with lutheranism infecting the english universities, henry wrote defense of the seven sacraments against luther. The pope bestowed this title upon henry viii when he come out against a reformer named martin luther. Henry viii wrote a book dedicated to the pope, denouncing martin luther, and defending the roman catholic position on the seven sacraments. And so by this one saying of christ is completely overthrown this unhappy, and wretched defender of henry s church, and at the same time the whole of henry s book. The defence of the seven sacraments also known as assertio septem sacramentorum was a theological treatise written in 1521 and was officially attributed to king henry viii. After henry s schism from rome, his book was buried for over 4 centuries. The two men behind these changes were martin luther and king henry viii. Oct 24, 2018 henry never agreed with luther, he persecuted lutherans where he found them, a number ended up burned as heretics during his reign.
Martin luther in the england of king henry viii charleston c. Sacraments, and dedicated to pope leo x, martin luther even wrote his own book in response known as against henry, king of the english. Was henry viii a supporter of martin luther answers. Martin luther also published the tract, against the murdering thieving hordes of peasants, where he urged the princes to brandish their swords, to free, save, help, and pity the poor people forced to join the peasants but the wicked, stab, smite, and slay all you can. Martin luther and henry viii and the reformation 795. When martin luthers protest against the sale of indulgences sparked off the german reformation, henry defended the practice in his rebuttal, defence of the seven sacraments. Oct 20, 2011 martin luther and king henry viii had the greatest impact on their countries and religious affiliations. Plus, can you explain indulgences to me, because my textbook says one thing but the catholic website says another. Some of the peasant leaders reacted to the tract by describing luther as. Henry viii, martin luther and defense of the seven sacraments a. Against henry, king of the english, originally in latin as contra henricum regem anglie, was a book written in 1522 by martin luther against henry viii of. In 1521 the young king published a defence of the seven sacraments in response to the german monk martin luther s attacks on the authority of the pope. Sep 23, 2019 cardinal muller and bishop schneider praise english king henry viiis rebuke of martin luther the work is an antidote to ambiguities that reign supreme among catholics regarding the. The book criticised martin luther and confirmed the status of the pope.
As king of england, henry viii authored defence of the seven sacraments, a book deliberately aimed against martin luther and his errors. Now it surfaces again to help anglicans, episcopalians and lutherans to come home to assisted by saint john fisher and saint thomas more, the king of england defends the catholic faith against the onslaught of martin luther. It was a response to henrys book, assertio septem sacramentorum. I know martin luther wanted reform of the catholic church. Sep, 2009 i have to write an essay, and i need some help. In 1521 henry viii published a booklength excoriation of the german protestant reformer martin luther, referring to luther as a venomous. New religious leaders emerged and many ideas that had been commonly accepted for centuries were brought into question. In 1520, martin luther wrote and published a 3 part treatise speaking against the catholic church denouncing the papal system and the doctrine of the sacraments. He was challenging some of the fundamental princip. Luthers ground breaking concepts encouraged new learning and it soon took hold on the university of cambridge. When the babylonian captivity of the church reached henry viii, the king, having received training in religion, responded with his own book, defense of the seven sacraments 15218. Because among the many titles bearing the name of martin luther some of the books may not have been composed or written by him and because several people said that proceedings should not be taken against him without first having heard what he knew, or what he would tell, we asked by letter patent that the said luther. In 1521 the young king published a defence of the seven sacraments in response to the german monk martin luthers attacks on the authority of the pope.
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