Martin Luthers 95 Theses; in English and Latin | Page 4

whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the
most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are
deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release
from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is
just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way,
within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in
purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess),
but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the
money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain
and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the
Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought
out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he
has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who
truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who
believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of
pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's
pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to
Him;
34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of
sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not
necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy
confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of
penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.

37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the
blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God,
even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of
the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised,
for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and
the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and
[the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only
relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an
occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people
may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying
of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to
the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but
by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and
passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the
indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they
need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own
families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of
free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs,
and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money
they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they
do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them
they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the
pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to
ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of

his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is
his duty, to give of his own money to very