does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of
holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems
an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which
to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is
most trivial."
83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead
continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the
endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the
redeemed?"
84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for
money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of
purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because
of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact
and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of
indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater
than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with
his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation
does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full
remission and participation?"
88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if
the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and
bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"
89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather
than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted
heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone,
and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and
the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians
unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and
mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they
would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ,
"Peace, peace," and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ,
"Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following
Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many
tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
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This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Allen
Mulvey and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or
print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev.
Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological
Seminary.
E-mail:
[email protected] Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton
St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 481-2123 Fax: (219)
481-2126
_________________________________________________________
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``Disputatio pro Declaratione Virtutis Indulgentiarum.'' by Dr. Martin
Luther, 1483-1546 D. MARTIN LUTHERS WERKE: KRITISCHE
GESAMMTAUSGABE. 1. Band (Weimar: Hermann Boehlau, 1883).
pp. 233-238. PW #001-001La
_________________________________________________________
________
This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Rev.
Robert E. Smith and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute,
copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological
Seminary.
E-mail:
[email protected] Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton
St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 481-2123 Fax: (219)
481-2126
_________________________________________________________
_______
Amore et studio elucidande veritatis hec subscripta disputabuntur
Wittenberge, Presidente R. P. Martino Lutther, Artium et S. Theologie
Magistro eiusdemque ibidem lectore Ordinario. Quare petit, ut qui non
possunt verbis presentes nobiscum disceptare agant id literis absentes.
In nomine domini nostri Hiesu Christi. Amen.
1. Dominus et magister noster Iesus Christus dicendo `Penitentiam
agite &c.' omnem vitam fidelium penitentiam esse voluit. 2. Quod
verbum de penitentia sacramentali (id est confessionis et satisfactionis,
que sacerdotum ministerio celebratur) non potest intelligi.
3. Non tamen solam intendit interiorem, immo interior nulla est, nisi
foris operetur varias carnis mortificationes.
4. Manet itaque pena, donec manet odium sui (id est penitentia vera
intus), scilicet usque ad introitum regni celorum.
5. Papa non vult nec potest ullas penas remittere preter eas, quas
arbitrio vel suo vel canonum imposuit.
6. Papa non potest remittere ullam culpam nisi declarando, et
approbando remissam a deo Aut certe remittendo casus reservatos sibi,
quibus contemptis culpa prorsus remaneret.
7. Nulli prorus remittit deus culpam, quin simul eum
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