The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-15

Gu6
sometimes hear about some per-
son called Martin Luther. Who was
he, and what did he do?
1t is not to be wondered at that you
sometimes hear about a person called
Martin Luther. 1t would be strange,
indeed, if you did not hear of him
sometimes. In fact it is rather
strange that you have not heard about
him more frequently. He is rather
important parsonage in the religious
world because to him can be traced
the religious revolution and upheaval
of the sixteenth century which is
called the Reformation" He is also
the founder of the religious sect
known as the Lutherans and as they
are quite numerous in the state
it is almost incredible that you do not
know who Martin Luther was and
what he did. Martin Luther was born
at Eisleben in SaXony on November
10, 1888, the son of poor laboring
man. After his preliminary education
he studied law at the University of
Erfurt. In spite of the opposition of
his friends he entered the Augustinian
Convent at Erfurt on July II, 1905,
and was ordained priest in 1907. For
several years he was professor at the
University of Wittenberg. In the year
1912 Pope Leo X, wishing to complete
the Basilica of st. Peters in Rome,
proclaimed an indulgence to all who
would contribute to that purpose. A
Dominican monk, Father Tetzel of
Leipzig, was selected to preach the
indulgence in Germany and this is
said to have piqued Luther who hoped
to be chosen for that purpose and he
opposed Tetzel and attacked the
abuses of indulgences in ninety-five
propositions which he fastened to the
door of the castle church of Witten-
berg on October 81, 1917. From this
as starting point he attacked other
doctrines of the Catholic Church and
finally proclaimed his doctrine of faith
alone as necessary for salvation with
out the performance of good works.
His teaching was condemned by the
Pope in 1920 and he was ordered to
retract under pain of excommunica-
ton. He refused to obey the Pope
and continued his career of insubor-
dination and rebellion against the
ecclesiastical authorities. AS natur-
al result of his teaching he threw
aside the monks habit and in 1926
took to himself a wife. His followers
known as Lutherans, adopted form
of faith and a system of church gov
eminent in 1926, and since then have
continued to propagate the funda
mental tenets of his teaching. Luther
died at Eisleben on February 10, 1916
1 ! make a practice Of going tc
Low Mass so ! can take care of the
children while my wife goes to High
Mass. Now, through my own fault,
missed Low Mass and as only one Of
us could 90 to High Mass went. Whe
committed the sin Of missing Mass
2. What is the Catholic Doctrine OF
heredity? Are not some people borr
inclined to bad while other are natur
ally good? For example, person whit
has an unusual liking for liquor trie;
hard and repeatedly to quit, but only
for a short time when he falls int
his old habit. Again, born THE
finds it almost impossible to let TIT
property of others alone. Personally
as with many others, ! find no diff
Guilty to abstain from drinking, nor an
in the least tempted to take an
others property, so what credit is !
to me in either case to be good com
pared with one who finds it almos
impossible to resist these tempts
tions? 8. 1t is said that we hav,
free will. Is it not a fact that mos
Of US have some bad habit or sill
which we try not to commit and ger
orally fail?
l. Since the obligation of hearinI
Mass is fulfilled by attending eithe
a High Mass or Low Mass you wer
not guilty of missing Mass on tina
particular Sunday as long as you al
tended the High Mass even though
you missed the first through your owl
fault. Nor can it be said that you
WIG WAS guilty VI uuASSluS MASS, Ut
cause she was, undoubtedly, prepare
to attend the High Mass as usual, an
would have done so, had she bee
given an opportunity. You we're re
sponsible for her having to stay ava
from Mass on that particular occasion
1t would be we'll for you and your wifi
to change off from time to time so tina
you could attend High Mass occasion
ally in order to hear sermon. 2. Their
is no Catholic doctrine in regard t
heredity. The Church is not teache
of science, and the question of hereC
ity is one which belongs to the d.
main of science. 1t is true that ther
are some persons who find it NOR
difficult than others to be good, wht
for instance, can hardly resist tn
temptation to drink or steal We d
not say, however, that they are Dor
drunkards or thieves. They may hav
inherited from their ancestors tender
cies or inclinations which, If M
checked or overcome by educatio
and training, make it more diff1cu
for them to resist the temptation |
drink or steal or do what is wron
But even though they have these il
herited tendencies, they can overcom
them if they wish to exert the FIRE
will with which they are endowed. {
course, the struggle will be greater fl