3 Matching Annotations
  1. May 2017
    1. LET US now consider the matters which should be treated in the councils, and with which popes, cardinals, bishops, and all learned men should occupy themselves day and night, if they love Christ and His Church.

      What a strong start of the letter where Martin Luther says with capital letters, "LET US" it is like an emphasize on the letters by telling them clearly that we the people want everything according to the way it is supposed to be. He is starting the letter with a purpose statement where his whole demand is mentioned in these few lines. Unlike Pope who started his letter with calling Jesus and reminding Martin about how foolish he is. Martin Luther has clearly mentioned that matters should be handled in councils and churches should stay separate from it.

    1. Therefore we, in this above enumeration, important as it is, wish to proceed with great care as is proper, and to cut off the advance of this plague and cancerous disease so it will not spread any further in the Lord's field as harmful thornbushes. We have therefore held a careful inquiry, scrutiny, discussion, strict examination, and mature deliberation with each of the brothers, the eminent cardinals of the holy Roman Church, as well as the priors and ministers general of the religious orders, besides many other professors and masters skilled in sacred theology and in civil and canon law.

      Here in this paragraph Pope Leo is mentioning the decision taken by the church against Martin Luther King. Pope has decided on the behalf of the holy Roman church that the Roman Church will try to cut off all the advancements of the King. That means he has decided to make not only churches against King but also the governments because at that time, governments were also in control of churches. This is why he is saying that a proper inquiry and procedure will be adopted against King.

    2. Arise, O Lord, and judge your own cause. Remember your reproaches to those who are filled with foolishness all through the day. Listen to our prayers, for foxes have arisen seeking to destroy the vineyard whose winepress you alone have trod. When you were about to ascend to your Father, you committed the care, rule, and administration of the vineyard, an image of the triumphant church, to Peter, as the head and your vicar and his successors.

      Pope Leo starts the text with a direct criticism to the Martin Luther King's action where he calls him a foolish person who is abandoning the religion. He is referring Jesus who is full of care and he himself is like a voice of Jesus who is on the earth to give people his message about the religion. To me this is a direct attack on the actions of Martin Luther by calling him a traitor who has gone against the religion. Destroying the vineyard is like destroying the religious teaching that Jesus has provided people.