May 11, 2008

 

   The 15^th century (1400’s) brought on pre-Reformation circumstances with several features worth our noting.

I. Papal intrigues:

  It was a period of nepotism: placing family members into places of power

1. Nicolas 5th (1447-1455) gave support to renaissance in Italy-

2. Several Italian families struggled to gain control over the papacy- Colonna,

Orsini, Medici and Borgia families

3. Lorenzo Cibo became Pope Innocent 8th^h by sheer bribery (1484-1492)

  He has as many as 16 illeg. Children---cardinals have concubines and Rome

had over 6000 prostitutes.  Further, he kept a Moslem prince as a hostage

for ransom and called for the extermination of the Waldenses in 1487.

4. The most corrupt pope was Alexander 6th of the Borgia family—he was

dissolute, scheming, immoral and extravagant in his lifestyle.  His zeal was

to promote his daughter, Lucretia and son, Caesar.

5. When conflict came with king of France, Alexander entered into an agreement with a Moslem sultan.

6. His son, Caesar, murdered his brother and Alexander himself was poisoned

at a dinner given by Card. Hadrian.  Alexander “gave” the New World to Spain.

7.  Julius 2nd (1503-1513) was called the Warrior Pope—he fought against France in 1511 and used Swiss as mercenary soldiers for Rome for first time.

He killed Caesar Borgia, who was called the model despotic ruler by Machavelli.

Julius brought Raphael and Michelangelo to Rome as painters.

8. Leo 10th was another pleasure loving Pope who issued the bull that Luther

burned.

 

II. Pre-Reformation Characters

1.  Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498)- a prophet-preacher of Florence, Italy

who cried out against the excesses of that period—tortured and burned by

order of Pope Alexander.

 

2. John Wycliffe (1320-1384)- brilliant, scholarly and forceful, he was an Englishman who cared for the common people and opposed papal authority.

   Wrote much on the authority of scripture (opposed Rom.Cath. traditions)

And against Transubstantiation and was first to translate Bible =English.

Although he died of a stroke, his body was dug up and burned in 1429.

Wycliffe is often called “the morning star” of the Reformation and his followers are called Lollards.

 

3. Lollards- from Latin lolium=tares—they are considered heretics by Rom.Cath.

Opposed Mass and much more in Catholicism.  Experienced explosive growth

Between 1390-1425 while legislation to condemn them to death was passed

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in England in 1401.  Many were burned for their faith after that.

 

4. John Huss of Bohemia (1369-1415)- while studying for priesthood at

Univ.of Prague, Huss was exposed to teachings of Wycliffe..  Born of poor

Parents, he worked as manual laborer and sang while studying to get

his Master’s degree in 1396.

  As rector, he preached in his native Czech language each week, unlike

most priests who spoke in Latin.  When Rome forbid possession of

Wycliffe’s teaching material, Huss opposed them and was ordered to appear

before ch.council on charges.  In 1411, Pope John 23^rd ordered crusade against

defenders of Pope Gregory promising indulgences to all—Huss publicly condemned this action.  Thus, Prague was placed under Interdict until

Huss left the city.

  Huss continued to write against superstitions of Rom.Cath. as well as

Papal power—arrested in Nov. of 1414, he was executed by being burned

at the stake on July 6, 1415 after being promised a safe-passage to answer

the charges against him. 

 

5. Jerome of Prague- friend and supporter to John Huss, he was burned

at the stake on May 30,1416.