AP Euro Reformation Essay
By Connor Powell
During 16th century Europe, major religious changes swept over the continent. The two men behind these changes were Martin Luther and King Henry VIII. Their motives for disassociating themselves from the ever-powerful Catholic Church were completely different. When a king and a small time religious monk set out to go against something, their motivations for doing can only be different. On one hand, you have King Henry VIII who left the Catholic Church because Pope Clemente VII would not grant him a divorce and also because of the economic opportunities that creating the Church of England would bring. On the other hand you have Martin Luther who was sick and tired of the Church’s corrupt behavior, such as their selling of indulgences and the Pope’s proclamation that he is more right than the Bible.
King Henry VIII was a very promiscuous person who had a hard time holding down a marriage. He had had it with his wife Catherine of Aragon and requested a divorce. His appeal to the Catholic Church and Pope Clemente VII was denied and this greatly angered King Henry VIII, triggering his desire to separate from the Catholic Church. England was in a time of financial dire due to their participation in the Sieges of Boulonge. By declaring himself the only head of the Church of England in the Act of Supremacy Henry was free to do whatever he pleased with the Catholic Churches throughout England. He was entitled to the land and sold a large portion of it to his friends; if he did not sell the land, he usually ransacked the churches of valuables and sold them or kept them for himself. This proved to be a lucrative business opportunity for King Henry VIII as he made himself very wealthy over this time. As you will see in the next paragraph Martin Luther’s reasons for separation were completely different.
Martin Luther was a man dedicated to religion like few others, and was set on improving religion. When Martin Luther made his famous trek to Rome he was appalled by the corruption he saw. Religious figures were perverting religion and using it as a way for their own benefit. The sale of indulgences was something that particularly enraged Luther as he saw it as unholy how the Catholic Church had become so rich of taking advantage of these people. Luther also disagreed with the Pope’s proclamation that he was more right than the Bible. Luther’s frustrations reached a boiling point and Luther sent out his 95 theses to churches across Europe. Luther objected all the clerical abuses in his theses. He was especially enraged by the sale of indulgences, and denounced the famous statement by prolific indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel that “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” Charles V summoned Luther to a meeting called the Diet of Worms. In this meeting Charles V denounced Luther’s claims and insisted he rescind them. Luther refused and the Reformation was in full effect.
Martin Luther and King Henry drastically changed the religious landscape of Europe due to their separation from the Catholic Church. The two of them wanted to separate for completely different reasons; the only similarity was their hate for the Catholic Church. King Henry VIII wanted to separate because of his denied divorce and the economic opportunities that having his own church presented. Martin Luther on the other hand wanted to create a purer religion and was fed up with the continued clerical abuses displayed by the Catholic Church. All in all these two men set the stage for one of the greatest religious reformations in history.
By Connor Powell
During 16th century Europe, major religious changes swept over the continent. The two men behind these changes were Martin Luther and King Henry VIII. Their motives for disassociating themselves from the ever-powerful Catholic Church were completely different. When a king and a small time religious monk set out to go against something, their motivations for doing can only be different. On one hand, you have King Henry VIII who left the Catholic Church because Pope Clemente VII would not grant him a divorce and also because of the economic opportunities that creating the Church of England would bring. On the other hand you have Martin Luther who was sick and tired of the Church’s corrupt behavior, such as their selling of indulgences and the Pope’s proclamation that he is more right than the Bible.
King Henry VIII was a very promiscuous person who had a hard time holding down a marriage. He had had it with his wife Catherine of Aragon and requested a divorce. His appeal to the Catholic Church and Pope Clemente VII was denied and this greatly angered King Henry VIII, triggering his desire to separate from the Catholic Church. England was in a time of financial dire due to their participation in the Sieges of Boulonge. By declaring himself the only head of the Church of England in the Act of Supremacy Henry was free to do whatever he pleased with the Catholic Churches throughout England. He was entitled to the land and sold a large portion of it to his friends; if he did not sell the land, he usually ransacked the churches of valuables and sold them or kept them for himself. This proved to be a lucrative business opportunity for King Henry VIII as he made himself very wealthy over this time. As you will see in the next paragraph Martin Luther’s reasons for separation were completely different.
Martin Luther was a man dedicated to religion like few others, and was set on improving religion. When Martin Luther made his famous trek to Rome he was appalled by the corruption he saw. Religious figures were perverting religion and using it as a way for their own benefit. The sale of indulgences was something that particularly enraged Luther as he saw it as unholy how the Catholic Church had become so rich of taking advantage of these people. Luther also disagreed with the Pope’s proclamation that he was more right than the Bible. Luther’s frustrations reached a boiling point and Luther sent out his 95 theses to churches across Europe. Luther objected all the clerical abuses in his theses. He was especially enraged by the sale of indulgences, and denounced the famous statement by prolific indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel that “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” Charles V summoned Luther to a meeting called the Diet of Worms. In this meeting Charles V denounced Luther’s claims and insisted he rescind them. Luther refused and the Reformation was in full effect.
Martin Luther and King Henry drastically changed the religious landscape of Europe due to their separation from the Catholic Church. The two of them wanted to separate for completely different reasons; the only similarity was their hate for the Catholic Church. King Henry VIII wanted to separate because of his denied divorce and the economic opportunities that having his own church presented. Martin Luther on the other hand wanted to create a purer religion and was fed up with the continued clerical abuses displayed by the Catholic Church. All in all these two men set the stage for one of the greatest religious reformations in history.