Age of the Reformation IAge of the Reformation I

The Pre-ReformationThe Pre-Reformation

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384

Errr…John Errr…John

WyclifeWyclife

Wyclif, Wyclyf, WyclyffeWyclif, Wyclyf, Wyclyffe

Wiclif, Wiclef, Wicliff, Wiclif, Wiclef, Wicliff,

Wycleff, Whyteclyve, WyclyveWycleff, Whyteclyve, Wyclyve

+ about 10 more versions+ about 10 more versions

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384• Morning Star of the ReformationMorning Star of the Reformation

• Well educated, spent most of life at Oxford and Well educated, spent most of life at Oxford and was master of Canterbury Hallwas master of Canterbury Hall

• 1366 with the kings blessing he began rebuking 1366 with the kings blessing he began rebuking Papal authorityPapal authority

• 1377 Comes before the Tribunal of William 1377 Comes before the Tribunal of William Courtenay and leaves under the protection of Courtenay and leaves under the protection of the Duke of Lancasterthe Duke of Lancaster

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384• Pope Gregory XI orders Wycliffe to prison, Pope Gregory XI orders Wycliffe to prison,

but dies the year after, and the Papal Schism but dies the year after, and the Papal Schism startsstarts

• 1380 Wycliffe founds the “pore priests” oxford 1380 Wycliffe founds the “pore priests” oxford graduates who go out preaching many without graduates who go out preaching many without ordinationordination

• 1382 Courtenay becomes Archibishop of 1382 Courtenay becomes Archibishop of Canterbury and holds the Earthquake SynodCanterbury and holds the Earthquake Synod

• 24 articles of Wycliffe’s were condemned 24 articles of Wycliffe’s were condemned

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384• Wycliffe loses King Richard II’s favor, is Wycliffe loses King Richard II’s favor, is

kicked out of Oxford and all his books are kicked out of Oxford and all his books are burnedburned

• Wrote the Wrote the TrialogusTrialogus

• Denounced Indulgences as “an abomination of Denounced Indulgences as “an abomination of desolation in the holy place”desolation in the holy place”

• Was summoned to Rome, but refused saying he Was summoned to Rome, but refused saying he submits only to Christ’s authoritysubmits only to Christ’s authority

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384• Finishes with help his English paraphrase of Finishes with help his English paraphrase of

the bible based upon the vulgatethe bible based upon the vulgate

• 1382 suffers a stroke resulting in minor 1382 suffers a stroke resulting in minor paralysisparalysis

• 1384 has another stroke and dies in church1384 has another stroke and dies in church

• 1413 Lateran decrees his books should be 1413 Lateran decrees his books should be burnedburned

• 1429 Council of Constance orders him 1429 Council of Constance orders him Exhumed and burned, scattering his ashesExhumed and burned, scattering his ashes

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-13845 main themes in his teachings5 main themes in his teachings

1.1. The Nature of the ChurchThe Nature of the Church

2.2. The Fallacy of the PapacyThe Fallacy of the Papacy

3.3. The PriesthoodThe Priesthood

4.4. The Falsity of TransubstantiationThe Falsity of Transubstantiation

5.5. The use of ScriptureThe use of Scripture

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384

The Nature of the ChurchThe Nature of the Church

• A universal Church comprised of the ElectA universal Church comprised of the Elect

• All those who believe in Christ belong, All those who believe in Christ belong, regardless of their position with the RCCregardless of their position with the RCC

• The Peoples’ head is ChristThe Peoples’ head is Christ

• The concept of church vs. ChurchThe concept of church vs. Church

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384

The Fallacy of the PapacyThe Fallacy of the Papacy

• totum papale officium venenosum totum papale officium venenosum

• ““The Papal office is wholly poisonous”The Papal office is wholly poisonous”

• The Rock is Peter and all peopleThe Rock is Peter and all people

• Mocked the “most holie fadir”Mocked the “most holie fadir”

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384

The PriesthoodThe Priesthood

• Priests Absolution was only meritorious if they Priests Absolution was only meritorious if they themselves were absolvedthemselves were absolved

• Celibacy is good but sinful if mandatoryCelibacy is good but sinful if mandatory

• No such thing as utilitarian sinNo such thing as utilitarian sin

• Anti-friar Anti-friar

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384

Falsity of TransubstantiationFalsity of Transubstantiation

• Communion was meant figurativelyCommunion was meant figuratively

• No transubstantiation without No transubstantiation without transaccidentiationtransaccidentiation

• ““Super omnia vincit veritas rationis” Super omnia vincit veritas rationis”

• The truth of reason will triumph over allThe truth of reason will triumph over all

John Wycliffe 1324-1384John Wycliffe 1324-1384The use of ScriptureThe use of Scripture

• Council of Toulouse 1229 forbid the bible to Council of Toulouse 1229 forbid the bible to LaymenLaymen

• Is the absolute authorityIs the absolute authority

• It has one Literal meaningIt has one Literal meaning

• Must be accessable to ALLMust be accessable to ALL

LollardsLollards• A.K.A. WycliffitesA.K.A. Wycliffites• Came from the term lolium – tares or lullen – Came from the term lolium – tares or lullen –

to singto sing• Based in England they were lumped with other Based in England they were lumped with other

heretics like the Beghardsheretics like the Beghards• Suppressed/Martyred during the InquisitionSuppressed/Martyred during the Inquisition• 11stst Generation wasn’t willing to be martyred, Generation wasn’t willing to be martyred,

the later ones werethe later ones were• Against: forced celibacy, transubstantiation, Against: forced celibacy, transubstantiation,

pilgrimages, image worship, priestly confession, pilgrimages, image worship, priestly confession, indulgences, mitres, oil, incense, and warindulgences, mitres, oil, incense, and war

John Huss 1369-1416John Huss 1369-1416• John Jon Jan Hus HussJohn Jon Jan Hus Huss

• A.K.A. “The Goose”A.K.A. “The Goose”

• Lived in Bohemia, preached in Bethlehem Lived in Bohemia, preached in Bethlehem Chapel in Prag(ue)Chapel in Prag(ue)

• Was very wycliffean, following & “borrowing” Was very wycliffean, following & “borrowing” many of his teachingsmany of his teachings

• Crusade was called against Naples and Crusade was called against Naples and Indulgence sellers came to PragIndulgence sellers came to Prag

• Huss publically burned Papal BullsHuss publically burned Papal Bulls

John Huss 1369-1416John Huss 1369-1416• He was Excommunicated, Interdicted, and He was Excommunicated, Interdicted, and

ExiledExiled

• Wrote De Ecclesia – mostly copied WycliffeWrote De Ecclesia – mostly copied Wycliffe

• Declared the Pope is not to be obeyed if he is a Declared the Pope is not to be obeyed if he is a sinnersinner

• Oct 11, 1414 Huss is promised safe conduct by Oct 11, 1414 Huss is promised safe conduct by Emperor Sigismund to the Council of ConstanceEmperor Sigismund to the Council of Constance

• Huss is falsely charged with escaping and Huss is falsely charged with escaping and imprisioned next to the latrines, becoming sickimprisioned next to the latrines, becoming sick

John Huss 1369-1416John Huss 1369-1416• He is transferred to the control of Sigismund He is transferred to the control of Sigismund

and imprisoned along with ex-pope John XXIIIand imprisoned along with ex-pope John XXIII

• The council declared the cup forbidden to laity, The council declared the cup forbidden to laity, Huss disagreedHuss disagreed

• Is given a public kangaroo trial and condemnedIs given a public kangaroo trial and condemned

• His books are forbidden and burnedHis books are forbidden and burned

John Huss 1369-1416John Huss 1369-1416• He is declared Heresiarch and his soul is He is declared Heresiarch and his soul is

condemned to hell by the councilcondemned to hell by the council

• He declares “and I commit myself to the most He declares “and I commit myself to the most gracious Lord Jesus”gracious Lord Jesus”

• He was turned over to Sigismund in order that He was turned over to Sigismund in order that he be executedhe be executed

• May 30, 1416 is burned at the stake, all the May 30, 1416 is burned at the stake, all the while singing loud praise to Godwhile singing loud praise to God

HussitesHussites• Followers of Huss split into two main groups Followers of Huss split into two main groups

the Taborites and Calixtinesthe Taborites and Calixtines• Popular revolt occurred in Prag after the Popular revolt occurred in Prag after the

burning of Hussburning of Huss• Council of Constance condemns the followers Council of Constance condemns the followers

of Huss and newly elected Pope Martin V calls of Huss and newly elected Pope Martin V calls a crusade against Bohemiaa crusade against Bohemia

• The crusade was repelled and the Hussites The crusade was repelled and the Hussites invaded Germanyinvaded Germany

• Council of Basel made peace in 1431, but the Council of Basel made peace in 1431, but the Taborists were unhappyTaborists were unhappy

HussitesHussites• A 22,000 person slaughter occurred in Prag A 22,000 person slaughter occurred in Prag

and the Taborists were defeated by the catholic and the Taborists were defeated by the catholic sympathetic Calixtinessympathetic Calixtines

• Calixtines existed until 1629 when they were Calixtines existed until 1629 when they were crushed by Ferdinandcrushed by Ferdinand

• Unitares Fratres – the Bohemian Bretheren: Unitares Fratres – the Bohemian Bretheren: moved to the countryside, rejected catholic moved to the countryside, rejected catholic sacraments, oaths, war, military service, sacraments, oaths, war, military service, purgatory and unworthy priestspurgatory and unworthy priests

Fullness of time for the Fullness of time for the ReformationReformation

1.1. RenaissanceRenaissance

2.2. Rise of IntellectualismRise of Intellectualism

3.3. Printing PressPrinting Press

4.4. Immoral PapacyImmoral Papacy

5.5. NationalismNationalism