Luther 1517-2017… Five Hundred Years Of Heresy And Doctrinal Confusion
By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM
Part 3
(Editor’s Note: This is the third installment in a series by Wanderer contributor Raymond de Souza on Henry VIII’s book defending the seven sacraments against Martin Luther. De Souza edited this updated version of Henry’s work, which is presented to readers in this series.
(This series will appear on a regular basis, as space allows.)
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“To know history is to cease to be a Protestant,” wrote John Henry Newman, himself a convert from Anglicanism. So, it is important to become aware of the historical context in which the controversy between Henry VIII and Martin Luther took place.
In my capacity as the editor of the New Millennium edition of King Henry VIII’s book, Defence of the Seven Sacraments Against Martin Luther, it is my pleasure to publish the letter written by the King — then a devout Catholic — to Pope Leo X, offering His Holiness the book in which he refuted Luther’s heresies on the Seven Sacraments.
Here is the text:
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Most Holy Father:
No duty is more incumbent on a Catholic sovereign than to preserve and increase the Christian faith and religion and the proofs thereof, and to transmit them preserved thus inviolate to posterity, by his example in preventing them from being destroyed by any assailant of the Faith or in any wise impaired.
So, when we learned that the pest of Martin Luther’s heresy had appeared in Germany and was raging everywhere, without let or hindrance, to such an extent that many, infected with its poison, were falling away, especially those whose furious hatred rather than their zeal for Christian Truth had prepared them to believe all its subtleties and lies; we were so deeply grieved at this heinous crime of the German nation (for whom we have no light regard), and for the sake of the Holy Apostolic See, that we bent all our thoughts and energies on uprooting in every possible way, this cockle, this heresy from the Lord’s flock.
When we perceived that this deadly venom had advanced so far and had seized upon the weak and ill-disposed minds of so many, that it could not easily be overcome by a single effort, we deemed that nothing could be more efficient in destroying the contagion than to declare these errors worthy of condemnation, after they had been examined by a convocation of learned and scholarly men from all parts of our realm.
This course of action we likewise recommended to a number of others. In the first place, we earnestly entreated His Imperial Majesty, through our fraternal love for him, and all the electoral princes, to bethink them of their Christian duty and their lofty station and to destroy this pernicious man, together with his scandalous and heretical publications, after his refusal to return to God.
But convinced that, in our ardour for the welfare of Christendom, in our zeal for the Catholic Faith and our devotion to the Apostolic See, we had not yet done enough, we determined to show by our own writings our attitude towards Luther and our opinion of his vile books; to manifest more openly to all the world that we shall ever defend and uphold the Holy Roman Church, not only by force of arms but by the resources of our intelligence and our services as a Christian.
For this reason we have thought that this first attempt of our modest ability and learning could not be more worthily dedicated than to your Holiness, both as a token of our filial reverence and an acknowledgement of your careful solicitude for the weal of Christendom.
We feel assured that our first fruits will be enhanced in value if it be approved by the wholesome judgment of your Blessedness. May you live long and happily!
From our Royal Palace at Greenwich, the twenty-first day of May, 1521.
Your Holiness’ most devoted and humble son, Henry, by the grace of God King of England and France, and Lord of Ireland.
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In his reply to King Henry, Pope Leo X emphasized the importance of truth and orthodoxy among Christians, and rejected the idea of dissenting doctrines which hurt the unity of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Church authorities today would greatly benefit from the example of Pope Leo X in praising the zeal of laymen who stand up to defend the true faith!
Here is the text of his letter:
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To Our Most Christian Son in Christ, Henry, King of England, Illustrious Defender of the Faith.
Most dear Son in Christ, Health and Apostolic Benediction:
Some days ago, when the envoy of Your Serenity, Our beloved Son, John Clark, Dean of the Chapel Royal, publicly in Consistory presented us the book which Your Serenity has published against the impious teachings and sect of Martin Luther, and, in a brilliant address, exceedingly appropriate to the occasion, declared, in the presence of a number of Prelates of the Roman Court, your readiness to aid Us and the Holy See with sword and pen, our soul was filled with joy.
Not We alone, but all Our venerable brethren rejoiced, as though deeming that Luther’s impiety had, not without the divine permission, assailed the Church of Christ, so that to Her greater glory She might be fortunate enough to find such a Champion and Defender.
Hence We have resolved, and all agree in Our decision, that your exceptional virtue and piety should be made memorable by some mark of Our love and appreciation.
For if it has often been, most dear Son, a source of honour to great Monarchs to take up arms to safeguard the liberty and tranquillity of the Holy Apostolic See, how much more glory and reverence should accrue from employing the weapons of the Spirit of God and of heavenly science to remove from the Faith of Christ so great a stain, and to preserve inviolate those sacraments by which the salvation of souls is secured.
These two functions, which hitherto We have always found separate, have been united in you alone, a mighty Sovereign, in a most eminent degree; for you have both vindicated the liberty of the Church with your arms, and you have evinced your desire to fortify the Christian Faith against impious heresy by the treasures of your piety and learning.
The one is an evidence of invincible and lofty courage, the other of a spirit and sense of religion tender, devout, and orthodox.
In what words, then, or by what manner of eulogy shall we praise this piety, this plenitude of doctrine, overflowing as though from a celestial fountain? What fit return can we make for your kindness in dedicating to Us so noble a product of your intellect?
Both considerations exceed the powers of language, or even of thought; nor can we reflect on your services and deserts without being overcome.
What love, what zeal is yours for the defence of Christian Faith! What benevolence in Our regard! And in the book itself, what solidity of matter, clearness of method, force of eloquence, wherein the Holy Spirit Himself shows visibly!
It is thoroughly judicious, wise, and pious; charitable in instruction, gentle in admonition, correct in argument. If there be any of your opponents who have not fallen entirely into the power of the Prince of Darkness, they must be drawn by your writings to a saner condition of mind, if any chance for sanity be left.
These are distinguished and admirable achievements; and as they have been wrought in a new fashion, by a princely favour, for Almighty God and the Holy See, we render you, Defender of the Faith, unbounded thanks.
The Apostolic See thanks you; all who worship Christ and unite in His faith thank you. We, for Our part, with the concurrence of Our venerable brothers, bestow on you, in other letters sealed with lead, as you will find from their perusal, this title of Defender of the Faith.
For your part, most dear Son, however you may consider great and desirable these honours which the Holy Apostolic See grants you as a reward of eminent virtue and a mark of its grateful appreciation, realise that greater and more glorious compensation is prepared for you in heaven by Our Lord and Saviour.
In upholding His cause and His spouse by every means of defence you have displayed your spirit and your virtue; and while you review those titles which you have acquired on earth and in heaven, remember by what claims you have gained them.
Show yourself hereafter such as you have been heretofore. Let your later deeds be equal to your sublime and glorious beginnings. Let the Apostolic See, once defended by your arms, and the Christian Faith, now fortified by the shield of your doctrine against the criminal frenzy of heretics, find and prove you ever a helper in all their perils, so that this extraordinary and unspeakable glory which Your Majesty has most mightily merited by your great efforts may continue to the last day of your life and endure to all future time as a theme of eulogy.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, under the seal of the Fisherman, the fourth day of November, 1521, the ninth year of Our Pontificate.
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The book is accompanied by two talks on CD: 1) The De-Christianization of the Western World and 2) The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It is available to Wanderer readers at $33.00 (shipping and handling free in the United States). Please make your check payable to: Sacred Heart Media, LLC and mail it to: P.O. Box 1144 Rochester, MN 55903.
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(Raymond de Souza KM is available to speak at Catholic events anywhere in the free world in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Please contact Chevalierdemalta@outlook.com or phone 507-450-4196.)
