Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World

by Eric Metaxas

You know that I am descended from the most Christian emperors of the noble German nation, the Catholic kings of Spain, the archdukes of Austria, and the dukes of Burgundy, who all were, until death, faithful sons of the Holy Roman Church, and they have always defended the Catholic faith, the sacred ceremonies, decretals, ordinances, and laudable customs, for the honor of God, the propagation of the faith, and the salvation of souls. After their deaths they left, by natural law and heritage, these holy Catholic rites, for us to live and to die following their example. . . . What is true and a great shame and offense to us is that a single monk, going against God, [is] mistaken in his opinion, which is against what all of Christendom has held for over a thousand years to the present. I am therefore determined to use all my kingdoms and possessions, my friends, my body, my blood, my life, and my soul. For it would be a great disgrace for you and me, the noble and greatly renowned German nation, appointed by privilege and singular eminence to be the defenders and protectors of the Catholic faith . . . I declare that I now regret having played so long the proceedings against him and his false doctrines. I am resolved that I will never again hear him talk . . . and to act and proceed against him as against a notorious heretic.2