Here I Stand
Martin Luther was born to Hans and Margaretta Luther in 1483. According to Bainton Martin Luther was ?highly esteemed at home. His parents looked to him as a lad of brilliant parts who should become a jurist, make a prosperous marriage, and support them in their old age.? (p.24,25). Which explains why Hans Luther was upset at his son for taking the cowl. Bainton explains Luther?s reasons for this. In the first chapter of the book, The Vow, as Luther gets struck by lightening he screams out ?St. Anne help me! I will become a monk.? Luther was determined to keep his vow and he felt that this would earn his salvation. Bainton explains why earning ones salvation was very important in these times?
The Church taught that no sensible person would wait until his deathbed to make an act of contrition and plead for grace. From the beginning to end the only secure course was to lay hold of every help the church had to offer: sacraments, pilgrimages, indulgences, the intercession of the saints?And what better could he (Luther) do than take the cowl?
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