preview

Luther, By Martin Luther

Decent Essays

Martin Luther, born in 1483, grew up in a devout Roman Catholic household, where the church stood at the center of his world. However, he suffered at the hand of his parents’ harsh criticism. His father had emerged from the feudal system into the new middle class as a successful Coppersmith. His desire was for his son to also climb the social ladder. To assist with his son’s success, Luther’s father was a fierce judge of the character of his son, and often punished him severely for his failures. From these experiences, Luther developed a low self-esteem and fear of failure, which encroached on every aspect of his life, including his theology. Luther’s father sent him to the best schools in the area with the intention of his son becoming a lawyer. Luther successfully obtained a bachelor’s degree, followed by his master’s degree. However, Luther did not become a lawyer. At the age of 22, in the year 1505, Luther was a few weeks into his law school career. He was walking back to college from a brief visit home when he was caught in a violent thunderstorm. A lightning bolt struck near him, and Luther, fearing for his life, prayed to Saint Anne, a patroness for those in mortal peril and protector from thunderstorms, for intercession. He promised that if he survived the thunderstorm, he would become a monk. Luther survived the storm and kept to his word. Two weeks after the storm, Luther joined a monastery, hoping to find “assurance of God’s favor” in his new home. Luther, along

Get Access