Augustinian Order ashamed of Luther, will not be celebrating Reformation

Luther's former Order sees reformers critically

For the Augustinian Order, the anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation is no reason to celebrate. For her former member, Martin Luther, not only left the order, but also harmed many monasteries.

The Augustinian Order critically assesses the Reformation initiated by its former member, Martin Luther. The Wittenberg theologian had not only turned away from the Augustinians personally, but had "condemned the religious life" with all his might "and promoted a mass flight from the monasteries. "The damage to the Order and the religious life in Germany was enormous", writes the General Prior of the Augustinian Order, Alejandro Moral Anton, in a contribution to the Vatican newspaper, "Osservatore Romano" (Thursday).

Augustinians do not want to celebrate Reformation

The Order has "no reason to celebrate the beginning of the Reformation 500 years ago, but certainly to remember it," says Moral. The head of the Order referred to "positive aspects", such as the appreciation of the individual, the central position of the Bible and a liturgy close to the people, but also the development of a sense of community and "healthy secularity". A central point in Luther's thinking, the grace in the doctrine of justification, is "in the Augustinian line."

Luther undoubtedly triggered a "religious crisis". This was the reason "not for a secularism, but for the process of secularization and the birth of a new Europe". At the same time, the Order emphasized that Luther had signed "Martin Luther, Augustiner" until 1521, and until 1524 he had worn the clothing of his order and kept the habits of his monastic life until the end of his life .

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Reformation Rap, Luther, the Wittenberg boss, friend of Pope Francis

"Theology students successful with Luther-Rap According to the motto "Luther did not put a sheet in front of his mouth", theology students from Tübingen have rapped a song about the Reformer - with success. But not everyone likes the risqué language. "If the 95 theses had not been then, who would read Bible?" - 

One week before the conclusion of the Reformation Anniversary, Protestant theology students from Tübingen published a rap song about Martin Luther. The video, "The Boss from Wittenberg " was viewed 3,000 times on YouTube on the first day. On Wednesday, the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) also shared the video on their social media channels. "The language in the song sometimes sounds risqué," says 26-year-old Christopher Hopp, "but Luther did not put a sheet in front of his mouth." Together with Leon Hanser and Jonathan Bühler, he rapped to the music of the US rapper Macklemore sentences like "(I,) the Wittenberg boss, let Papal Bulls burn. Thrust out Scripture, make your nobodies cry”. But there are also theological statements and anecdotes from the life of Luther. 

Luther, the Reformer had never been embarrassed by clear words, but had not only sought out confrontation but also the strengths and similarities among the others, Hopp reports. After the first stanza tells of the break which Luther experienced, the second stanza gave an outlook on the connecting elements and the similarities in the Catholic and Protestant Church. In the present, it was then sung that Luther and Pope Francis understood each other well and both pointed to Jesus Christ. One year from the idea to implementation Chris Hopp and Leon Hanser, who is currently spending his theological study year in Jerusalem, have already rapped a song that brought over 5,000 clicks in 2015. At that time it was about life Albrecht-Bengel-House , the student-supporting dormitory of the theological studies in Tübingen with which they were acquainted. Most of the nearly 40 contributors to the current video of "The Boss from Wittenberg" are connected to the Bengel House or the Protestant Foundation of the Regional Church, according to Hopp .

Completely finished, I enter 1505 into the monastic life and duck me away and drop prayers daily. How can I be just before God, who is perfect? (...) But God who freed, does let not loose, I understand - Romans One Seventeen, black on white, God gives you faith, God gives you grace.

Raputation in "The Boss From Wittenberg" 

 Both Protestant institutions were behind the private project of their students, "but there was also some criticism of some linguistic formulations," says Hopp. In principle, however, the fact was welcomed that students took the trouble to take up the life and theology of Luther in a creative, modern form. And it was a great effort: the idea of ​​a rap song and the first lines they had already had in mind at the beginning of the Reformation jubilee, said Hopp, who studies theology and English at the teaching institution. Until they had finished the text, recorded the song, received the permission to use the nearby Bebenhausen monastery, and had shot the video recordings, almost a year had passed. 

Gospel Praise instead of rapper scene 

Although it seems as if the young students are not from the rapper scene. Hanser may prefer rock music and he himself is located in the modern Gospel and Praise prevailing in Protestant community work, reports Hopp. As a child and adolescent, he found rap music just funny, but he and Hanser had learned to appreciate the dynamism of the singing. And he adds - probably with a view to the biography of Luther -: "You can get through a lot of lyrics in rap songs." 

 The media people of the Protestant Church of Germany also seem to have thought this way when they shared the five minute video on Twitter and Facebook. Her commentary: "The music video for the # Reformation jubilee is almost half a sermon in length. Who has looked through it to the end: How do you find it?"

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Cardinal Müller calls Reformation "Revolution against the Holy Spirit"

Cardinal Müller criticizes Reformation under Luther 

"Revolution against the Holy Spirit"

The German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller has turned against a softly swept ecumenism. What is termed Martin Luther's Reformation was, in fact, a revolution and "contrary to the Holy Spirit." according to Müller.

The former head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith wrote this in a contribution to the website "La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana". 

The desire for good relations with non-Catholics can only have the aim of leading to full communion with the Catholic hierarchy, assuming the "apostolic tradition according to Catholic doctrine". 

Not a church reform in the Catholic sense 

 In Luther's opinion, the struggle against some abuses at the time of indulgences or against the "sins of the Renaissance Church" was by no means sufficient, according to Müller. From his writings, "it is absolutely clear that Luther has left behind all the principles of the Catholic faith behind him." 

 Thus he had replaced the "objective efficacy of the sacraments with a subjective faith." The abolition of five of the Seven Sacraments, the denial of the Eucharist, and the criticism by Luther of office meant that the Reformation could not be described as a "church reform in the Catholic sense." 

 Luther was seen too enthusiastically  

Luther was often discussed "too enthusiastically", wrote Müller. The reason for this was an ignorance of the theology of Luther, his polemic, and the "disastrous consequences of this movement which, for millions of Christians, meant the destruction of unity with the Catholic Church."

Today, one must also perceive the action of the Holy Spirit in non-Catholic Christians; they did not commit the "sin of separation from the Catholic Church". A reconciliation, however, could not happen "at the cost of truth." 

No dialogue on the substance of the doctrine of faith 

 There could be no dialogue with the Protestants on the substance of the doctrine of faith; put another way, the Church "has taught," for more than a thousand years of faith, a faith which we know-and this is a kernel of the doctrine of faith-that the Church can not err in the handing on of salvation in the sacraments. " 

 At the same time, Müller complained of a "confusion" regarding the binding nature of the Catholic doctrine. Many thought "the Pope is infallible when he speaks privately," but they disputed what "the popes throughout history" represented. Müller was, since his appointment by Benedict in July 2012,  the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith . After the expiration of the five-year term, Pope Francis Francis nominated as his successor, the secretary of the Congregation, Archbishop Luis Ladaria."

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Bishop tells Pope-critical Catholics to stay away but welcomes Imam

Pope-critical journalists create "confusion" among the faithful, finds the bishop of Modena. Therefore he does not want to see them at church events. And this also applies to other people.

In Modena, Italy, the bishop called on the faithful not to invite papal-critical journalists to churches and other Catholic institutions. When "seers, charismatics, journalists and intellectuals, who are in a subtle or open contradiction to the official church, and especially to Pope Francis," appear in church buildings, this creates "confusion" among the faithful, writes Archbishop Erio Castellucci in the current edition of his diocesan newspaper.

Freely expression of opinions is not in question, "but not on the stage of Catholic sites," Castellucci continued. The concrete reason for this statement remained unclear. The Italian daily "Il Resto del Carlino" speculated on Tuesday, possibly mystics, who were invited by local prayer groups.

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For context, the following article

The happy look of Archbishop Erio Castellucci: the Muslims were there! But the others? ...

 His Excellency Rev. Msgr. Erio Castellucci, Archbishop-Metropolitan of Modena-Notantola after the opening ceremony of the Holy Door in the Cathedral before the celebration of the Mass, cordially posed with the delegation of the Muslim community of the Modena Mosque and Imam Idriss Bakari invited for the occasion. His Excellency and various emeritus Bishops concelebrated, His Excellency Rev. Mons. Giacomo Bernardini, Bishop Emeritus of Smirne (Turkey) and His Excellency RevMons. Ignazio Bedini, Bishop Emeritus of Ispahan for the Latins (Iran) currently "sede vacante" *** We have been looking for news on the net if, at the opening of the Holy Door in the Cathedral of Modena, there were also representatives and representatives of other religions operating in the Emilian capital: Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, etc. We have also bee looking if representatives of other Christian confessions in the Emilia-Romagna capital were invited to the Holy Door ceremony.

Cardinal Müller thinks Pope surrounds himself with spies and informers.

Last Saturday, Pope Francis received the community of the Pontifical Brazilian College of St Pius

In his address to the seminarians and priests, Pope Francis also spoke of the Roman Curia, and of the "message" of the Mother of God to the Curia staff:

"What the priestly fraternity is most destroyed by is gossip. Gossip is a "terrorist act," because you are throwing a bomb with the talk, destroying the other while you are quite calm. Therefore, it is necessary to protect priestly fraternity. Please, no gossip. It would be very good to have a sign at the entrance: 'No gossip'. Here (in the Apostolic Palace) is the image of Our Lady of Silence, in the elevator of the first floor; the Mother of God says, 'No gossip.' This is the message to the Curia. Observe it likewise. "

The reality practiced by the Pope does not seem to agree with his request ("message"), according to Cardinal Gerhard Müller.

Concerning spies, informers and denunciators

On 20 October, the first day of the meeting "Leader or Follower?" organized by the Iniziativa Subalpina Foundation took place in Stresa on Lake Maggiore . Massimo Franco, a journalist of the Corriere della Sera , conducted a conversation with Cardinal Gerhard Müller, who, on 30 June, was dismissed by Pope Francis as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Faith without being told why

Massimo Franco first referred to the statements of Cardinal Müller that the reigning Pope had reached the Chair of St Peter on a wave of "scandals."

Franco then quoted the Cardinal's statements, which he made in an interview published by Edward Pentin at the beginning of October in the National Catholic Register. Cardinal Müller expressed clear reservations about the people surrounding Pope Francis. Francis receives his information about what is happening in the Congregations and offices of the Curia, not from the Prefects and responsible directors, but from spies and informers.

Massimo Franco: In this interview, you also said that the Pope is surrounded by some spies who report directly to the Holy Father every criticism, even the smallest, which is opposed to him, and that provokes a rather harsh reaction from the pope, that many are dismissed because of these anonymous actions. Do you see this as a strong threat to the Papacy?

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: I did not want to speak publicly about such things. In our case, however, there were three good members of our Congregation, persons with full authority in Church law and a good spiritual life as priests. I was really astonished, for the very fact that the Pope was interfering in such matters. The state president, who looks after the employees in any ministry.

Someone had gone to the Pope and has spoken badly about these people without concrete arguments. He had not spoken to me as the responsible person. I asked him what accusations and evidence there were, but he gave me no answer. The people could not imagine why it was rumoured that they would had done something, otherwise they would not have been sent away. That's why, in my position as the person responsible, I felt compelled to defend the good reputation of these three people.

Massimo Franco: Your defence, as it seems to me, did not help.

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: No, in the end, it did not help at all.

Massimo Franco: Because the Pope was determined to dismiss them?

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: Right, to dismiss them.

Massimo Franco: But What I wanted to understand is that today there are many of these people around the Pope who, as you say, slander. What is your impression?

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: I have only the examples and hear from other dicasteries that the Prefect, although the chief person responsible, is not the Pope's interlocutor, but there are other ways behind the scenes. That does not seem good to me. I think everyone has his rank and responsibility and that should not be circumvented.

Massimo Franco: You say that the Pope does not get to know about the activities in the Congregations via the Prefects, but via people who seem to enjoy his confidence but who, according to your opinion, are not the appropriate channels for the Pope to receive information. Is that correct?

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: That is how it happened in my Cngregation.

Massimo Franco: That is how it happened in your congregation. So, you have felt a bit passed over? You felt betrayed?

Cardinal Gerhard Müller: Yes.

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Francis, the polariser is beyond ideology, neither "right" nor "left"

Pope Francis polarized, also unintentionally. Some conservative Catholics criticize him, others start a solidarity initiative. According to the Jesuit Antonio Spadaro, Francis is not associated with any political direction.

"His approach has always been spiritual and never ideological," said the Jesuit Antonio Spadaro in Rome on Saturday evening at the presentation of his interview book with the Pope, which has just been published in Italy. It is impossible to pull Francis into a direction like "right" or "left".

Pope refused an ideologization

The Pope had emphasized that he had never been "right". He thus referred to allegations of a proximity to the Argentine military dictatorship (1976-1983) during his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, according to Spadaro. Likewise, Francis had said that he had never been a communist, according to the head of the Jesuit magazine Civilta Cattolica. (Cathcon: well that is a relief)

This, too, shows that the head of the church is miles apart from any ideological approach. "The Pope refuses an ideologization of Christianity, that is, a transformation of Christianity into a religious ideology," says Spadaro.

Interview book by Antonio Spadaro

Spadaro, who, like Francis, belongs to the Jesuit Order, is editor of the interview book "Adesso fate le vostre domande" ("Please ask your questions").

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