This is the English translation of a letter sent by Martin Luther to Pope Leo X in 1518. Martin Luther had previously published his “95 Theses” and was starting to get into trouble with Rome. This letter accompanied his “Resolutions to the 95 Theses”.<\/p>\n
Martin Luther tells the Pope that clergy are using the Pope’s name to intimidate people into giving money they cannot afford to give. He also tells the Pope he will follow whatever punishment the Pope declares for Martin Luther speaking out.<\/p>\n
My favorite quote from this letter is: “But necessity compels me to be the goose that squawks among the swans.”<\/p>\n
Here is the full letter in context:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
_Letter to Pope Leo X,
\nAccompanying the “Resolutions”
\nto the XCV Theses_
\nby Dr. Martin Luther,
\n1518
\nPublished in:
\n_Works of Martin Luther_
\nAdolph Spaeth, L.D. Reed, Henry Eyster Jacobs, et Al., Trans. & Eds.
\n(Philadelphia: A. J. Holman Company, 1915),
\nVolume 1, pp. 44-48<\/p>\n
LETTER TO POPE LEO X, ACCOMPANYING
\nTHE “RESOLUTIONS” TO THE XCV THESES<\/p>\n
1518<\/p>\n
To the<\/p>\n
Most Blessed Father,<\/p>\n
LEO X.<\/p>\n
Martin Luther,<\/p>\n
Augustinian Friar,<\/p>\n
wisheth everlasting welfare.<\/p>\n
I have heard evil reports about myself, most blessed Father,
\nby which I know that certain friends have put my name in very
\nbad odor with you and yours, saying that I have attempted to
\nbelittle the power of the keys and of the Supreme Pontiff.
\nTherefore I am accused of heresy, apostasy, and perfidy, and
\nam called by six hundred other names of ignominy. My ears
\nshudder and my eyes are astounded. But the one thing in which
\nI put my confidence remains unshaken — my clear and quiet
\nconscience. Moreover, what I hear is nothing new. With such
\nlike decorations I have been adorned in my own country by
\nthose same honorable and truthful men, i.e., by the men whose
\nown conscience convicts them of wrongdoing, and who are trying
\nto put their own monstrous doings off on me, and to glorify
\ntheir own shame by bringing shame to me. But you will deign,
\nblessed Father, to hear the true case from me, though I am but
\nan uncouth child.<\/p>\n
It is not long ago that the preaching of the Jubilee
\nindulgences was begun in our country, and matters went so far
\nthat the preachers of indulgences, thinking that the
\nprotection of your name made anything permissible, ventured
\nopenly to teach the most impious and heretical doctrines,
\nwhich threatened to make the power of the Church a scandal and
\na laughing-stock, as if the decretals De abusionibus
\nquaestorum did not apply to them.<\/p>\n
Not content with spreading this poison of theirs by word of
\nmouth, they published tracts and scattered them among the
\npeople. In these books — to say nothing of the insatiable and
\nunheard of avarice of which almost every letter in them vilely
\nsmells — they laid down those same impious and heretical
\ndoctrines, and laid them down in such wise that confessors
\nwere bound by their oath to be faithful and insistent in
\nurging them upon the people. I speak the truth, and none of
\nthem can hide himself from the heat thereof. The tracts are
\nextant and they cannot disown them. These teachings were so
\nsuccessfully carried on, and the people, with their false
\nhopes, were sucked so dry that, as the Prophet says, “they
\nplucked their flesh from off their bones”; but they themselves
\nmeanwhile were fed most pleasantly on the fat of the land.<\/p>\n
There was just one means which they used to quiet opposition,
\nto wit, the protection of your name, the threat of burning at
\nthe stake, and the disgrace of the name “heretic.” It is
\nincredible how ready they are to threaten, even, at times,
\nwhen they perceive that it is only their own mere silly
\nopinions which are contradicted. As though this were to quiet
\nopposition, and not rather to arouse schisms and seditions by
\nsheer tyranny!<\/p>\n
None the less, however, stories about the avarice of the
\npriests were bruited in the taverns, and evil was spoken of
\nthe power of the keys and of the Supreme Pontiff, and as
\nevidence of this, I could cite the common talk of this whole
\nland. I truly confess that I was on fire with zeal for Christ,
\nas I thought, or with the heat of youth, if you prefer to have
\nit so; and yet I saw that it was not in place for me to make
\nany decrees or to do anything in these matters. Therefore I
\nprivately admonished some of the prelates of the Church. By
\nsome of them I was kindly received, to others I seemed
\nridiculous, to still others something worse; for the terror of
\nyour name and the threat of Church censures prevailed. At
\nlast, since I could do nothing else, it seemed good that I
\nshould offer at least a gentle resistance to them, i.e.,
\nquestion and discuss their teachings. Therefore I published a
\nset of theses, inviting only the more learned to dispute with
\nme if they wished; as should be evident, even to my
\nadversaries, from the Preface to the Disputation.<\/p>\n
Lo, this is the fire with which they complain that all the
\nworld is now ablaze! Perhaps it is because they are indignant
\nthat I, who by your own apostolic authority am a Master of
\nTheology, have the right to conduct public disputations,
\naccording to the custom of all the Universities and of the
\nwhole Church, not only about indulgences, but also about God’s
\npower and remission and mercy, which are incomparably greater
\nsubjects. I am not much moved, however, by the fact that they
\nenvy me the privilege granted me by the power of your
\nHoliness, since I am unwillingly compelled to yield to them in
\nthings of far greater moment, viz., when they mix the dreams
\nof Aristotle with theological matters, and conduct nonsensical
\ndisputations about the majesty of God, beyond and against the
\nprivilege granted them.<\/p>\n
It is a miracle to me by what fate it has come about that this
\nsingle Disputation of mine should, more than any other, of
\nmine or of any of the teachers, have gone out into very nearly
\nthe whole land. It was made public at our University and for
\nour University only, and it was made public in such wise that
\nI cannot believe it has become known to all men. For it is a
\nset of theses, not doctrines or dogmas, and they are put,
\naccording to custom, in an obscure and enigmatic way.
\nOtherwise, if I had been able to foresee what was coming, I
\nshould have taken care, for my part, that they would be easier
\nto understand.<\/p>\n
Now what shall I do? I cannot recant them; and yet I see that
\nmarvelous enmity is inflamed against me because of their
\ndissemination. It is unwillingly that I incur the public and
\nperilous and various judgment of men, especially since I am
\nunlearned, dull of brain, empty of scholarship; and that too
\nin this brilliant age of ours, which by its achievements in
\nletters and learning can force even Cicero into the corner,
\nthough he was no base follower of the public light. But
\nnecessity compels me to be the goose that squawks among the
\nswans.<\/p>\n
And so, to soften my enemies and to fulfil the desires of
\nmany, I herewith send forth these trifling explanations of my
\nDisputation; I send them forth in order, too, that I may be
\nmore safe under the defense of your name and the shadow of
\nyour protection. In them all may see, who will, how purely and
\nsimply I have sought after and cherished the power of the
\nChurch and reverence for the keys; and, at the same time, how
\nunjustly and falsely my adversaries have befouled me with so
\nmany names. For if I had been such a one as they wish to make
\nme out, and if I had not, on the contrary, done everything
\ncorrectly, according to my academic privilege, the Most
\nIllustrious Prince Frederick, Duke of Saxony, Imperial
\nElector, etc., would never have tolerated such a pest in his
\nUniversity, for he most dearly loves the Catholic and
\nApostolic truth, nor could I have been tolerated by the keen
\nand learned men of our University. But what has been done, I
\ndo because those most courteous men do not fear openly to
\ninvolve both the Prince and the University in the same
\ndisgrace with myself.<\/p>\n
Wherefore, most blessed Father, I cast myself at the feet of
\nyour Holiness, with all that I have and all that I am.
\nQuicken, kill, call, recall, approve, reprove, as you will. In
\nyour voice I shall recognize the voice of Christ directing you
\nand speaking in you. If I have deserved death, I shall not
\nrefuse to die. For the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness
\nthereof. He is blessed forever. Amen.<\/p>\n
May He have you too forever in His keeping. Amen.<\/p>\n
ANNO MDXVIII.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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