Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)Luther, Martin
ReligionChristian
Works of Martin Luther, with Introductions and Notes (Volume I)
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- 16th century -- Early works to 1800
The indulgences received a new form, however, and became a part
of the regular Church administration, when the popes discovered
the possibilities which lay in this institution for the
advancement of their own power and the furtherance of their own
interests. This discovery seems to date from the time of the
Crusades. The crusading-indulgences, granted at first only to
those who actually went to the Holy War, subsequently to those
also who contributed to the expense of the expedition, were
virtually the acceptance of this work as a substitute for any
penance which the Church might otherwise require. As zeal for the
Crusades began to wane, the indulgences were used more and more
freely to stimulate lagging interest; their number was greatly
increased, and those who purchased the indulgences with money far
outnumbered those who actually took the Cross. Failing in their
purpose as an incentive to enlistment in the crusading armies,
they showed their value as a source of income, and from the
beginning of the XIV. Century the sale of indulgences became a
regular business.
About the same time a new kind of indulgence arose to take the
place of the now somewhat antiquated crusading-indulgence. This
was the Jubilee-indulgence, and had its origin in the Jubilee of
1300. By the Bull Antiquorum Habet Fide, Boniface VIII. granted
to all who would visit the shrines of the Apostles in Rome during
the year 1300 and during each succeeding centennial year, a
plenary indulgence.[14] Little by little it became the custom to
increase the number of these Jubilee-indulgences. Once in a
hundred years was not often enough for Christians to have a
chance for plenary forgiveness, and at last, unwilling to deprive
of the privileges of the Jubilee those who were kept away from
Rome, the popes came to grant the same plenary indulgence to all
who would make certain contributions to the papal treasury.[15]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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