| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Disputation of the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences by Dr. Martin Luther: fidelium struit unam tantummodo Basilicam sancti Petri?
12. [87] Item. Quid remittit aut participat Papa iis, qui per
contritionem perfectam ius habent plenarie remissionis et
participationis?
13. [88] Item. Quid adderetur ecclesie boni maioris, Si Papa,
sicut semel facit, ita centies in die cuilibet fidelium has
remissiones et participationes tribueret?
14. [89] Ex quo Papa salutem querit animarum per venias magis quam
pecunias, Cur suspendit literas et venias iam olim concessas, cum
sint eque efficaces?
15. [90] Hec scrupulosissima laicorum argumenta sola potestate
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Maitre Cornelius by Honore de Balzac: religion, with its fine fanaticism, its naive superstitions, its
sublime devotions, which sympathized with those of Christianity.
The manners of that period will also serve to explain this alliance
between religion and love. In the first place society had no meeting-
place except before the altar. Lords and vassals, men and women were
equals nowhere else. There alone could lovers see each other and
communicate. The festivals of the Church were the theatre of former
times; the soul of woman was more keenly stirred in a cathedral than
it is at a ball or the opera in our day; and do not strong emotions
invariably bring women back to love? By dint of mingling with life and
grasping it in all its acts and interests, religion had made itself a
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: indeed without us support and make them rich, as He daily does. But for
this purpose He has given us children, and issued this command that we
should train and govern them according to His will, else He would have
no need of father and mother. Let every one know therefore, that it is
his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his
children above all things in the fear and knowledge of God, and if they
are talented, have them learn and study something, that they may be
employed for whatever need there is [to have them instructed and
trained in a liberal education, that men may be able to have their aid
in government and in whatever is necessary].
If that were done, God would also richly bless us and give us grace to
|
