I DOUBT it happened much, but Catholic parishes SHOULD have celebrated yesterday...
Catholics know the ENORMOUS difference in their "popes" and generally Catholic clergy before and after the Reformation..... consider Pope Alexander VI compared to the current Pope Frances. The enormous shift happened because of Luther and the focus that happened on the horrible, entrenched corruption in the denomination: it suddenly and dramatically got corrected, and they mostly have Luther to thank for this.
Catholics (especially conservative/fundamentalist Catholics) know that before Luther, Catholic theology was very loosey-goosey, very often ignored as priests and bishops did and taught pretty much as they wanted. There were outright heresies winked at. All that changed with Luther. The RC Denomination began not only to define what it believed, but to teach this more intentionally to the clergy and even to the laity... and bishops actually became responsible for making sure that heresy was not being taught in the denomination's parishes by its clergy, indeed, the Catholicism was taught. The Catholic Church actually became Catholic in its actual teachings.... and as Catholics know, they have Luther to thank for this, he caused this paradigm shift.
And of course, the Lutheran Reformation not only brought about taught Catholic doctine but a lot of denominational unity. Of course, by far the three largest splits in Christian history were all the result of the RC Denomination (451, 1054, 1521) but as Catholics often know, the RCC itself was very divided: in practice, in doctrine, even structurally. Varies rites and societies strongly disagreed with each other in faith and practice, often strongly rebuking each other and even cases of violence between them broke out from time to time. Perhaps it was common enemy in Protestants.... perhaps it was a new found focus on Catholic theology.... perhaps it was the huge gain in papal power.... but the RC Denomination became somewhat united for the first time in history. But it was all brought about because of Martin Luther.
Other things too: Worship in the language of the people...... Bible studies and Confirmation classes..... people singing hymns (and the Catholic incorporation of LOTS of PROTESTANT hymns).... a MUCH, MUCH better trained and supervised clergy.... lay involvement.... all these things are a result of Martin Luther on the RC Denomination.
Martin Luther was a REFORMER and not a revolutionary (as many later Protestant leaders were); he never wanted the RCC to split itself... he loved many things about his denomination and felt that mostly the RCC got it right. But of course, the RCC never allowed anything he brought up to be discussed and simply kicked him out (and tried to kill him) but as it turns out, he DID radically change the RCC.... often in ways Catholics praise and rejoice in. Seems appropriate they thank the one responsibile for it: Martin Luther.
I would have LOVED to see Catholic celebrations of the Reformation and Luther but of course I didn't hold my breath.
I would have LOVED to see more Protestants celebrate the Reformation and Luther but that largely didn't happen either.
Maybe Christians (of all types) not knowing or caring about history and theology..... Maybe just a product of the pandemic of relativism found almost everywhere in Christianity today....
Pax Christi
- Josiah
