Bio of Ignatius Loyola who was BornThis Week in Christian History for the week of October 20-26th 2013

Ignatius Loyola was born a wealthy family in the Basque region of Spain. He joined the army and fought many duels, including one with a Moor that denied the divinity of Jesus, who he ended up killing. He successfully endured battles with no injury. It was when he was defending the fortress of Pamplona that things changed. The French had cannons, they did not. Ignatius argued that they should not surrender until they could withstand no more, anything else would disgrace them, this was not popular with the other troops. He was wounded when his legs were hit by a cannonball.

After the battle Ignatius was sent to one of his families castles to recover. While recovering he would spend a lot of time reading, but there were not many books on knights errant that he enjoyed since he was a boy. He only had religious texts to read. He experienced a profound religious conversion, gave away his riches, and undertook a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He formulated “The Spiritual Exercises” which is still used today.

Upon reaching Jerusalem he was told to go home by the Franciscans there, one reason was because of his lack of education. He went to Paris University. It was there that he form what would be known as The Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.
For more information on the Jesuits, read my blog The Jesuits were formed

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past

It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

 Thank you for reading.

 

Martin Luther refuses to recant his 95 thesis on October 12th, 1518 -This Week in Christian History for the week of October 6th-12th

Martin Luther was born on the 10^th of November 1483. His father wanted him to become a lawyer and sent him to college to pursue that occupation. He enrolled at Erfurt and changed his focus to philosophy, although he found not to be what he was looking for. During a ride home he was caught in a thunderstorm and a lightning bolt struck a nearby tree.

He entered into a monastery and began to fast and pray trying to earn his way into heaven, but always found that he was still a sinner. His superior pointed him to salvation by grace. He was ordained into the priesthood and earned a doctorate in theology. He taught at the University of Wittenberg where he had earned his degree.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

The archbishop didn’t respond to the letter, but sent it to Rome. The pope responded slowly and deliberately. He eventually sent legate Cardinal Cajetan to try and arrest him. The trial broke down into a shouting match. Luther slipped away in the night. 

The rest of Martin Luther’s story can be found in my new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past It is also available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. It is a collection of biographies of Martin Luther, Francis of Assisi, John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, and Thomas Becket.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

Thank you for reading.

 

 

 

Bio of Saint Jerome who died on the 30th of September 430-This Week in Christian History for the week of September 29- October 5

Jerome was born Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus around 347 in Stridon. He went to Rome to pursue philosophy, but was alienated by the Hedonistic culture there. He would sometimes engage in the wanton behavior, but was always repentant afterwards. He wandered around the crypts of the martyrs and apostles and began to see their tombs as a picture of Hell.

He moved to Trier with his friend Bonosus and he started his theological studies. He travelled and became friends with many Christians. He became ill and two of his friends died. He was strongly affected by this and so he exclusively wrote on Christian topics. He went into the desert to live the life of a hermit and to study and write. He became associated with influential people, but was not popular in Rome because he did not hold back criticism of the clergy and forbade mourning of the dead in excess.

He was ordained a bishop and travelled through a few sees. It was during this time that he started on his greatest work, the Vulgate version of the Bible. It was written in the vulgar, or common form, of Latin. He was advised by many of his friends not to focus on the Hebrew and Greek texts, since the Septuagint was considered the best form of the Bible at the time. Jerome also wrote many commentaries on the Bible. He was also an accomplished historian who has written and also copied many important works. He died in the area around Bethlehem on September the 30^th, 430.

Come, tame a wolf, flee from the wrath of the king, feel the horror of impending doom on a ship, and the uncertainty of one’s own salvation with these great heroes of the faith.

I have excepts of the book on my website williamdeanhamilton.net,

Thank you for reading.

It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

Cluny Abbey was founded September 11, 910 - This Week in Christian History for the week of September 8-14, 2013

On 11^th September 910, William I, Duke of Aquitaine founded Cluny Abbey. He had gained power through inheritance and a series of wars and his lands stretched from Austrasia to Toulouse (in France). At the time most monasteries were privately owned, however he made the abbey responsible only to the pope. This meant that his family couldn’t nominate abbots and other officials.

William I nominated Berno as the first abbot of Cluny. Berno had been a monk at St. Martin’s Abbey and was later sent to Baume Abbey to reform it. He held Cluny Abbey to the Benedictine Rule. Although the rule would become the main rule of monasteries during the middle ages, it was not intended for monasteries in the modern sense of the word; it was intended to be a rule for communities.

This was the first of the Cluniac Reforms. The reforms were necessary because of widespread corruption in the Church. One of the most common was called Simony, or paying to receive sacraments. The most common form of this was to pay for a position within the church. Since a monastery required land, it needed to be sanctioned by the local lord. The lord would demand rights that interfered with religious duties. The lord might also want his associates and family appointed to posts.

The Cluniac Reforms spread through France and into England, Spain and Italy. In the end more than a thousand monasteries adopted the new format. This enabled the monasteries to follow the Rule of Saint Benedict more strictly.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

Bio of J. R. R. Tolkien - This Week in Christian History for the week of September 1-7

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3^rd 1892 in what would become South Africa. When he was a child he was bitten by a spider, which some speculate influenced his later works. After the death of his father, his family moved back to England where they moved around a lot. His mother, Mabel, joined the Catholic Church, much to the dismay of her Baptist family, who stopped supporting her and J. R. R..

Mabel died in 1904 when J. R. R. was only 12. He was raised by Father Morgan. He graduated with honors from Exeter College with an emphasis on English and Literature. Tolkien met Edith, a protestant woman, whom his guardian vehemently objected to and forbade him to see her until he was 21. On turning 21 he professed his love, and they were married after she converted to Catholicism.

Tolkien joined the army after the outbreak of WWI, serving in trenches. His considerable health problems kept him from being in the field much of the time, and this probably saved his life. He wrote that all of his childhood friends but one had been killed. After the war he worked for The Oxford English Dictionary and then became a professor. It was while he was serving as a fellow at Pembroke College that he wrote “The Hobbit” and the first part of “The Lord of the Rings.” It took a few years to catch on and it was during the 60’s that he became wildly popular.

Tolkien was instrumental in converting C.S. Lewis to the Christian faith, although he was disappointed Lewis chose to join the Church of England. He was also a member of the Inklings, a literary group which had Christian tendencies. While Tolkien didn’t use the overt Christian themes that Lewis employed, the Bible influenced some of the scenes in his stories. Tolkien died on September 2, 1973.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

Bio of Augustine of Hippo - This Week in Christian History for the week of August 25-31

Augustine of Hippo was born in Thagaste Africa as a Roman citizen on November 13, 354. At age 11 he went to school and became familiar with philosophy and other Latin literature. His mother raised him a Christian, but he became a Manichaeist, a popular religion at the time. Augustine moved to Carthage to continue his education. He sought relationships with women and it was at this time he said his prayer, “Grant me chastity and continence, but not yet.”

He began an affair with a woman in Carthage and was with her for 13 years, and had a son with her. Augustine began to teach at Carthage, but was disturbed by the behavior of the students there and moved to Rome. After being disappointment by the students there he secured a position as a professor of rhetoric at the imperial court. He began to drift towards Christianity, and his mother arraigned a marriage for him, although the girl was only 11 at the time. He broke off the engagement before the girl became of age.

Augustine heard a childlike voice which told him to read a passage from Romans and became saved. He and his son were baptized and he moved back to his family estate in Africa. His mother passed away on the trip and his son joined her soon after. Augustine sold all of the estate and gave the money to the poor. He kept the house where he started a monastery for a group of friends.

Augustine became a priest and then a bishop. He spent all of his time trying to convert the people of Hippo, especially those who had adopted the Manichaeism.  Augustine died on August 25th 430 during a siege of Hippo by the Vandals. The Vandals would eventually burn the town, except for Augustine’s cathedral and library.

Augustine is most remembered for his books, which were important in shaping Western philosophy. His “City of God” and “Confessions” are still popular today. His views on original sin and just war shaped views for centuries. Even Protestants view him as being theologically important due to his teachings on grace and salvation.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

The Jesuits - This Week in Christian History for the week of August 11-17

Ignatius of Loyola and six other students founded a group they called “The Company of Jesus” at Paris University on August 15th 1534.  Ignatius had gone to the university because he had tried to preach on his own, but had come under scrutiny by the Inquisition. The only fault they found in him was his lack of education. It might have been this lesson that helped to make education a central focus of their later work.

They went to Pope Paul II to gain approval, which they received. The group eventually became “The Society of Jesus,” or as it is known, the Jesuits. They wanted to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but were prevented from doing so by war. They concentrated on preaching and helping the poor. The group became an official order and Ignatius, as the head of the order, sent them throughout Europe to found schools. They also sent missionaries around the globe to preach the Gospel to those who had not heard it.

After a few years they added to their mission to try and stop the wave of Protestantism that had sprung up. The Jesuits saw the need to reform the Catholic Church, but saw the individual as key to achieving that end. They were vigilant against corruption, and this had made their popularity with pope and others vary considerably. These efforts helped to win back converts to Catholicism, especially in Poland and Lithuania. Jesuits became important members of Royal courts and most Catholic kings had a Jesuit confessor.

The school network was a resounding success. They had a reputation as being some of the best colleges for the time. They offered an education that was wider in scope than most of the other colleges. Today there are Jesuit schools in over a hundred countries.

Jesuits have been controversial at times. They have been accused of having too much power, especially when they were confessors to kings, and have even been outlawed by the pope for a few years. The Jesuits have survived and have had a positive influence on the Catholic Church overall.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

The Great Schism (Eastern-Western) - This Week in Christian History for the week of July 14-20

The Great Schism (Eastern-Western) was when the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church split apart. The date that is chosen, 1054 July 16^th, is when Pope Leo IX sent legates to deliver the excommunication of Michael Cærularius, Patriarch of Constantinople. The Patriarch, the head of the eastern church, reacted by excommunicating the legates. This was not the beginning of the story.

When Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, he gave more authority to the sees of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem.  The Roman Empire was sometimes one country, but at other times it was divided into eastern and western halves. During his reign Constantine effectively moved the capital of Rome to Constantinople in the East.

In the fourth century the emperor took control of the church and the local bishop (in Constantinople) was made Patriarch. This title in time came to mean that his see was considered second, only behind Rome in eminence. The other sees protested this, especially Rome. During this time Rome increasingly saw itself as being the head of the other churches. Then the Roman Empire was permanently split and the former eastern portion of the Roman Empire became the Byzantine Empire. This helped create further differences between the two churches.

After the fall of the Roman Empire to Germanic tribes, the Byzantine Emperor declared to have complete authority over the church, but acknowledged he could not influence the church in the former western half of the empire. After the fall of the empire a greater language barrier grew. The western half spoke Latin and the eastern spoke Greek. Most educated men spoke both before the fall, but after the fall very few would learn both languages. Theology and rituals gradually drifted apart. Three of the original five sees fell to Muslim Arabs, thus leaving the two great sees of Rome and Constantinople.

Years after this happened the mutual excommunication took place. Afterwards the churches have largely gotten along, but did not recognize each other’s councils, which was not all that different than what it was like for years before the schism. In 1965 Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I met to declare an end to the schism.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.

The Jesuits - This Week in Christian History for the week of August 11-17

Ignatius of Loyola and six other students founded a group they called “The Company of Jesus” at Paris University on August 8^th 1534.  Ignatius had gone to the university because he had tried to preach on his own, but had come under scrutiny by the Inquisition. The only fault they found in him was his lack of education. It might have been this lesson that helped to make education a central focus of their later work.

They went to Pope Paul II to gain approval, which they received. The group eventually became “The Society of Jesus,” or as it is known, the Jesuits. They wanted to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but were prevented from doing so by war. They concentrated on preaching and helping the poor. The group became an official order and Ignatius, as the head of the order, sent them throughout Europe to found schools. They also sent missionaries around the globe to preach the Gospel to those who had not heard it.

After a few years they added to their mission to try and stop the wave of Protestantism that had sprung up. The Jesuits saw the need to reform the Catholic Church, but saw the individual as key to achieving that end. They were vigilant against corruption, and this had made their popularity with pope and others vary considerably. These efforts helped to win back converts to Catholicism, especially in Poland and Lithuania. Jesuits became important members of Royal courts and most Catholic kings had a Jesuit confessor.

The school network was a resounding success. They had a reputation as being some of the best colleges for the time. They offered an education that was wider in scope than most of the other colleges. Today there are Jesuit schools in over a hundred countries.

Jesuits have been controversial at times. They have been accused of having too much power, especially when they were confessors to kings, and have even been outlawed by the pope for a few years. The Jesuits have survived and have had a positive influence on the Catholic Church overall.

My new book, would you do what they did great Christian leaders from our past is now available to order from Amazon.com here is the link: Would You Do What They Did? - Great Christian Leaders From Our Past
It is also currently available at Barnes and nobles and should be available to order now or shortly from anywhere that sells books. The book is about Thomas Becket, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Francis of Assisi and is written in creative nonfiction style, I have excepts of the book here on my website williamdeanhamilton.net

Thank you for reading.