Background
In discussing the Reformation, it is necessary to consider the events that led up to it. Although the starting date of the Reformation is traditionally given as 31 October 1517, demands for change can be traced back more than a hundred years from that. The fourteenth century was a difficult time for the church, with a power struggle for papal succession between Italy and France and disagreements between the Holy Roman Emperors and Popes. We now turn to consider two significant figures who articulated the desire for reform.
John Wycliffe (c.1324-1384)
John Wycliffe was born in Yorkshire around 1324. He was educated at Oxford University and at some point between 1366 and 1372, received his doctorate in theology. Wycliffe's profile was raised when in 1374 he took part in a dispute between Pope Gregory XI and Edward III of England over tribute payments paid to the Pope. The dispute originally surfaced in 1365, when parliament declared that the Pope had no right to demand such payments and the matter was dropped. Wycliffe argued against the payments, and wrote several articles criticising the power of the church and supporting parliament.
Wycliffe published a work called De Civili Dominio arguing that the authority of any institution depended on grace, and thus could be forfeited when mortal sin was present in that institution.
Wycliffe began to deny the authority of the Pope and also Transubstantiation (the Roman Catholic doctrine that the Eucharistic bread and wine change into the actual body and blood of Christ upon consecration). As a result Wycliffe found himself losing support at Oxford. He also began to send out followers called Poor preachers, who went around the country spreading his views. His overall concern was to see the church imitate the life of Christ more clearly, with a life of a poverty and simplicity.
"The Church is the totality of those who are predestined to blessedness. It includes the Church triumphant in heaven and the Church militant or men on earth. No one who is eternally lost has part in it. There is one universal Church, and outside of it there is no salvation. Its head is Christ. No pope may say that he is the head, for he can not say that he is elect or even a member of the Church."
In 1378 Wycliffe worked on a translation of the bible into English, but the translation was rejected by the church as being unauthorised and therefore invalid. He also began to gather a group of followers around him, known as Lollards. Eventually in 1382, his teachings were condemned by a church court and Wycliffe was forced to leave Oxford. He settled in Lutterworth, Leicestershire and died in 1384. Because of his desire for reform of the church, Wycliffe is often called the 'Morning Star of the Reformation'. His views were to have a significant influence on Jan Hus, to whom we now turn:
Jan Hus (c.1370-1415)
Jan Hus was born in Bohemia (now called the Czech Republic). The writings of John Wycliffe came to be known in the region and Hus became deeply sympathetic to them. At the time the church was reeling under the Great Schism, with rival claimants to the Papacy. As with Wycliffe, Hus refused to accept papal supremacy and was excommunicated in 1410.
The followers of Hus put forth the doctrine of Utraquism , i.e. the view that both the bread and the wine should be given to all during the communion service, rather than restricting the wine to the clergy. This view was accepted and lasted until 1567.
The Great Schism lasted until 1414, when a church council was convened at Constance, Germany. Hus was tried at this council and convicted of heresy. When asked to recant, Hus replied:
"God is my witness that I have never taught that of which I have by false witnesses been accused. In the truth of the Gospel which I have written, taught, and preached, I will die today with gladness."
He was burnt at the stake, still protesting his innocence. In 1999, Pope John Paul II formally apologised for Hus's execution.
