This year [2011] marks the 490th anniversary of the Reformer Martin Luther's attendance at the Imperial Diet/Council of Worms in 1521.
This imperial Diet/Council was called by Charles V, who was the newly crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. It commenced on 28th January and concluded, almost four months later, on 25th May 1521. The Emperor himself presided.
There were many significant events and occasions during the days of the Protestant Reformation and the Diet of Worms was certainly one of them. J.A.Wylie's History of Protestantism marks it down as a signal time in the battle between Protestantism and Romanism. At the time of this Diet Luther dealt Romanism a severe blow from which she has yet to recover.
The official separation between Luther and Romanism can be traced back to those days 490 years ago leading up to the Diet of Worms. Up until that time Luther was a Augustinian monk seeking reform within the Church. Afterwards he was a Reformer outside the church striking blow after blow against her edifice.
In considering those thrilling times we want to dwell upon three aspects of God's grace and goodness that are evident in Martin Luther's life leading up to, during, and after the Diet of Worms. |
