He knew only what had been passed down for generations through the tradition of Roman Catholicism and the myths of German paganism: God was angry and Jesus was a hard and impossible-to please Judge who delighted in sending men, women, and children to hell. Luther lay awake quivering many nights as a boy, afraid of […]

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Roberts Liardon tells us that the council agreed, declared him a valid pope in spirit only, and named him governor of Ancona in Italy. Benedict refused to resign. Robert Liardon tells us that when John XXIII fled, his jailers left the keys to Hus’ cell with Sigismund. At that moment, Sigismund could have released Hus. […]

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When the interdict was imposed on Prague, Hus was faced with a painful decision. Being such a dedicated pastor, Hus felt he would be a hireling if he left the sheep during trouble: A good shepherd always stayed with his flock. Roberts Liardon tells us that Hus was a shepherd. He was never so caught […]

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Roberts Liardon tells us that King Vaclav saw the election of yet another pope as his golden opportunity. He had a plan. He hoped that if he could align himself with the new pope, Alexander V, and gain his favor by taking a leading role in the schism, he might win back his right to […]

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