Europe in the Age of the Reformation

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Martin Luther

A Monks' Quarrel

This debate shaped up to be a doozy. In the first place, Luther was an Augustinian monk and Tetzel was a Dominican. There was a natural rivalry between the two orders that caused defenders to spring to both sides.

But, and this was characteristic of the man, Luther had raised the stakes considerably; some would say unnecessarily. Not only did he challenge the practice of indulgences, he challenged the right of popes to issue them, the entire theory of the Treasury of the Saints, and for good measure challenged the authority of the pope in several other areas as well.

The Dominicans came, the Augustinians came, and the debate was held. By all accounts it was both lively and inconclusive, with both sides going away claiming victory.

Luther continued his attacks of indulgences and papal privileges and powers of all sorts. His public sermons became immensely popular. When the business was brought to the attention of the pope, Leo X, he is famous for dismissing the whole affair as nothing more than a monks' quarrel. Leo is not the most admirable of popes, but he can perhaps be forgiven for this, for various monastic orders did quarrel, often and violently, and sometimes grew extreme in their arguments. It rarely signified much.