Reformation

Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada came from a family of Jews who converted to Catholicism. St. Teresa was canonized in 1622.

“By his helpful insights about his life and career as a church historian, Father O’Malley helps us to see how important are the times in which we live.”

A trio of new books explore, the way we react to the Reformation, even now, says nearly as much about how we see the church today as it does about the fissures of five centuries ago.

An estimated 400-500 people attended the historic joint worship service Nov. 5 at Our Lady of Victory in Fergus Falls. Titled “Lutherans and Catholics Together in Hope,” it was a blend of music, prayer, readings from Scripture, and reflections from both Lutheran Bishop Larry Wohlrabe and St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler.

When Martin Luther wrote his “Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” in 1517 — mostly challenging the Catholic Church’s sale of indulgences — and posted it on the Wittenberg Castle door, it forever changed the church and sparked the Protestant Reformation.

Members of the diocesan Presbyteral Council discussed possible ways to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 at their meeting June 21 at the Chancery in St. Cloud.