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MAY

25, 735 --England. At Jarrow, the Venerable Bede dies. Best known for his Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, he has left an even greater work; for today after the constant encouragement of his servant, he has completed a translation of the Gospel of John in Anglo-Saxon, finishing it upon his deathbed. He has also composed the first historical Martyrologium. It is the original type of all others that will follow.

25, 1085 --Spain. Under the Moors, Toledo has been the center of Mohammedan power in Spain. Today, Alfonso VI, known as “the Valiant”, wrests the city from the Mohammedans and gives the name of New Castile to the region. The city will become a favorite place of residence to the Castilian monarchs.

25, 1328 --France. William of Occam was summoned to appear before the Pope at Avignon in December 1323. At that time he was imprisoned for preaching that John XXII was a heretic and not the true Pope and that the poverty of Christ and his Apostles was an article of faith. He has asserted the State and the rights of the Emperor are independent both of the Pope and of the Church. Today, he effects his escape from prison along with Michael of Cesena, and Bonagratia, and will flee to Italy.

25, 1728 --Italy. In 1726, Pope Benedict XIII renewed Gregory VII’s excommunication of Henry IV. Today it is memorialized in the prescribed “officio” by the Congregation of Rites. This excommunication on account of its bold language will be condemned by most European governments as a proclamation of the sovereignty of Papal authority over secular authority. But other Catholic states will soon take the same position. On April 29, 1730, Emperor Charles III of the Austrian Netherlands (Belgium) will he the first to follow, with Maria Theresa, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary, agreeing on June 9, 1750. In 1782, Emperor Joseph II of the Holy Roman Empire will renew it once again. However, on December 19, 1729, Pope Benedict XIII has declared all such secular decrees to be null and void.

25, 1778 --Germany. At Fahrstedt, South Ditmarsh (Sleswick-Holstein), Claus Harms is born. When he is twenty years of age he will enter the university of Kiel and there will study the writings of Immanuel Kant and Schleiermacher, but will realize Rationalism and Humanism cannot help him. He will thus be brought to a sense of his need for salvation, and will turn his attention to the Word of God. It wi11 be the Holy Scriptures that will effect his conversion.
     In 1817, the tri-centennial of the Reformation, he will publish the Ninety-Five Theses of Martin Luther, including ninety-five theses of his own, which he directs against the Rationalism in the Lutheran Church.
     “Conscience”, he declares, “cannot forgive since forgiveness belongs to God.”—Article
XI.
     “According to the old faith, God created man; according to the new faith, man creates God.”—Article XXVII.

26, 1521 --Germany. Martin Luther is declared an outlaw by the Pope’s representatives and is declared to be “Wanted: Dead or Alive.”

26-28, 1559 --France. At Paris, the first national synod of the Reformed Church in France is held.

26, 1700--Germany. In Dresden, Count Nicholas Ludwig Zinzendorf is born. He will grant refuge to Hussites fleeing persecution. On his estate the Moravian Church will be organized.

26, 1768 --Connecticut. Mr. Biel Ledoyt, formerly a leader in the “mirth and vanity” among young people here, has been awakened and converted through the preaching of a Baptist minister. Today he is ordained pastor of the Baptist Church at Woodstock. It will happen that during a revival here, his enemies will lay in wait to mob him as he comes to meeting, but he will happen to come on another road. Next, they will lay in wait on this road, but he, in the Providence of God, will come on the former road. The third time, they will waylay both roads, but Mr. Ledoyt will be Divinely guided to cross the fields. Thus he will be preserved from violence and abuse three times by the unseen Hand of God.
 

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