Luther Page #3

And Albert could be

a minor blessing in that.

He offers 10,000 ducats

for Mainz.

But Albert is bankrupt.

You're well-informed.

The Fuggers will

lend him the money.

The imperial bankers?

An eight-year loan.

And how

would he repay them?

John Tetzel.

There, that's him!

Father John Tetzel!

Don't unfurl the banners

until the fire ignites.

Everything has been prepared

exactly as you instructed.

Welcome, Father Tetzel!

Come on, people!

Gather round!

Good people of Juterbog...

have you ever burned

your hand in the fire?

Even one finger

made raw by the flame

will torment you

throughout the night.

Is it not so?

Yes!

Imagine, then,

your entire body burning.

Not for one sleepless night...

not for a week,

but for all eternity!

Are we to be spared

the fires of damnation

on the Judgment Day?

Tonight, your Pope,

the vicar of Christ, sends you a gift,

a gift to save you

from such fires,

a special indulgence granted

for the building

of Saint Peter's Church in Rome...

where the bones

of the apostles lie moldering,

exposed to wind and rain,

desecrated by wild animals.

Take heed the words

of your Holy Father who says,

"Lay a stone for Saint Peter's,

"and you lay the foundation

for your own salvation

and happiness in heaven."

How? With this indulgence.

When? Tonight,

and only tonight.

Seek the Lord while he is near.

Here is your raft.

Take hold!

In Heaven, there is

a treasure chest filled with merit.

Merit from Christ Jesus,

the Virgin Mary, and the saints,

who, through their holy lives,

have merit to spare

for us poor sinners in need.

Tonight, that treasury

is open to you.

Do you not hear their voices,

the screaming voices?

Your deceased parents.

Grandparents.

Uncles, aunts screaming.

Beloved child.

Beloved child.

Because, for a few coins,

you can rescue them

from their punishments and pain.

Listen.

Open your ears.

Father calling to son,

mother to daughter.

When a coin

in the coffer rings,

the soul

from Purgatory springs.

God-fearing man,

do you have a coin for Christ?

Yes.

Gentle mother...

when the time comes,

make certain your crippled child

can run to Jesus.

These learned monks

are standing by

to write down your name

or the name of a loved one,

dead or alive, on this...

your passport to

the celestial joys of Paradise.

Name?

We can preach

until we're hoarse,

but if we cannot bring the Christ

of the Gospels to our people...

...what do we offer them?

Dr. Martin!

I did this for Grete.

Issued by

the Archbishop of Mainz.

Where did you get this?

Juterbog.

I bought it in the church.

It's just paper, Hanna.

These words mean...

nothing.

It's no good?

You must put your trust

in God's love.

Save your money

to feed Grete.

"To Albert of Mainz.

"father in Christ

and most illustrious prince.

"forgive me that I should

dare to write to you.

"I make bold

because it is my duty to serve you

"and to warn you

of the crooked practices

of those wlo claim

to represent Your Grace."

"Christ did not commmmand

the preaching of indulgences.

but of tle Gospel."

Forward this to Rome.

"Christians are to be taught

"that he who gives to the poor

"or lends to the needy

does a better deed than he

who buys indulgences."

"If the Pope

can empty Purgatory,

why would he not do so

out of love rather than for money?"

My God, who is this Martin Luther?

Fritz!

What?

Dr. Luther wanted

everyone to see that!

And everyone will.

Good people of Magdeburg,

take hold of the raft

while you still can.

So much grace

for so little coin!

German money

for the German church.

Does Saint Peter lie

in a German church?

Or Saint Paul?

We don't need your saints.

Or any of the holy apostles?

With this indulgence,

I can absolve any sin.

I can even save the soul of the man

who violates

the mother of God herself.

One-fifth of the usual take.

How will you

explain this to Rome?

Damn that heretic!

He will burn in hell.

This drunken little German monk

is intoxicated with himself.

Sober him.

Why was Prince Frederick

not apprised

of your letter

to Albert of Mainz?

Why?

I did not want him compromised.

Now our prince

can swear before God

he had no knowledge

of my writings

or my criticism

of the Archbishop.

Criticism of the Archbishop?

What of your criticism of Rome?

Do you have any idea

how embarrassing this is

to Prince Frederick,

his prize professor of theology

drawing condemnation

from the Pope?

My criticism was not

of the Holy Father himself,

but of those rogues

who claim to represent him.

You have been summoned

to appear by Rome.

You are threatened

with excommunication.

But I'm a loyal son

of the church!

I don't believe the Pope

would issue such a summons.

Welcome to the world

of politics, Doctor.

Martin...

Lay low.

Do not write

a single word to anyone

until I have a chance

to sort this out.

They've already published

my explanations of the 95 Theses.

I dedicated it to Pope Leo.

Clearly, clearly

you've heard the rumors...

that the Pope has

summoned me to Augsburg.

Well, it's true.

It's true, and I pray fervently

he will find no fault with me.

But think on this

while I am gone.

We obsess...

over relics.

Indulgences.

Pilgrimages to holy places.

Yet all the time,

all the time, there is Christ.

Christ. Christ, here...

in every corner,

in every hour of the day.

He isn't found

in the bones of saints...

but here,

in your love for each other,

in your love for one another...

in His sacraments,

and in God's holy word.

If we, if we live the word,

by faith...

in love

and service to one another,

we need fear

no man's judgment.

Good to see you.

Thank you.

Martin, the faculty

stands behind you.

I have written a letter of protest,

and I'll be the first to sign

should they arrest you in Augsburg.

Thank you, Carlstadt.

Thank you.

Bless you. Bless you.

Father.

Are you in trouble?

What happens now?

I honestly don't know.

Well...

Father, thank you.

Thank you, Father.

Just try to keep

your big mouth shut.

Father.

She wants you to know

that she prays for you every night.

Father.

Have I.?

Have I caused you trouble too?

I'm here

to get you through this.

They've stopped

Tetzel from preaching.

He's in Leipzig

under house arrest.

That's a good sign, isn't it?

That means that Rome must understand.

It just means he went too far.

Martin.

Martin, listen to me.

Cardinal Cajetan

didn't bring you here

to teach him the Scriptures.

I beg you in God's name

to have a care.

Be temperate.

Don't talk, just listen.

Your life

could depend on it.

He's waiting for you.

I am Girolamo Aleander,

representing Cardinal Cajetan.

Your meeting won't take long.

I'm here to prepare you for tonight.

Please.

Sit.

It was never my intention

to say anything against

the honor and the dignity

of our Holy Father.

Of course not, Brother Martin.

And that being the case,

that we all desire peace,

you only have to follow a few

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