Commemoration of Fredrick the Wise, Christian Ruler
National Day of Prayer
May 5, 2011
The Lord be with you
Who was Fredrick the Wise? He was the elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, making him Martin Luther’s sovereign in the early years of the Reformation. Were it not for Frederick, there might not have been a Lutheran Reformation. Born in Torgau, Germany, in 1463, Frederick became so well known for his skill in political diplomacy and his sense of justice and fairness that he was called “the Wise” by his subjects. Although he never met Luther, Frederick repeatedly protected and provided for him. In all likelihood, he saved the reformer from a martyr’s fate when he refused the pope’s demand to extradite Luther to Rome for a heresy trial in 1518. When Emperor Charles V declared Luther an outlaw in 1521 at the Diet of Worms, Frederick provided sanctuary for Luther at Wartburg Castle. On his deathbed, Frederick received the Lord’s Supper in both kinds—a clear confession of the evangelical faith.
The information was found in the Treasury of Daily Prayer, published by Concordia Publishing House.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
No comments:
Post a Comment