Sunday, November 8, 2009

Johannes von Staupitz


Commemoration of Johannes von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor
November 8, 2009

The Lord be with you

Today, on the Church Calendar used in the LCMS, has been set aside to commemorate Johannes von Staupitz (ca. 1469-1524). Born in Saxony, he was the vicar-general of the Augustinian Order in Germany and friend of Martin Luther. He studied at the universities in Leipzig and Colonge and served on the faculty at Cologne. In 1503, he was called by Frederick the Wise to serve as dean of the theological faculty at the newly founded University of Wittenberg. There Staupitz encouraged Luther to attain a doctorate in theology and appointed Luther as his successor to professor of Bible at the university. During Luther’s early struggles to understand God’s grace, it was Staupitz who counseled Luther to focus on Christ and not on himself.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert

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