Martin Luther, German theologian and religious reformer, was the founding figure of the Protestant Reformation, the break with the Catholic Church, which in many ways marks the beginning of modern Europe. A well-spoken preacher and great writer, Luther attacked many abuses of the Catholic Church, especially the papacy. The source of his spiritual revelation was not political or institutional but came from his internal conflict of conscience. Like other people of his time, Luther was horrified that God would ultimately reject him for his sins. He found a word in the Bible called “Law” that added to his terror, but he also discovered a word called “Gospel,” the good news and promise of mercy in Christ, which dispelled all his worries. By his words and actions, Luther provoked action that reformulated some inchoate Christian beliefs and the division of the Western Church between the Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions. He is one of the most influential people in the history of Christianity. Luther began his education at a Latin school in Mansfield. There he received training in the Latin language and learned the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and morning and evening prayers. In 1497 Luther was sent to a school in Magdeburg run by the Brothers of the Common Life, a lay monastic group whose focus on personal piety had a lasting influence on him. In 1501 he enrolled at the University of Erfurt, the best university in Germany at the time. Luther took liberal arts courses and earned his baccalaureate degree in 1502. Three years later he earned his master's degree. Since Luther graduated from the Faculty of Arts, he could choose to pursue graduate work in one of three disciplines: law, medicine, or theology. Due...... middle of paper...... without needing good works and definitely not paying money to the Catholic Church. According to Luther, it is enough to believe in Christ and his works to be justified. Christ is righteous and his works are perfect and Christ is the object of our faith. As long as Christ is present in our lives and we place our faith in Him and simply believe the promises that come with the gospel, God imputes justice to sinners, justice that we sinners do not deserve (Peters 2005). Tradition says that the reform began on 31 October 1517 when Luther nailed 95 theses to the church door in contrast to the practice of selling indulgences. Annoyed by Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar who preached indulgence. Tetzel was chosen as inquisitor for Poland (1509) and later for Saxony. His skills as a preacher of indulgences attracted the attention of Albert, archbishop of Mainz