Theology You Should Know

We commemorate Reformation Day on October 31, for on this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses outlining corruption in the Church to the door of the Wittenberg Church, sparking the Protestant Reformation. The Reformation recovered and clarified the great doctrines of grace and purified the Church from error.

The doctrine of transubstantiation of the Eucharist came to prominence in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Using the language of Greek philosopher Aristotle Medieval Scholastics formulated the doctrine, and Christ’s body and blood became present in the Mass. He came not only to those present, but also for those in Purgatory. Receiving its name in the twelfth century, Purgatory was the intermediate state where Christians would be purified of all remaining sinfulness before they could enter heaven.