It might seem strange to celebrate a big bust up that has lasted centuries and led to much suffering. I would love to explain to you why I think the Reformation is worth celebrating with my children. First I’d like to let Hilary Mantel do some of the explaining on my behalf. I don’t know if you have read or watched Wolf Hall. I loved the book but the first episode of the TV series made me sob so I gave up, however I intend to try again at some point.
Here is a quote from the book about the difference it makes to have the Bible in your own language, compared to relying on church traditions and on priests telling you what to do:
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There is an obdurate winter ahead. But [Cromwell] feels a force ready to break, as spring breaks from the dead tree. As the word of God spreads, the people’s eyes are opened to new truths. Until now, like Helen Barre, they knew Noah and the Flood, but not St Paul. They could count over the sorrows of our Blessed Mother, and say how the damned are carried down to Hell. But they did not know the manifold miracles and sayings of Christ, nor the words and deeds of the apostles, simple men who, like the poor of London, pursued simple wordless trades. The story is much bigger than they ever thought it was. He says to his nephew Richard, you cannot tell people just part of the tale and then stop, or just tell them the parts you choose. They have seen their religion painted on the walls of churches, or carved in stone, but now God’s pen is poised, and he is ready to write his words in the books of their hearts.
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Since the Reformation in Europe, common people like me have been able to read the Bible for themselves in a language they understand. We’ve been able to learn the whole story, not just the bits chosen for stained-glass windows. Praise God.
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