Jus Hus: Reformer

Today the Church remembers the life and ministry of Jan Hus, an early reformer of the Church.  He was born in Bohemia in the year 1371.  He received his Master’s degree from Charles University in Prague in 1396.  He became a professor of theology in 1398, and Hus was ordained to the priesthood in 1400.  In 1402, he was made head of the university he graduated from.

Hus took an active role in the movement for reform in the church by attacking the morals of the priest, the bishops and the pope from his pulpit. His archbishop, Zbyněk Zajíc, was lenient with Hus; he even appointed him as preacher to the meeting of bishops.

It was a time of extreme turmoil in the Roman Catholic Church.  Since 1378 there were 2 pope’s fighting for power.  Then in an effort to end the controversy, they elected a third pope in 1409, Alexander V. This did not succeed; it did not end loyalty to the other two popes.

Hus continued to fight for ethical reform within the Church, but he met with great opposition.  One of the things which Hus opposed was the sale of indulgences.  Their sale in Bohemia was approved by King Wenceslas, who shared in the proceeds from the sale of the indulgences. Hus publicly denounced these indulgences before the university and, by so doing, lost the support of King Wenceslas. This was to prove fatal to him. Hus’s enemies then renewed his trial at the Curia, where he was declared under major excommunication for refusing to appear and an interdict was pronounced over Prague or any other place where Hus might reside, thereby denying certain sacraments of the church to communicants in the interdicted area. In order to spare the city the consequences, Hus voluntarily left Prague in October 1412. He found refuge mostly in southern Bohemia.  His enemies wrote a large number of polemical treatises against him, which he answered in an equally vigorous manner. The most important of his treatises was De ecclesia (The Church).

Ultimately Hus was tried and found guilty of heresy.  He was burned at the stake in 1415.

The life and death of Jan Hus is a vivid reminder that there have always been controversies in the Church, and sometimes these controversies have been quite ungodly.  Such things are, alas, inevitable given that we are all sinners.  It is by God’s grace alone that we are saved.

Let us pray:  Faithful God, you gave Jan Hus the courage to confess your truth and recall your Church to the image of Christ: Enable us, inspired by his example, to bear witness against corruption and never cease to pray for our enemies, that we may prove faithful followers of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS IN SESSION IN INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.  Let us pray for all Bishops, Delegates and observers gathered to take council in the Episcopal Church: O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

SUMMER ART SERIES AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S: 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturdays

         July 7: Signs and symbols found in all cultures, make your own sign

         July 14: Guardian Angels – guest artist Mary Ann Hasty, Native American

         July 21: Mandela's, African Shields

         July 28: Collage and the art of Mexico

PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550