May 30 in Christian History.
Jerome of Prague is remembered as one of the first martyrs of the reformation in a dark time of corruption and confusion in the church. While he is credited with incredible courage, his story his one of fighting and conquering his own fear.
He was born more than a century before Martin Luther would trigger the wide-spread reformation. Jerome was a Czeck student of theology who became good friends with his countryman, Jan Hus. Together, the two traveled throughout eastern Europe preaching and debating. They condemned the corruption that was gripping the church at the time. Jerome particularly despised the church’s practice of selling indulgences—certificates of forgiveness of sins that were sold in exchange for money. Jerome and Hus were routinely exiled from various regions but would always move to a new location and begin again.
In Prague, they famously said in a debate that Christians are bound to obey the laws of Christ, and that they should not bow to the pope’s wishes when in conflict with the word of God. They then burned the Papal edict on indulgences in front of the cheering crowds. This infuriated the popes (as it happens, there were two rival popes at this time), and a council was called partly to address the problem of Hus and Jerome (and also to resolve the double-pope issue).
The council met in Constance, in 1414, and summoned Hus to appear before the council under imperial protection. Hus agreed, and made the journey to southern Germany. Worried about what might happen to his friend, Jerome secretly traveled to Constance to attend the council. However, realizing that there was no way to help his friend and afraid of being discovered, he fled the city.
Before he could escape Constance, Jerome was identified and arrested. Meanwhile, Hus refused to recant before the council and was burned for heresy in violation of the protection promised him. Jerome was moved to despair by his friend’s death.
When Hus’s execution failed to quell his followers, the church leaders wanted nothing more than for Jerome to recant his beliefs publicly. They reasoned that this would dishearten the rebellious non-conformists more than an execution. For more than a year, Jerome suffered horrible mistreatment in prison.
The starving and tortured preacher finally despaired of all hope and courage. He denied his beliefs and bowed to the wishes of the Catholic church. He was then dragged before the council to declare his submission publicly.
Before the Catholic authorities that had only just murdered his friend, Jerome renounced his recantation. He stated: “Of all the sins that I have committed since my youth, none weigh so heavily on my mind and cause me such poignant remorse as that which I have committed in this fatal place.”
Knowing that it would lead to a torturous death, Jerome pledged his support of Jan Huss and his teachings. The fearful preacher stood before the entire Catholic world and defied the power of the Pope as well as that of his own weakness.
Jerome of Prague was quickly sentenced to death, and was burned four days later, on May 30, 1416.
Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.