Texts & Studies: Hermann of Wied on Sacred Holidays & Feast Days
Greystone Texts & Studies publishes a wide variety of theological, biblical, historical, ethical, and ecclesiastical texts and brief studies, including translations of never before translated works. This is a resource created exclusively for Greystone Members to encourage the confessional and catholic endeavor of reading well and widely within the Church throughout all time.
Greystone’s fifth Text & Studies release is Hermann of Wied’s On Sacred Holidays & Feast Days, published in 1545.
Hermann of Wied (1477-1552) was the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne (1515-1546), an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire, and Prince-Bishop of Paderborn (1532-1547).¹ He was an opponent of Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms, but a quarrel with the papacy turned his mind to reform, first from within and Erasmian, then from without, as his evangelical sympathies became more pronounced. Hermann’s evangelical reform began in his own diocese, around 1536, with the help of his friend, Johann Gropper. During his evangelical reforms, he appointed Martin Bucer as his court preacher in Bonn and received advice from Phillip Melanchthon. Despite support from the Schmalkaldic League, reforms were set back by Emperor Charles V’s military victory and the lack of support among the people of Cologne. Hermann was deposed and excommunicated by Pope Paul III in 1546.
Hermann’s thought gives us an important insight into early evangelical reforms. He writes with the concerns of a pastor-theologian and bishop, and the administrative concerns of an elector and archbishop. We’ve translated this selection from Nostra Hermanni, “On Sacred Holidays and Feast Days,” to provide to the Church a short introduction on the question of evangelical feast days from a pivotal period of reform and transition. It should spark engaging conversations within our community and among friends of magisterial protestantism. You can find more resources on liturgy at Greystone Connect.
Notes:
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hermann of Wied". Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.