Catholics: What do you think is the one good (best) thing resulting from the "reformation"

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i feel that the best thing about what martin luther did was he got people to focus on the mercy of God - and not so much on His justice… which none of us can pass through (St. Faustina…). Of course, he went too far… (as far as the erroneous concept of Once Saved Always Saved) but Protestants in the years since have had a lot of time to correct many of his errors…

and have to some extent…
 
distracted said:
I feel that the best thing about what martin luther did was he got people to focus on the mercy of God - and not so much on His justice…
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This makes a lot of sense. The Old Testament, in particular focused early and often on the wrath of God.

In the Gospels, Christ teaches mercy and forgiveness, while at the same time, reminding people of the consequences.

Since the reformation, there is and has been more focus on Divine Mercy, as opposed to sheer wrath. Even moreso since Vatican II.

This may be a stumbling block for some who might prefer a return to a hell, fire, and brimstone, wrath of God, way of faith.
 
He introduced the element of individual judgment into Christianity. It’s good, in theory, but rather disasterous in practice. Therefore, I can’t really praise Luther for that. He also emancipated the individual Christian to work hard for personal gain, thus helping create the powerful ‘Protestant work ethic’. Again, I’m hesitant to praise Luther for that as well. Nonetheless, these innovations have achieved some good, I would imagine. Last but not least, he scared the corrupt Medieval Church straight, which of course was a great deed.
 
distracted said:
i feel that the best thing about what martin luther did was he got people to focus on the mercy of God - and not so much on His justice… which none of us can pass through (St. Faustina…). Of course, he went too far… (as far as the erroneous concept of Once Saved Always Saved) but Protestants in the years since have had a lot of time to correct many of his errors…

and have to some extent…
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I dont like the question. It’s like what was good that came out of the holocaust. I mean with all acts, even if they are bad, some good will come out of it. I mean one could argue that certain abuses that people, within the Catholic church, were committing were brought to the surface. I am not sure if they were corrected based on what happened from the reformers. That being said the reformation was a horrible horrible eveil movement which divided Christianity helped many souls to eternal dmanation.
 
distracted said:
i feel that the best thing about what martin luther did was he got people to focus on the mercy of God - and not so much on His justice… which none of us can pass through (St. Faustina…). Of course, he went too far… (as far as the erroneous concept of Once Saved Always Saved) but Protestants in the years since have had a lot of time to correct many of his errors…

and have to some extent…
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Just to correct one part of this, luther didn’t teach OSAS…that is something that some small portion of non-Catholics believe and it came about much later than luther.
I am Catholic btw, just want us to discuss issues accurately.

As for the OP, I would have to noodle on that awhile…many of the things that seemingly came because of the reformation were already being addressed within the Church.
 
Luther very rightly pointed out abuses of the Church at the time, then very wrongly ran off, and participated in a schismatic church named after him.
 
The best thing that came out of the Reformation?:hmmm:

Let me think

I’ve got it Christian unity:extrahappy:

No, sorry my mistake on that one

hum,

I know, increased belief in the Real Presence:thumbsup:

Whoops wrong on that one too, gee this is tough.

I know, I’ve got it

More devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Saints:dancing:

What, wrong again???:confused:

Hold on a minute, I’ll get it, I know there must be something good that came out of it

There must be, there has to be

But you know for the life of me I can’t think of anything except they stopped the outright sale of indulgences.

So I guess that was the best thing, heck the only good thing that came out of it.
 
An understanding that salvation is dependent upon God and not meeting institutional requirements.
 
Aramis said:
Luther very rightly pointed out abuses of the Church at the time, then very wrongly ran off, and participated in a schismatic church named after him.
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That should be the best answer. Luther was good about pointing out other people’s mistakes but when it came to those same people pointing out his mistakes, he couldn’t take it.
 
Aramis said:
Luther very rightly pointed out abuses of the Church at the time, then very wrongly ran off, and participated in a schismatic church named after him.
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Can’t agree. He developed and taught at Wittenburg University a theology incompatible with Catholicism well before launching the Reformation (priesthood of all believers, sola scriptura, salvation by faith alone). He wasn’t ‘transformed’ into a rebel by the Church. He formulated his own theology based on his overwhelming sense of personal sin and his legalistic train-of-thought. He trained to become a lawyer before joining the priesthood (like Paul and Augustine, his intellectual forefathers).🙂
 
onetimeposter said:
An understanding that salvation is dependent upon God and not meeting institutional requirements.
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What if God came up with those requirements? You know, to belong to the Body of Christ through baptism of water the Holy Spirit, to obey Him and His commandments, to respond to His grace with faith working through love, to eat His Body and drink His Blood, etc.?
 
KingAlfred said:
Last but not least, he scared the corrupt Medieval Church straight, which of course was a great deed.
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yes, but i don’t believe the entire Church was corrupt… In fact, i know it wasn’t… As alwyas, thoruhgout history, it was only a few men who were corrupt… and if those men were in high places, it was disastrous… but the “average” Catholic will always, if no one else, be the ones who keep the Church holy… and onward-marching.
 
charlesbarkley said:
I dont like the question. It’s like what was good that came out of the holocaust. I mean with all acts, even if they are bad, some good will come out of it. I mean one could argue that certain abuses that people, within the Catholic church, were committing were brought to the surface. I am not sure if they were corrected based on what happened from the reformers. That being said the reformation was a horrible horrible eveil movement which divided Christianity helped many souls to eternal dmanation.
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something bothered me and that is why i asked this question…

In the 11th century (?) St. Leonard said that some saint died… and appeared to him (i think that was how it went)… told him that when he died, 33,000 other people died at the same time. Only 1 went directly to Heaven (St. Bernard), 2 went to Purgatory and all the rest fell into Hell…

However, later in history, Mary, in her apparitions says that “Today, more people go to Purgatory (although many still go to Hell), very few go directly to Heaven.”

So i started wondering whta changed?? I thougth about the so-called Reformation becasue at least M. Luther taught about the mercy of God… Yes, he went way too far in depending on God (alone. minus good works) to save him… but i believe Catholics can often go too far the OTHER way… and begin to (at least act as though or) think that their salvation depends almost soley on their works… and as the Bible says, our rightousness is as filthy rags…"

so i am just trying to figure somehitng out. Also, St. Faustina was told by Christ that He wnts people to trust in his mercy… He said that no one could pass through his justice…

I also wonder if the guy who said that about all those people going to Hell… Maybe he saw the lowest parts of Purgatory as being “hell” so he just called that Hell… ??? I don’t know. But the lowest levels of Purgatory are supposed to be very painful… just like Hell except that it ends… So maybe that is what the problem is??

Also, with Protestantism came ignorance… of Christ… and God judges us by what we know or don’t know… So maybe more people get into Purgatory these days out of ignorance than anything else???
To whom more is given, more is required… Protestants are not “given” all of Christ… (??)

:hypno: :hmmm: :coffeeread: :hmmm:
 
In my opinion two good things resulted. First of all people became more conscious about their loyalty and attachment to a particular Faith whether Catholic or Non-Catholic. Secondly I think that many of us, certainly not all, owe a debt of gratitude to protestantism for an increased emphasis on knowing God and having a relationship as opposed to “knowing about God.” Other than that there is little doubt that the reformation really screwed up many lives both then and now.
 
distracted said:
Also, with Protestantism came ignorance… of Christ:
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It seems to me that Protestants are not ignorant, rather the protestants focus on a personal relationship with Christ, rather than the Catholic view of an institutional relationship with Christ.
 
distracted said:
something bothered me and that is why i asked this question…

In the 11th century (?) St. Leonard said that some saint died… and appeared to him (i think that was how it went)… told him that when he died, 33,000 other people died at the same time. Only 1 went directly to Heaven (St. Bernard), 2 went to Purgatory and all the rest fell into Hell…

However, later in history, Mary, in her apparitions says that “Today, more people go to Purgatory (although many still go to Hell), very few go directly to Heaven.”

So i started wondering what changed??
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What may have changed is that the first generation or so of protestants would have been formal heretics, whereas generations that followed would not have known any better. I think the term might be “material heretics.” Pure off the top of my skull speculation. 🤷
 
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