JULY 16
IMPERIAL ELECTORS REFUSED TO CEDE THEIR DECISIONS TO THE POPE (1338)
“Let God look and judge. Videat Deus et judicet.”
http://greatschism.org/east-west-schism/
Faith is our business (1888)
He was amazed at their lack of faith —Mark 6:6 (NIV). Only two things made the dear Christ wonder! He marvelled at...
Events
1338
German princes and the electors of the Holy Roman Empire rally around Ludwig IV of Bavaria at Rense, declaring that an emperor’s authority comes directly from God, is awarded by the electors’ votes, and doesn’t need papal approval. Pope John XXII, warring against Ludwig through proxies, has claimed the right to approve whoever is chosen Holy Roman Emperor. Wishing to eliminate German influence over Italy, the pope has ordered Ludwig to resign and when he doesn’t, excommunicates him. Leading churchmen and scholars take Ludwig’s side, including William of Ockham, Marsilius of Padua, and John of Jandun. Later Ludwig will conquer Rome and establish a pope more to his liking.
Authority for the date: Hughes, Philip. A Short history of the Catholic Church. Burns & Oates Ltd, 1974.1410
Archbishop Zbynek of Prague has works of Wycliffe burned in Bohemia because they had been condemned by antipope Alexander V, whom Zbynek had recently accepted as the legitimate pope during the Papal Schism.
Authority for the date: Poole, Reginald Lane. Wycliffe and Movements for Reform. New York: Anson D. F. Rando1546
Anne Askew, a staunch Protestant, is burned for denying the doctrine of transubstantiation after weeks of being questioned and racked.
Authority for the date: Deen, Edith. Great Women of the Christian Faith. New York: Harper, 1959.1686
Death in Chester, England, of John Pearson, bishop of Chester, a careful scholar and systematic theologian with great knowledge of ancient writers. His most famous work was Exposition of the Creed.
Authority for the date: Dictionary of National Biography1769
Father Junipero Serra celebrates High Mass before a hewn wooden cross at San Diego, where he opens the first of nine missions in California. Other Spanish priests from his mission will open twelve more.
Authority for the date: Christian History 35 (1992).1814
Baptism of twenty-seven-year old Cai Gao by missionary Robert Morrison at a remote spot in the hills along the shore of Macao. Cai Goa will go on to destroy his idols and to assist with Chinese publications before his death of lung disease less than three years later.
Authority for the date: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christians.1915
Death of Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and an advocate of healthy diet. Claiming hundreds of visions, she was widely viewed as a prophetess. She helped found Battle Creek College (now Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan) and a school in Australia, the precursor of Avondale College.
Authority for the date: Britannica.1972
Soviet agents martyr Baptist private Ivan “Vanya” Moiseyev after months of severe persecution because of his Christian faith and because he has been leading other soldiers to Christ.
Authority for the date: Dewar, Diana. All for Christ. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980.1974
Paul Wei Han, physician, scientist, and educator, the first president of the Yang Ming Medical College, represents Taiwan’s Christians at the Lausanne Conference (July 16-25).
Authority for the date: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity.1998
Death of Jeremiah Olatusi Akeredolu, first Anglican bishop of Akoko diocese of Nigeria.
Authority for the date: Dictionary of African Christian Biography.