| Johann Tetzel: Hawker of Heaven |
The most infamous salesman of papal indulgences was Johann Tetzel, the
son a Leipzig goldsmith who was born about 1460. He matriculated at the
university and entered the Dominican convent at Leipzig in 1489. He was
an effective public speaker who discovered early on that if he expounded
on the terrors of purgatory in chilling detail, used an auctioneer's technique
and offered an inexpensive indulgence, he could make a huge profit. He
travelled from town to town, successfully padding his pockets with cash.
Not a saint by any means..he is said to have once been charged with
adultery... this snake oil salesman was given legitimacy by the Pope himself.
son a Leipzig goldsmith who was born about 1460. He matriculated at the
university and entered the Dominican convent at Leipzig in 1489. He was
an effective public speaker who discovered early on that if he expounded
on the terrors of purgatory in chilling detail, used an auctioneer's technique
and offered an inexpensive indulgence, he could make a huge profit. He
travelled from town to town, successfully padding his pockets with cash.
Not a saint by any means..he is said to have once been charged with
adultery... this snake oil salesman was given legitimacy by the Pope himself.
In 1517. Archbishop Albrecht of Mainz had been elected at age twenty-four to a See already sorely
impoverished by excessive payments to Rome. He agreed to pay his first cash earnings to Pope
Leo X on the condition that he could recoup himself by the sale of indulgences: half the proceeds
were to go to him, and half to the Pope for the construction of the basilica of St. Peter's at Rome.
Tetzel was selected as the most efficient salesman and was appointed general sub-commissioner for
indulgences, and was even accompanied by a clerk of the Fuggers to whom Albrecht owed money.
impoverished by excessive payments to Rome. He agreed to pay his first cash earnings to Pope
Leo X on the condition that he could recoup himself by the sale of indulgences: half the proceeds
were to go to him, and half to the Pope for the construction of the basilica of St. Peter's at Rome.
Tetzel was selected as the most efficient salesman and was appointed general sub-commissioner for
indulgences, and was even accompanied by a clerk of the Fuggers to whom Albrecht owed money.
Although Archbishop Albrecht himself was somewhat
shamed by Luther's attack, he was "in too deep" to let go
of Tetzel, and he therefore encouraged him to defend
himself and indulgences. Subsequently, through the
Rector of Frankfurt, Conrad Wimpina, Tetzel was made
Doctor of Divinity of that university, and with Wimpina's
assistance, he drew up a "hundred and six theses" in
response to Luther in January 1518. Popular sentiment
against Tetzel won, however, and he soon ended up
hiding out in the Dominican convent at Leipzig for fear of
violence, and it is there he died on July 4,1519.
shamed by Luther's attack, he was "in too deep" to let go
of Tetzel, and he therefore encouraged him to defend
himself and indulgences. Subsequently, through the
Rector of Frankfurt, Conrad Wimpina, Tetzel was made
Doctor of Divinity of that university, and with Wimpina's
assistance, he drew up a "hundred and six theses" in
response to Luther in January 1518. Popular sentiment
against Tetzel won, however, and he soon ended up
hiding out in the Dominican convent at Leipzig for fear of
violence, and it is there he died on July 4,1519.
Caricature of Tetzel's sale of indulgences, left. The last two lines
of the German poem recount the famous verse attributed to
Tetzel: "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, The soul at once
into Heaven springs."
of the German poem recount the famous verse attributed to
Tetzel: "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, The soul at once
into Heaven springs."
| The Text of a Sermon on Indulgences by Johann Tetzel |
What are you thinking about? Why do you hesitate to convert yourself? Why don't you have fears
about your sins? Why don't you confess now to the vicars of our Most Holy Pope? Don't you have
the example of Lawrence, who, compelled by the love of God, gave away his inheritance and
suffered his body to be burned? Why do you not take the example of Bartholomew, Stephen, and of
other saints who gladly suffered the most gruesome deaths for the sake and salvation of their souls?
You, however, do not give up great treasures; indeed you give not even a moderate alms. They gave
their bodies to be martyred, but you delight in living well and joyfully. You priest, nobleman,
merchant, wife, virgin, you married people, young person, old man, enter into your church which is
for you, as I have said, St. Peter's, and visit the most holy Cross. It has been placed there for you,
and it always cries and calls for you. Are you perhaps ashamed to visit the Cross with a candle and
yet not ashamed to visit a tavern? Are you ashamed to go to the apostolic confessors, but not
ashamed to go to a dance? Behold, you are on the raging sea of the world in storm and danger, not
knowing if you will safely reach the harbor of salvation. Do you not know that everything which man
has hangs on a thin thread and that all of life is but a struggle on earth? Let us then fight, as did
Lawrence and the other saints, for the day it is well, but ill tomorrow. Today alive, tomorrow dead.
about your sins? Why don't you confess now to the vicars of our Most Holy Pope? Don't you have
the example of Lawrence, who, compelled by the love of God, gave away his inheritance and
suffered his body to be burned? Why do you not take the example of Bartholomew, Stephen, and of
other saints who gladly suffered the most gruesome deaths for the sake and salvation of their souls?
You, however, do not give up great treasures; indeed you give not even a moderate alms. They gave
their bodies to be martyred, but you delight in living well and joyfully. You priest, nobleman,
merchant, wife, virgin, you married people, young person, old man, enter into your church which is
for you, as I have said, St. Peter's, and visit the most holy Cross. It has been placed there for you,
and it always cries and calls for you. Are you perhaps ashamed to visit the Cross with a candle and
yet not ashamed to visit a tavern? Are you ashamed to go to the apostolic confessors, but not
ashamed to go to a dance? Behold, you are on the raging sea of the world in storm and danger, not
knowing if you will safely reach the harbor of salvation. Do you not know that everything which man
has hangs on a thin thread and that all of life is but a struggle on earth? Let us then fight, as did
Lawrence and the other saints, for the day it is well, but ill tomorrow. Today alive, tomorrow dead.
You should know that all who confess and in penance put alms into the coffer according to the
counsel of the confessor, will obtain complete remission of all their sins. If they visit, after confession
and after the Jubilee, the Cross and the altar every day they will receive that indulgence which would
be theirs upon visiting in St. Peter's the seven altars, where complete indulgence is offered. Why are
you then standing there? Run for the salvation of your souls! Be as careful and concerned for the
salvation of your souls as you are for your temporal goods, which you seek both day and night. Seek
the Lord while he may be found and while he is near. Work, as St. John says, while it it yet day, for
the night comes when no man can work.
counsel of the confessor, will obtain complete remission of all their sins. If they visit, after confession
and after the Jubilee, the Cross and the altar every day they will receive that indulgence which would
be theirs upon visiting in St. Peter's the seven altars, where complete indulgence is offered. Why are
you then standing there? Run for the salvation of your souls! Be as careful and concerned for the
salvation of your souls as you are for your temporal goods, which you seek both day and night. Seek
the Lord while he may be found and while he is near. Work, as St. John says, while it it yet day, for
the night comes when no man can work.
Don't you hear the voices of your wailing dead parents and others who say, 'Have mercy upon me,
have mercy upon me, because we are in severe punishment and pain. From this you could redeem us
with a small alms and yet you do not want to do so.' Open your ears as the father says to the son and
the mother to the daughter . . . 'We have created you, fed you, cared for you, and left you our
temporal goods. Why then are you so cruel and harsh that you do not want to save us, though it only
takes a little? You let us lie in flames so that we only slowly come to the promised glory.' You may
have letters which let you have, once in life and in the hour of death . . . full remission of the
punishment which belongs to sin. Oh, those of you with vows, you usurers, robbers, murderers, and
criminals - Now is the time to hear the voice of God. He does not want the death of the sinner, but
that he be converted and live. Convert yourselves then, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, to the Lord, thy God.
Oh, you blasphemers, gossippers, who hinder this work openly or secretly, what about your affairs?
You are outside the fellowship of the Church. No masses, no sermons, prayers, sacraments, or
intercession help you. No field, vineyard, trees, or cattle bring fruit or wine for you. Even spiritual
things vanish, as many an illustration could point out. Convert yourself with all you heart and use the
medicine of which the Book of Wisdom says, 'The Most High has made medicine out of the earth
and a wise man will not reject it.' W. Köhler, Dokumente zum Ablassstreit
have mercy upon me, because we are in severe punishment and pain. From this you could redeem us
with a small alms and yet you do not want to do so.' Open your ears as the father says to the son and
the mother to the daughter . . . 'We have created you, fed you, cared for you, and left you our
temporal goods. Why then are you so cruel and harsh that you do not want to save us, though it only
takes a little? You let us lie in flames so that we only slowly come to the promised glory.' You may
have letters which let you have, once in life and in the hour of death . . . full remission of the
punishment which belongs to sin. Oh, those of you with vows, you usurers, robbers, murderers, and
criminals - Now is the time to hear the voice of God. He does not want the death of the sinner, but
that he be converted and live. Convert yourselves then, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, to the Lord, thy God.
Oh, you blasphemers, gossippers, who hinder this work openly or secretly, what about your affairs?
You are outside the fellowship of the Church. No masses, no sermons, prayers, sacraments, or
intercession help you. No field, vineyard, trees, or cattle bring fruit or wine for you. Even spiritual
things vanish, as many an illustration could point out. Convert yourself with all you heart and use the
medicine of which the Book of Wisdom says, 'The Most High has made medicine out of the earth
and a wise man will not reject it.' W. Köhler, Dokumente zum Ablassstreit
Indulgences were introduced in the eleventh century in connection with the sacrament of penance,
and were associated with customs such as fasting, the recitation of prayers, pilgrimages and alms. By
the fourteenth century, gifts of money became a substitution for works of mercy and charity. One
man would later take the practise to new heights.
and were associated with customs such as fasting, the recitation of prayers, pilgrimages and alms. By
the fourteenth century, gifts of money became a substitution for works of mercy and charity. One
man would later take the practise to new heights.
Tetzel's efforts extended from Magdeburg to Naumburg,
Halle and beyond. The Elector of Saxony had excluded him
from his dominions, however by the interference of Duke
George of Saxony, Tetzel was permitted to pursue his lurid
operations within a few short miles of Wittenberg..and the
ears and eyes of an unappreciative Martin Luther.
Halle and beyond. The Elector of Saxony had excluded him
from his dominions, however by the interference of Duke
George of Saxony, Tetzel was permitted to pursue his lurid
operations within a few short miles of Wittenberg..and the
ears and eyes of an unappreciative Martin Luther.
Luther's attack came on the eve of the Feast of All Saints, 1517, with his Ninety-Five Theses, parts
of which assaulted the practice; for example: "Those who believe that they can be certain of their
salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teacher"
and "It is vain to trust in salvation by indulgence letters, even though the indulgence commissary, or
even the Pope, were to offer his soul as security."
of which assaulted the practice; for example: "Those who believe that they can be certain of their
salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teacher"
and "It is vain to trust in salvation by indulgence letters, even though the indulgence commissary, or
even the Pope, were to offer his soul as security."