Joshua Charles

Many have heard of St. John Fisher, but usually in association with his fellow martyr, St. Thomas More and that he refused to accept Henry VIII's break from Rome, and was thus executed. Few know that Fisher was famous in the first half of the 16th century, not only as a holy reforming bishop, but also as one of the greatest theologians in Europe. His masterful theological acumen made him the right man to oppose the ill wind blowing in from Germany.Luther denied several Catholic doctrines, and asserted many other teachings which were false on Justification, the Papacy, the Sacraments, etc. In 1520 he was condemned by Pope Leo X in his bull Exsurge Domine, and Luther, far from recanting, reasserted his forty articles, and burned the entire corpus of Canon Law. As the crisis continued, Henry VIII of England sensed an opportunity to win prestige in letters which had been denied to him in war. He assembled numerous theologians who aided him in writing a defense of the Church's sacraments against Luther's treatise De Babylonica Captivitate, or, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. The 1521 publication of Henry's Assertio did not escape Luther's notice. The next year, he vigourously replied with his work Contra Henricum regem Angli , or Against Henry, King of England. Throughout, Luther mocks Henry, and resorts to name-calling worse than what had hitherto been seen in print, while only giving limited response to the arguments. Henry would not respond-indeed, royal protocol would not allow him to acknowledge such insults against the royal person. Instead, he tapped Fisher to write a response. The present volume, The Defense of the Royal Assertion, is more aggressive than in his other works, aggrieved by Luther's sheer impudence in not answering his king but hurling abuse at him instead. The extent to which Fisher defers to Henry and takes pains to defend him might surprise the reader, who has the benefit of history to know the poor reward Fisher was to receive for his efforts a mere 10 years later. In twelve chapters, Fisher dismantles not only Luther's assault on Henry, but also the foundation of his sacramental theology: Chapter One: Luther's Agitated Arrogance Is Openly DeceitfulChapter Two: His Apology That Attempts to Cover Notable Vices Is in VainChapter Three: Regarding the Faithful's Communion, the Church's Custom Should Be ObservedChapter Four: The Substance of the Bread Does Not Remain with the Most Holy Body of ChristChapter Five: The Mass Is Not a TestamentChapter Six: The Mass Is Properly Called a Sacrifice and a Work by Those of Right FaithChapter Seven: Certain Quibbling Subterfuges and Lying Sophisms Are Laid BareChapter Eight: The Mass Is Not Solely a PromiseChapter Nine: Some of Luther's False Accusations against the King Are Done Away WithChapter Ten: We Must Believe in the Fathers' United and Harmonious Scriptural InterpretationChapter Eleven: The Judgment of Doctrine Belongs to the Fathers Rather Than to the PeopleChapter Twelve: Orders and Matrimony Are Sacraments and Efficaciously Confer Grace

Many have heard of St. John Fisher, but usually in association with his fellow martyr, St. Thomas More and that he refused to accept Henry VIII's break from Rome, and was thus executed. Few know that Fisher was famous in the first half of the 16th century, not only as a holy reforming bishop, but also as one of the greatest theologians in Europe. His masterful theological acumen made him the right man to oppose the ill wind blowing in from Germany.Luther denied several Catholic doctrines, and asserted many other teachings which were false on Justification, the Papacy, the Sacraments, etc. In 1520 he was condemned by Pope Leo X in his bull Exsurge Domine, and Luther, far from recanting, reasserted his forty articles, and burned the entire corpus of Canon Law. As the crisis continued, Henry VIII of England sensed an opportunity to win prestige in letters which had been denied to him in war. He assembled numerous theologians who aided him in writing a defense of the Church's sacraments against Luther's treatise De Babylonica Captivitate, or, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church. The 1521 publication of Henry's Assertio did not escape Luther's notice. The next year, he vigourously replied with his work Contra Henricum regem Angli , or Against Henry, King of England. Throughout, Luther mocks Henry, and resorts to name-calling worse than what had hitherto been seen in print, while only giving limited response to the arguments. Henry would not respond-indeed, royal protocol would not allow him to acknowledge such insults against the royal person. Instead, he tapped Fisher to write a response. The present volume, The Defense of the Royal Assertion, is more aggressive than in his other works, aggrieved by Luther's sheer impudence in not answering his king but hurling abuse at him instead. The extent to which Fisher defers to Henry and takes pains to defend him might surprise the reader, who has the benefit of history to know the poor reward Fisher was to receive for his efforts a mere 10 years later. In twelve chapters, Fisher dismantles not only Luther's assault on Henry, but also the foundation of his sacramental theology: Chapter One: Luther's Agitated Arrogance Is Openly DeceitfulChapter Two: His Apology That Attempts to Cover Notable Vices Is in VainChapter Three: Regarding the Faithful's Communion, the Church's Custom Should Be ObservedChapter Four: The Substance of the Bread Does Not Remain with the Most Holy Body of ChristChapter Five: The Mass Is Not a TestamentChapter Six: The Mass Is Properly Called a Sacrifice and a Work by Those of Right FaithChapter Seven: Certain Quibbling Subterfuges and Lying Sophisms Are Laid BareChapter Eight: The Mass Is Not Solely a PromiseChapter Nine: Some of Luther's False Accusations against the King Are Done Away WithChapter Ten: We Must Believe in the Fathers' United and Harmonious Scriptural InterpretationChapter Eleven: The Judgment of Doctrine Belongs to the Fathers Rather Than to the PeopleChapter Twelve: Orders and Matrimony Are Sacraments and Efficaciously Confer Grace

Many Catholics have either left the Church or been scandalized by the errors or immorality rampant in her clergy. We've watched aghast as faithful Catholics have been restricted or punished without just cause, while those who confuse, contradict, or undermine the Faith are elevated. In this bold and urgent book, the authors notice an apparent absurdity: those most disciplined by the Church at this time are often least deserving of correction. This protracted state of confusion and injustice, plain for all to see, has shaken the faith of millions.Far from being just another diatribe, these absorbing pages provide a deeply illuminating historical perspective, revealing how this chaotic period in the Church is hardly unprecedented -- or unpredicted. Instead, it represents a recurring feature of life in the Church throughout her history and is even a part of the divine plan. With this context, you will be able to make sense of and discover solutions to our present suffering.You will learn: When to obey -- and when to disobey -- a priest or bishop; how several saints were purified and sanctified by unholy superiors What not to do when responding to the crisis of persecution in the ChurchHow Christ both predicted and prefigured the sufferings of His Church at the hands of wicked prelatesPractical ways you can respond and share the truthAchievable means to embolden your faith and remain obedient while correcting error How to talk to non-Catholics about the pandemic of filth and error in the ChurchYou will see how eleven of the greatest Catholics in history -- canonized saints all -- suffered from undeserved persecution by their superiors and even betrayal by clergy and how this suffering was part of their sanctification, serving as a heroic model for us today. You will contemplate the valor and wisdom of priests from the earliest days of the Church; of lay people from St. Joan of Arc to St. Thomas More; of religious, such as Sts. Teresa of vila, John of the Cross, and Alphonsus Liguori; and of modern-day giants, including St. Padre Pio and Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. As you travel with these remarkable characters across twenty centuries and four continents, you will see the wisdom of the divine plan and be encouraged to defend the Church through this present hour of darkness.Additionally, you will find thorough and orthodox explanations of doctrine concerning Church authority, fraternal correction, and the virtue of obedience, as well as a practical plan to redeem our current shameful chapter in Church history. This book stands as a valuable and heartening resource for pastors, catechists, and those who seek to "counsel the doubtful" and "comfort the afflicted."