Catholic Luther

The Catholic Luther presents seven writings by Martin Luther that demonstrate his deep Catholicity — including the classic “The Magnificat, Put into German and Explained” — capturing the essence of his Catholic devotion. Famous for his protest, The Ninety-five Theses, which he nailed to the door of the castle church of Wittenberg, Martin Luther (1483–1546) was born in Germany to middle-class parents. Luther left his comfortable life to become a monk, his spiritual awakening sparked by the study of the Greek text of Paul’s letter to the Romans, which challenged him with the statement, “The just shall live by faith.” Prominent Luther scholars Philip and Peter Krey offer an extensive introduction to this aspect of Luther’s work along with brief introductions to each of Luther’s texts. For Catholics and Protestants alike who are interested in coming to know this little known and genuinely appealing side of Martin Luther, The Catholic Luther is an indispensable resource.

Philip D. W. Krey is the President and Ministerium of New York Professor of Early and Medieval Church History at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. He received his PhD in medieval church history and theology at the University of Chicago. Peter D.S. Krey, who holds a M Div from Hamma School of Theology in Springfield, OH, teaches religion, ethics, and philosophy at community colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially at Vista Community College, Berkeley, CA.