John Huss - “the Father of Reform”

John Huss “The Father of Reform”

Huss was born around 1372 to peasant parents in "Goosetown," that is, Husinec, in the south of today's Czech Republic. (In his twenties, he shortened his name to Huss.  Reformers looked to Huss's life, in particular, his steadfast commitment in the face of the church's cunning brutality.  Huss preached key Reformation themes (like opposition to indulgences). Huss would become a hero to Luther and many other Reformers; thus making him the Father of Reform. To escape poverty, Huss trained for the priesthood. He earned a bachelor's, masters, and then finally a doctorate. In 1401 he was ordained and became the preacher at Prague's Bethlehem Chapel, the most popular church in one of the largest of Europe's cities, a center of reform in Bohemia. During these years Huss discovered the Bible. The writings of John Wycliffe had motivated his interest in the Bible, and these same writings were causing a stir in Bohemia. The University of Prague was already split between Czechs and Germans, and Wycliffe's teachings only divided them more. But the Czechs, with Huss, also warmed up to Wycliffe's reforming ideas; though they wanted to place more emphasis on the Bible, expand the authority of church councils (and lessen that of the pope), and promote the moral reform of clergy. Hus's criticisms and calls for reforms came in the midst of the Schism; high Church leaders generally regarded Hus as an irritating stumbling block to reconciling the divided Church and he was excommunicated. The Council of Constance was the Council which finally ended the Schism in 1414, and Hus was summoned before it, to answer to the charges brought against him, having been promised the safe conduct, or passport of the Emperor Sigismond. But the Emperor proved false to his word, and the council was determined to condemn him. He was declared a heretic, given the opportunity to recant and sentenced to be burned at the stake. On the 6th day of July, 1415, he was led forth and burned at the stake.

The Council and the Emperor had underestimated Hus' support in Bohemia and Moravia, however, and his followers arose in open rebellion. They made a covenant agreement to defend Hus’ teachings and the Czech reformation against any and all threats. There followed a period known as the Hussite Wars, which attempted to restore Roman rule by force. Though they were outnumbered, their boldness and courage allowed them to successfully defeat six crusading armies led by Sigismund. The Hussites were a forced to be reckoned with and feared for over 24 years.  It wasn’t until Sigismund came to an agreement with the Hussites that he would finally secure the crown of Bohemia. He waited for that moment for over seventeen years, only to have died one year after being crowned.