500 years after the departure: Matthäus Alber and the freedom of the sacrament

500 years after the departure: Matthäus Alber and the freedom of the sacrament

The influence of Matthäus Albers sacrament on the Reformation movement

Im Jahr 1524, unter der Aufsicht des Prädikanten Matthäus Alber, wurde in Reutlingen eine bemerkenswerte Feier des Abendmahls durchgeführt, die das Gesicht des Christentums entscheidend veränderte. The invitation to participate in the Lord's Supper for all believers, without exception for clerics, represented a radical departure from the traditionally strict hierarchy of the church. This liturgical novelty, which took place on August 14, was to take a brave step into history and fundamentally change the dynamics between laypersons and spiritual.

The relevance of a reformer

Matthäus Alber, who came from a respected family of craftsman, returned to Reutlingen two years earlier to take on a role as a predicant in council. With a theological degree in his luggage, he announced reformation ideas that met with increasingly enthusiastic response among the population. In particular, the possibility of enjoying bread and wine together during the sacrament symbolized an overcoming of the dividing line between 'consecrated' and 'non -consecrated'. "A lot of courage was necessary to act so dangerously close to the heresy," said state bishop Ernst-Wilhelm Gohl on the occasion of the anniversary.

an event of historical importance

The event not only attracted residents of Reutlingen, but also people from neighboring cities like Esslingen and Herrenberg, who were excited to see whether Alber would actually violate church customs. The Marienkirche was quickly overcrowded due to the great rush, which underlined the importance of the event. The fact that such a celebration took place in German and not in Latin represented another break with the tradition and conveyed a feeling of participation to the believers.

consequences and challenges

The celebration of the sacrament was not without consequences. Half a year after the historical service, Alber had to answer to the Reich Regiment in Esslingen where he was supposed to answer questions about his practice. The imperial lawyer Kaspar Mart demanded the opening of a formal court procedure, to which Alber reacted with a reference to the authority of the Bible and Jesus Christ. Surprisingly, the predicant was finally acquitted and could continue to work on his reforms.

a lasting inheritance

Alber's reforms left a lasting impression on the church and the community. In 1526 he published a new service regulations on the assessment in Wittenberg, where Martin Luther only noted that the readings were too long and the community could overwhelm. Alber's commitment to inclusive participation during the sacrament set new standards in the Evangelical Church. His initiatives and the associated paradigm shift still work and show how courage to change the body can affect faith practice.