It was at the end of October in 1517 that Martin Luther posted his famous “Ninety-five Theses” in Wittenburg. Many point to this act as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. This “Reformation” of the Catholic Church started a series of divisions from which all the Protestant denominations, young and old, are born. These divisions were a great sorrow then, and they are a great sorrow now.

Looking back through these  500 years of Protestantism, students have recognized certain central doctrinal themes of the movement of the Reformation. You have probably heard of some of them: they are called the Five Solae:

Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
Solus Christus (Christ Alone)
Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)

But just as the issues are varied, the responses to these issues have presented their own diversity, from violence to disregard. Here at Dominicana, we are proud to present a new series on these Five Solae, discussing these five doctrinal themes in five different ways. Each of our authors (some of whom were once Protestants themselves) brings his own style to the discussion.

Brother John Paul will post a longer article on Sola Gratia, directly engaging the historical and theological issues of Reformation perspectives, submitting a fuller understanding of God’s gift of grace.

Brother Hyacinth will offer us a thorough reflection on Solus Christus and the Scriptural teachings on the theme of mediation within the Body of Christ.

Brother Peter will bring us face-to-face with Sola Scriptura and the structure of divine revelation, displaying some of the difficulties that follow upon the disintegration of this structure.

Brother Ephrem will treat Sola Fide by sidestepping the original contrast of faith and works, proposing a new—or much older—contrast of faith and idolatry.

Brother Isaiah will unfold Soli Deo Gloria, reviewing the Church’s traditional ways of imagining glory in its many manifestations.

You can read all of the posts here.

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Image: Ferdinand Pauwels, Luther Posts His 95 Theses.