October 31, 1517

On this day Dr. Martin Luther nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church his "Disputatio pro Declaratione Virtutis Indulgentiarum." He challanged all who might wish to do so to dispute his "95 Theses."

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

Pope Leo X is supposed initially to have responded "Brother Martin is a man of fine genius, and this outbreak is a mere squabble of envious monks," but afterwards to have said, "It is a drunken German who wrote the Theses; when sober he will change his mind."

But Luther could do no other.