Martin's Decision

Besides the vow he had made that stormy day Martin was obsessed with the fear of what lay beyond the grave. Was he good enough, had he done enough to earn his way into God's Holy presence ? The Holy Roman church presented Christ as someone to be feared and never presented Him as a loving father. It taught that one must not wait until his deathbed to be remorseful for his sins. All of this fear allowed the church to justify the need for remedies such as indulgences and thus fund this religious machine. For Martin the only secure course was to avail himself to all that the church had to offer such as sacraments, pilgrimages, indulgences and the intercession of the saints. Yet foolish was the man who relied solely on the good offices if he had done nothing to insure their favor. For Martin there was no better way to insure his favor than to become a monk. Martin repeatedly affirmed that he believed himself to have been summoned by a call from heaven to which he could not be disobedient. Once the decision had been made two weeks were required to arrange his affairs and decide what monastery to enter. Martin chose the reformed congregation of the Augustinians. After a farewell party given by friends he presented himself at the monastery. Not everyone was pleased with his decision.