Buried Treasure
Oil on canvas 5' x 5'
Over the centuries since it's first mention in 1134, much persecution of Christendom has taken place under the imposing banner of The Inquisition. The definition of the word "inquisition" literally means, "the inquiry” or “the investigation". The Inquisition refers to various ecclesiastical institutions which came into being in an attempt to investigate and suppress heresy.
Whatever may have been its original good intentions, reading through pages of testimony reveal that the Inquisition was fed by a spirit of fear and a strong desire by church leadership to control their members and communities at large. An official handbook written for inquisitors in 1578 points to the true purpose of the rulings and punishments handed down by the then-all-powerful religious rulers at the helm of the Inquisition:
(Translation from the Latin:) "... for punishment does not take place primarily and per se for the correction and good of the person punished, but for the public good in order that others may become terrified and weaned away from the evils they would commit."
Of the many "evils" fought against by the Inquisition, a most prominent "heresy" was the idea that the common man should have the scriptures in his own language. In the 1500's, this concept terrified the established church leaders, who felt that they alone held the right to shape the people's understanding of God.
It is hard to estimate how many have died for the right to have the word of God in their own homes, where a person could read it in his own tongue, personally hearing from and being taught by God. The following story is one of many who have so died, bravely imparting to us the immeasurable value and love for the Word of Life. Without the anchor of scriptures, and the opportunity to examine them individually, our faith would be like shifting tides, driven by many differing winds. Details of this story and quotes below are from pages 41-42 of the book, Jesus Freaks: Martyrs.
In the 16th century, King Phillip II of Spain was a powerful participant in the Inquisition. As a part of the massive force that responded to the recent underground printing of the scriptures in language of the people, Philip sent officials to Flanders, hunting for copies of this illegal printing. House to house searches took place; all copies were to be confiscated. Anyone found studying the scriptures on his own was to be killed.
No one was immune to investigation; so it was that the mayor of Brugge had his home searched. The inquisitors were surprised when they found a bible in his home. Immediately all members of the house were arrested. One by one they were interrogated, but none seemed to know anything about it.
I take up the testimony of the investigation here, quoting now from Jesus Freaks: Martyrs:
Whatever may have been its original good intentions, reading through pages of testimony reveal that the Inquisition was fed by a spirit of fear and a strong desire by church leadership to control their members and communities at large. An official handbook written for inquisitors in 1578 points to the true purpose of the rulings and punishments handed down by the then-all-powerful religious rulers at the helm of the Inquisition:
(Translation from the Latin:) "... for punishment does not take place primarily and per se for the correction and good of the person punished, but for the public good in order that others may become terrified and weaned away from the evils they would commit."
Of the many "evils" fought against by the Inquisition, a most prominent "heresy" was the idea that the common man should have the scriptures in his own language. In the 1500's, this concept terrified the established church leaders, who felt that they alone held the right to shape the people's understanding of God.
It is hard to estimate how many have died for the right to have the word of God in their own homes, where a person could read it in his own tongue, personally hearing from and being taught by God. The following story is one of many who have so died, bravely imparting to us the immeasurable value and love for the Word of Life. Without the anchor of scriptures, and the opportunity to examine them individually, our faith would be like shifting tides, driven by many differing winds. Details of this story and quotes below are from pages 41-42 of the book, Jesus Freaks: Martyrs.
In the 16th century, King Phillip II of Spain was a powerful participant in the Inquisition. As a part of the massive force that responded to the recent underground printing of the scriptures in language of the people, Philip sent officials to Flanders, hunting for copies of this illegal printing. House to house searches took place; all copies were to be confiscated. Anyone found studying the scriptures on his own was to be killed.
No one was immune to investigation; so it was that the mayor of Brugge had his home searched. The inquisitors were surprised when they found a bible in his home. Immediately all members of the house were arrested. One by one they were interrogated, but none seemed to know anything about it.
I take up the testimony of the investigation here, quoting now from Jesus Freaks: Martyrs:
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"Finally the officials asked the young maid-servant, Wrunken, who boldly declared, 'I am reading it!' The mayor, knowing the penalty for studying the Bible, tried to defend her, saying, 'Oh, no, she only owns it. She doesn't ever read from it.' But Wrunken chose not to be defended by a lie. 'This book is mine. I am reading from it, and it is more precious to me than anything!' " She was immediately sentenced to death by suffocation.
"On the appointed day, a space was hollowed out of the masonry that made up the thick city wall; Wrunken was tied inside the cavity and slowly the wall was rebuilt, brick by brick. "As the work went on, an official said to her: 'So young and beautiful--and yet to die!' "Wrunken replied, 'My savior died for me. I will also die for Him.' " 'You will suffocate and die in there!' " 'I will be with Jesus!' she answered. "Finally, the wall was finished, except for the one brick that would cover her face, For the last time, the official tried to persuade her. 'Repent--just say the word and you will go free.' But Wrunken refused, saying instead, 'O Lord, forgive my murderers.' The last brick was put in place and the wall finished. Years later, the brickwork was reopened and the bones of Wrunken given a solemn burial in the cemetery of Brugge." |
Peculiar Graces: Buried Treasure. This young maid, Wrunken, had the grace of courage to tell the truth when it could cost her life.