Sola monk

camp history

Day 1

Story: Johann von Staupitz (Vicar General of the Augustinian Order and Luther's confessor) gives a lecture and preaches to us about the advantages of monastic life, whereupon the main leaders decide to forget all their plans for the SoLa and move into the monastery (other entry also possible, left to those responsible). At dinner, the leaders are to talk to each other about a monk who entered the order under less than normal circumstances. The children should be included in the conversations.

Program: Introduction to monastic life, possibly in connection with the Augustinian rules (love, harmony in religious life, mutual admonition, control, submission, abstinence, no pers. No personal possessions, regular prayer). The TN become novices, the leaders directly monks; new lodgings have to be built.

Day 2

Story: Monks talk about Luther's habit of having loud arguments with Satan and himself in his cell, bringing out the question of a gracious God and his doubts about his ability to fulfill the demands of repentance imposed by the Church. He suffers, therefore, from the gravest uncertainty of salvation...

Program: Times of prayer according to the Benedictine Rule can be introduced here, as well as other duties and rituals of monastic life.

Day 3

History: Here it is to be shown how strictly the monk with an unnamed name adheres to the rules of the order, better than all the others. For this reason he is sent by Staupitz to the university, where the monk is to study theology and becomes a doctor of theology (chair "lectura in biblia").

Program:The work and life of the monks

Day 4

History: Luther is sent by Staupitz to Rome, where he is to defend the Union Project (union of Observants and Augustinians) before the General of the Order. In Rome (camp site of the two-day pilgrimage) indulgences and relics are sold. Luther buys an indulgence and makes a general confession, in the context of which he climbs the Holy Stairs at the Lateran. He is appalled by the decline in morals, the sale of indulgences and relics, the veneration of saints, and slowly begins to change his thinking and studies the Bible (especially the Epistle to the Romans and also the Psalms and the Epistles of Paul). Luther talks to others about it and becomes known to the TN.

Programme: Two-day hike, climbing the Holy Stairs if there is a slope

Day 5

Story:On the return journey there is an encounter with Johann Tetzel, who preaches indulgences to travellers through the church. Luther takes exception to this and takes mild action against him.

Program: Return hike

Day 6

History: Luther nails his 95 theses against the sale of indulgences to the Sarasan mast. His theses are published while he preaches against the sale of indulgences and church abuses. In the evening he burns writings of the church in front of the inhabitants of the monastery (rather inconspicuously/incidentally depicting)

Program: Thesis terrain game, adherence to agenda of the monks, burning of scriptures (August 1st celebration)

Day 7

History: Luther is summoned and is supposed to recant all his theses, whereupon he refuses, is released from his vows by Staupitz and flees. 1. Appearance of Frederick III of Saxony possible, who might intercede for Luther here. All the inhabitants of the monastery are absolved of their vows; the controversy arises as to whether the monastic life should continue as before or not.

Day 8

History: Luther preaches (possibly about the Lord's Supper) and is summoned before the Diet of Worms, where he is to recant. He refuses again and is declared an outlaw, but is given safe conduct home. On his way back he is kidnapped by the men of the Saxon Elector and brought to safety. Luther decides to translate the Bible.

Program: Trial (GD), Learning/ Crafting Scriptures, Kidnapping

Day 9

History: Luther begins the translation of the Bible (possibly handing it over to the Elector) and gives up the monastic life. At the same time, he demands the dissolution of the monasteries.

Programme: Cross-country game Bible, giving up many rituals and rules

Day 10

Story: Luther wants to leave the monastery for good and also gets everyone else to do the same.

Source reference

• Cover photo: Siegbert Pinger / pixelio.de
• Poster: BESJ Teamweekend 2017, www.besj.ch
• Idea: This idea comes from the "Ideas Vernissage" at BESJ Teamweekend 2017.For more ideas from this vernissage, see the article BESJ Teamweekend 2017.
• Documents: Jungschar Ebnat-Kappel