Prepare to delve deeper into the life of Martin Luther in our second session, exploring the formative years that shaped his revolutionary impact on the church and the Reformation. We’ll journey with Luther as he enters the Augustinian Monastery, guided by the mentorship of Johann von Staupitz, where his rigorous confessions—sometimes stretching six hours—reveal his intense view of even the smallest sins. His spiritual torment, known as Anfechtungen, will come to light, marked by an acute awareness of sin and a medieval understanding of God’s righteousness as punitive justice, leading him to confess a deep resentment toward the God who judged sinners. We’ll also examine his extreme practices—fasting, self-beatings, and self-abasement—inspired by the flagellants, all while he remained devoted to Roman Catholic teachings. The session will culminate with his first Mass, a moment of inner turmoil as he grappled with the transubstantiation liturgy, attended by his father, setting the stage for the doubts that would spark his later challenges to the church. Join us to uncover how these early experiences ignited a movement that reshaped Christian history.