“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned!” it is a common prayer within the Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church was known for the practice of teaching its parishioners that sins are forgiven through the process of asking bishops and priests. This practice known as confession or atonement was performed during a reconciliation ceremony. According to The Catholic Encyclopedia, a sinner would confess his sins to the priest, who would in turn give him a prayer to recite, tell him that his sins are forgiven, and that all is satisfactory between him and the church. During the Middle Ages, a common monk questioned the authority of the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church. This doubt led to what is now known as the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was a prominent Christian theologian born on November 10, 1483 in Eisleben, Germany. He is best known for his fallout with the Catholic Church over the sale of indulgences in the church. He also disagreed on the questions, “How does one get saved and enter heaven?” and “Who is the highest authority in Christianity?” Revered as one of the most powerful and controversial figures of the Reformation Movement, Martin Luther's actions caused corruption within the Roman Catholic Church, thus causing them to change some of their practices. Luther wanted people to be able to read the Bible for themselves and know that the priest had no authority to impose a monetary price for forgiveness of sins. His passion was so great that it led him to translate the Bible into a dialect where everyone could read and understand it for themselves. This translation sparked a horrendous change in the relationship between church leaders and their parishioners. Martin Luther ...... middle of paper ...... t.org/cathen/09438b.htmHead, R. C. (2004). Protestant Reformation. Retrieved May 27, 2014, from Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World: http://ww.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3404900956.htmlKent, W. (1910). Indulgences, in the Catholic Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 19, 2014, from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07782a.htmlStaff, B (2014). Martin Luther. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2014, from Biography.com: http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-9389283Staff, H. (2009). Martin Luther and the 95 theses. Retrieved May 27, 2014, from History.com: http://www.history.com/topics/martin-luther-and-the-95-thesesThatcher, O. J. (1907). The Library of original sources. Retrieved May 20, 2014, from Luther Against Catholicism, 1535: http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/mod/1535luther.aspThe Holy Bible (n.d.). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.