Münster

I will start this post with a photograph I took and then by making it larger asked the question: ‘ What are those three cages hanging above the clock face?’ Look with me you may have the answer.

I certainly didn’t expect this story and where I get it wrong please if interested find one that is more fulfilling.

The church in the photograph is St. Lambert’s Church in Münster Germany. Now this is why the cages are there. It was 1536 Jan Bockelson, a tailor from Leiden, Bernhard Knipperdolling and Berhard Kretching, were tortured and killed in the market place of Münster. Their bodies were then exhibited in cages, which still hang from the steeple today much repaired, but with bones removed.

Why this death?

Under Anabaptists all private property and currency became communal and this was popular amongst many particularly the poor who supported this group. Here is where this group was not normal Jan Bockelson declared himself ‘Messiah of the last days’, took multiple wives, some say 16 in number, issued coins that prophesied the coming apocalypse and in general made life difficult for many in the city. He saw Münster as the New Jerusalem from which he would capture the world.

Naturally there was opposition and on June 24, 1535, the bishop’s forces successfully breached the city walls and retook Münster. The three then experienced the above… During the Protestant Reformation, Münster was the location of the Anabaptist rebellion.

Not all Anabaptists were like these three people in Münster who were the exception in a much broader movement. Their general beliefs were that people should be baptised when they were adult enough to consciously have a profession of faith. They didn’t want icons as part of their worship nor did they believe they should go to war. Following the rebellion non-resistant Anabaptists were led by Menoro Simons to form the movement that eventually became the Menonites.

With the cages still hanging there and Jesus words: ‘Listen carefully that no one deceive you…’

Let us go into another place near the cathedral ‘The Bible Museum.’ The display is well cared for and I have chosen three exhibits:

A Hebrew Parchment from the 14th Century with Genesis1:1 – 35:12.

I learnt that a Torah scribe may not write a single letter, word or sentence from memory when creating the Torah; instead he must copy the Torah scroll letter by letter from the original. Embellishment of the text are not permitted. A complete Torah scroll requires 40 parchment sheets which are sown together. When a scroll becomes to old to use it is never destroyed but rather buried.

The exhibition also has a letter from Martin Luther and a Martin Luther Bible from 1560.

There is one page from an original Gutenberg Bible on display as well as much more, however this is what caught my eye as we have already seen Marc Chagall’s blue stained glass windows in Mainz, found in St Stephan’s Church, we were pleased to see these Bible illustrations by him.

It was a fascinating place with the oldest exhibit dated between 2000 -1800 BC. The museum is affiliated with the Institute for New Testament Text Research. Here, the original text of the Greek New Testament is researched on the basis of the earliest manuscripts. It is said that the breadth and depth of the exhibition is unique in the world.

The Bible the most translated book in the world.

A few thoughts about torture:

The torture of a bad conscience is the hell of a living soul.

John Calvin

Guilt is cancer. Guilt will confine you, torture you, destroy you as an artist. It’s a black wall. It’s a thief.

David Grohl

Jesus speaking: ‘ Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any person hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to them, and will eat with them, and they with me. To those who overcome will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and now am set down with my Father in His throne.’

Take care,

Sandy 🙂

Ps

Those white clouds from yesterday meant very heavy rain early this morning and right now big drops are falling.

A flower sent to me with love from my sister Shelly’s garden. A wonderful yellow and pink hibiscus. Thank you. Friday was a difficult day.