Birthdays on November 11

Martin Bucer, early Protestant reformer, was born at Schlettstradt, Germany. Although not well-known today, the spotlight of the Reformation being on Martin Luther and John Calvin, nevertheless, Bucer had a tremendous impact on believers of that era. His greatest work was his dedication to the unification of all true believers, overcoming the small differences which Satan has always used to separate the Church. Educated in Catholic schools, he became a professor of theology in the Dominican order. However, hearing Martin Luther explain the Scriptures to the Augustinian order, he was one of the few who was converted to the faith propounded by Luther concerning "salvation by faith alone." He withdrew from his order, and, became one of the first of the former Romanist priests to marry, taking an ex-nun, Elizabeth Silvereisen. He spent his last three years in England, where he had an influence in the revision of the 1549 Book of Common Prayer.