Herbst/Winter (Oktober–Dezember), showing Augsburg Perlachplatz, by Heinrich Vogtherr the Younger (c. 1550). The Town Hall is on the right. See commons.wikimedia.org. Original painting in DHM, Berlin.
AUGSBURG DAY 1930
Notice announcing the Historical Pageant commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession June 22nd 1930
It The City had changed dramatically in the Augsburg of 1930 in the period leading up to the second World War. While it was still three years before he was elected Chancellor of Germany in 1933, Hitler had been active and speaking in Augsburg since 1920. By October 1922 there was an office of the Nazi party and from 1929 there was an SS Group stationed in Augsburg under the direct order of Himmler. During the years 1930 to 19 32 there were 440 public meetings and demonstrations. The 'Passionate Peace' that Augsburg had achieved in the times of war in Europe seemed to be ending.
The 400th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession took place over the days 22-25 June. It is not clear how religious this anniversary was but it probably came with some sense of relief in the intensifying atmosphere of the times. A parade was held through the streets with floats representing all the main characters of the historical period of the Reformation, including Martin Luther, Phillip Melanchthon, Justus Jonas and Johannes Burgenhagen as well as Cardinal Thomas Cajetan The Catholic Cardinal who was the Pope's Legate at Augsburg. Notably absent in the parade were both Cochlaeus and Thomas Eck who opposed Melanchthon at the Diet. Souvenirs were craft for the visitors coming to the City for the event and according to a report of Fr Max Josef Metzger, hotels were having a brisk trade. The memorial below was made and marketed at the festival. It both gave the route of the Parade and explained the nature of all the different floats.
The 400th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession took place over the days 22-25 June. It is not clear how religious this anniversary was but it probably came with some sense of relief in the intensifying atmosphere of the times. A parade was held through the streets with floats representing all the main characters of the historical period of the Reformation, including Martin Luther, Phillip Melanchthon, Justus Jonas and Johannes Burgenhagen as well as Cardinal Thomas Cajetan The Catholic Cardinal who was the Pope's Legate at Augsburg. Notably absent in the parade were both Cochlaeus and Thomas Eck who opposed Melanchthon at the Diet. Souvenirs were craft for the visitors coming to the City for the event and according to a report of Fr Max Josef Metzger, hotels were having a brisk trade. The memorial below was made and marketed at the festival. It both gave the route of the Parade and explained the nature of all the different floats.
Souvenir Momento of the 400th anniversary of the Augsburg Confession in June 1930 with Route Map of the Commemorative parade.
fr max josef metzger writes about the 1930 celebration
Fr Max Josef Metzger ( 1887-1944) was at the time of the 1930 Augsburg celebration living with his Christ the King Institute Community in Meitingen, about 26 km north of Augsburg. He devoted part of one edition of his newspaper to his thoughts on the Celebration and then on the Confession itself. First of all he criticizes that the remembrance is mainly an occasion for tourism and for the hotel business of the town. While he agrees tourism is good for the local economy, he doubts if many indeed visiting are aware of anything to do with the Confession itself or if any have indeed have read the Confession.
Max Josef Metzger at his study in Meitingen.
'In nearby Augsburg they are celebrating happy festivals. The venerable Augusta Vindelicorum is celebrating. Hail to you, Philipp Melanchthon, for your services to the Bavarian tourist industry! It's a pity that you are no longer alive, you would certainly have received a free ticket to all the banquets and dinners. Perhaps you would have even been able to become an honorary member of the Augsburg Hoteliers Association or even a doctorate! An anniversary?
Who has not heard of the Augustana? (To the honor of the guests, I will assume that some of them have already read it...) So it is certainly an opportunity to celebrate an anniversary! That brings foreigners to the country. And since Oberammergau is nearby, the economic situation is doubly good...
Who has not heard of the Augustana? (To the honor of the guests, I will assume that some of them have already read it...) So it is certainly an opportunity to celebrate an anniversary! That brings foreigners to the country. And since Oberammergau is nearby, the economic situation is doubly good...
Metzger then goes on to analyze the Confession and points out the very Catholic nature of the Festival Protestants are supposed to be celebrating. He notes Melancthon's own words in the Confession:
Phillip Melanchthon 1497-1560 author of the Augsburg Confession
'We are prepared to obey the Roman Church, provided that in the leniency that it has always shown towards all peoples, it allows a few things to be set aside or made easier, which we could not even change if we wanted to... Furthermore, we recognize with the deepest respect the authority of the Roman Pope and the entire church constitution, provided that the Roman Pope does not reject us. Because of this, We suffer more hatred in Germany for nothing than because we defend the doctrine of the Roman Church with the greatest steadfastness. We will remain faithful to Christ and the Roman Church until our last breath (even if you refuse to finally accept us in your grace...)"
Metzger asks therefore : Who of the Augsburg festival guests from all over the world still takes the view of such unity with the Roman Catholic Church? But if the Protestants today are of the exact opposite opinion, why are they celebrating the Augsburg Confession?
Metzger asks therefore : Who of the Augsburg festival guests from all over the world still takes the view of such unity with the Roman Catholic Church? But if the Protestants today are of the exact opposite opinion, why are they celebrating the Augsburg Confession?
Then Metzger addresses the Catholic side:
'On the Catholic side, there is naturally even less enthusiasm. One is certainly at a loss as to how to react. One believes that one must not disturb the tourism industry. The "confessional peace" must not be violated. So one remains silent. The Augsburg Confession is not a reason for any party to celebrate happy anniversaries, but rather a reason for the entire German people, regardless of their religious beliefs.'
Metzger therefore calls for repentance from both sides:
Max Josef Metzger's Newspaper Christkoenigbotn Message from June 1930
But we Catholics also have reason to celebrate the Augsburg anniversary in penance. Let us openly admit that the Catholic representatives in Augsburg were not up to the world-historical situation of those days - the essentially Catholic confession (according to the testimony of the Catholic Confutatio itself!) was the occasion for self-examination and confrontation based on a spirit of peace. Self-righteousness has always been mortal enemy of all common sense...
And there really was cause for it. In those years, I had to admit openly and freely that in the holy Church of God "in head and members" there was a lot that was rotten and annoying. And that therefore one in the reform movement should not simply be beaten with a club, but to be evaluated in the deepest sources - and to be appreciated. Well, unfortunately you can only learn one thing from history: people learn nothing from history.
MAX JOSEF METZGER FINISHES HIS WORDS WITH A PRAYER:
(It is our duty, especially this year, to pray together with all those shaken by the godlessness of the religious schism in Germany... for the spirit that overcomes all division and hostility, the spirit of self-conversion and repentance, of peace.
Let us pray with the Church:
"Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her the peace and unity according to your will. Amen." P. ( Paulus)
Let us pray with the Church:
"Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her the peace and unity according to your will. Amen." P. ( Paulus)
