The Boy King Who Remade Christianity

 A boy on the throne. A nation divided. Under Edward VI, England experienced some of the most aggressive religious reforms of the Tudor era. In this video, we examine the policies that transformed worship, silenced opposition, and set the stage for even greater conflict. 

Transcript

0:00

In my last episode, which was the first episode in first layer of the Onion, as Shrek likes to say, we covered King Henry the Eighth and his contribution. But let's recap a little bit. Just in case you haven't seen that episode. King Henry was in love with his Catholic faith. He got deemed defender of the faith. But when his wife, Catherine of Aragon gave birth to a baby girl, Mary the First, instead of a baby boy, he wanted out of the marriage. But the Pope said, nope, no way. So with his eyes on another woman already, King Henry the Eighth passed a few acts and laws to make him the head of church of England instead of Rome, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn, she too only gave him a baby girl, Elizabeth the first, which unfortunately led to her being executed so that he could marry Jane Seymour, who did finally give him a son named Edward the Six. But sadly Jane passed away soon after giving birth, and Henry went on to remarry three more times to Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and finally Catherine Parr, who outlived Henry the Eighth and who was the one responsible for reconnecting King Henry with his two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, which comes into play later in the series. now, if you haven't seen the episode I released a few weeks ago, I highly suggest you go watch that one, because it'll cover a lot. A lot of the details that you may not know about, let's continue. Before his passing, Henry the Eighth managed to break away from the Pope and the Catholic Church, make himself the head of the Church of England, kept many Catholic believes, unbeknownst to many people, who think he was the Protestant king, and he punished people who were quote unquote, too Protestant, he closed down monasteries and took their wealth to grow his kingdom. So that was pretty much his contribution to the Reformation. But we're going to go even further into that today. All in all, Henry was not theologically Protestant. His split was more political and personal than it was doctrinal, doctrinal, doctrinal. His six wives reflect the stormy mix of personal, political, and religious motives that defined his reign and left a lasting legacy on English religion and monarchy that we still see the effects of till this day. But of course, he wasn't the only player that took part in that reformation, and if he were, we wouldn't be here today. So today we are covering his son's reign. Today we are talking about Edward the Sixth, if you like, knowing the history of your faith, as well as the dark, the mysterious, the mystic, and all of the miracles that comes with it. Make sure you subscribe and follow for more. But for now, let's get right into today's episode. The unseen witness. Okay, so Edward the sixth was born on October 12th, 1537 to the King's third wife, Jane Seymour, who, like we mentioned earlier, passed away a few days after giving birth to him. Edward's birth at Hampton Court Palace represented the end of Henry's obsessive quest for a male heir, the very one that led to this break with Rome and the first place. Given that his mother Jane passed away, Henry assured Edward was raised with the best education, money and power could buy. At just six years old, Edward was learning scripture, philosophy, tongues, and all kinds of liberal sciences under people like Richard Cox, a notable Protestant reformer, and Jonathan Cheke a humanist scholar who was super influenced by the Protestant reformist ideas. so are we paying attention to the pattern here? Protestant reformers were planting their theological seeds in the future King's brain. Okay, it's moving in a certain direction Edward went on to learn other things like fluency in Spanish, French and Italian as well as geometry. and a few instruments, I mean, honestly, super impressive because at six years old I was probably playing with dirt or something and nowhere near this, which is crazy. When Edward was only 12 years old, he was raised so Protestant he had already written a thesis on the Pope being the Antichrist. Even though. And here's the kicker his father, King Henry the Eighth, had raised him with many Catholic celebrations, such as his baptism as an infant, presence of the Christ in the Eucharist, and reverence for images and relics of the saints. So that begs the question why did King Henry the Eighth allow his son to be educated by Protestant reformers, if his beliefs were still very much Catholic? And the answer is actually a little bit crazy, and it's because Henry, eighth recognize the shifting religious “wind” towards Protestantism, and therefore he had his son Edward, educated by reformers to ensure England's church adapted to these changes while maintaining royal control, even as Henry personally continued to hold on to many Catholic beliefs, which, if you truly think about it's super crazy because Henry really believed in the Sacramentals and sacraments of the Catholic Church as necessary for salvation. Yet he chose to essentially push his child upbringing in a different direction to keep control of the Crown after he passed. And we're talking about the son that he loved more than anything, the one who he referred to as, quote unquote, the whole realm's most precious jewel and quote, which honestly just blows my mind because as a Catholic, myself and my sister who is undergoing Orthodoxy right now, she was going to undergo Catholicism, but she actually ended up going towards Orthodoxy, which I love and respect my Orthodox brothers and sisters. Neither her nor I could imagine, educating ourselves on what we believe as, the fullness of the faith, the fullness of the truth, and then raising our children or even our significant others, pushing them in a direction that we know doesn't lead to salvation and the way that we theologically believe, it is done, does that make any sense? It's not a blow at anybody. I just mean, like, even on the flip side, if you're Protestant and you believe that the Catholic faith is wrong, right? Can you imagine pushing your child or your significant other in that direction to keep the crown, to keep the power? It like completely dismantles any belief in core virtue in the Christian faith, no matter what theology you follow. I just think that's super crazy. Isn't that crazy? It's crazy. So you may be wondering how the roots of these beliefs affected us all as Catholics and in general as Christians? Well, ladies and gents, let's get into that right now. On January 28th, 1547, King Henry the Eighth passed away. He was buried at Windsor on February 16th in the same tomb as Jane Seymour, as he had wished to do so. And I didn't have to mention that part, but I did think that it was really cute, and it really did show how much he really, truly loved Jane Seymour. Anyways, on February 20th, his son Edward, the sixth at only nine years old, was named the King. But of course, although he held the title, he was only a kid, so its uncle, Edward Seymour, was appointed Lord protector and held almost complete control over England's government. Seymour used this power to push the Church of England firmly towards Protestantism, the faith that he had been raised with under the authority of the English Crown rather than the Pope. So we're continuing that pattern. This meant that religious changes were made by the King and his council, and not by church leaders with apostolic succession, which is a special authority believed to be passed down from Jesus to the apostles and their successors. Unlike the apostles, who were believed to have the gift of knowing God's will directly through the Holy Spirit, the protectors and English rulers were political leaders, making religious decisions based on their understanding and the needs of the kingdom, rather than divine revelation, which would be for the society as a whole. Under, Seymour’s leadership, the church introduced the first edition of the Book of Common Prayer, which replaced the Latin Mass with English language services. This prayer book condemned many traditional Catholic beliefs, especially the idea of the mass as a sacrifice offered by priests. It removed the practice of confessions to priests, encouraging believers to confess directly to God and change the understanding of the Eucharist from the Catholic teaching of transubstantiation, the bread and wine becoming Christ's actual body and blood, to a symbolic tribute and a symbolic one only. Seymour's reforms allowed clergy to marry, which was breaking Roman Catholic rule of priestly celibacy in churches. Many items were removed or destroyed, including statues and paintings of saints, stained glass windows depicting religious scenes, altars dedicated to the Eucharist, relics and shrines, candles and incense that were used, and worship rosary, crucifixes and other devotional objects. These were removed because reformers believed they encourage idolatry, which refers to worshiping objects or scenes instead of God. Something that I can assure you neither the Catholic nor the Orthodox Church do. We are not taught to be, worshiping objects or scenes or anything of the sort. And I think many people also, and you can see this with the reformers as well. ironically, what they missed in the point is idolatry can also mean worshiping celebrities, kings, people of power, politicians, yourself, money. Your sins. So it's ironic that the symbols of Christ or worship scenes or saints who lived a certain way were considered idolatry, but at the same time, they wanted the power of the crown to grow. And a lot of the changes were meshed into politics and power. So I just wanted to give my $0.02 into that, because think it gets overlooked a lot. every denomination has its own form. So I just wanted to share that do with it what you will. reformers aimed to return to what they saw as a pure, simpler Christianity based on the Bible alone. After, Seymour was removed and executed, a man named John Dudley, another hardcore Protestant reformer, led through a council rather than as an official protector. Dudley continued at Protestant reforms and introduced the second edition of the Book of Common Prayer, which made a worship even simpler and more focused on Scripture and preaching. I have to interrupt for a second, because again, this is another thing where when the terms simpler and more focused on Scripture and preaching come into play, it hurts my heart because I see very pivotal parts of our faith And things that were mentioned in Scripture being ripped away from practice in the name of something simpler. And, the whole concept of sola scriptura, I do it piqued my interest because for years and years and years after Jesus left and taught the apostles what to do, and then they went to spread the good word and the teachings. There was no Bible in the form that we had today. So I do find the concept of sola scriptura and no church traditions. And, church history, not being utilized very, very interesting. But you can let me know your thoughts down below. Again, I don't mean it with any disrespect. It's just the way I see it. What I'm doing, my research, the concept of sola scriptura piqued my interest, so let me know your thoughts down below. I'm always open to hearing what you have to say. Under Dudley's leadership, the removal of Catholic symbols and rituals intensified. Saints and icons were completely banned from churches, and prayers to saints were forbidden. The use of incense, holy water, and many traditional ceremonies or objects of ceremonies were also stopped because these reforms were carried out under royal authority and not apostolic authority given by Christ. Many Catholics questioned their legitimacy and believed that the true spiritual authority still rested with the Pope and the Catholic Church. Catholics were increasingly seen as opponents to the new religious order, and sometimes treated as political threats or, quote unquote, rebels. While many welcomed this new approach, others felt lost or upset by the loss of familiar rituals, images and traditions that had been part of their spiritual lives for generations. Lots of side notes today, but I do find this also super interesting because, if you study church history, you will see that Catholics and Christians in general, because before the Orthodox and the Catholic were split, they were considered nice scenic Christians because of the Nicene Creed and or Nicene Creed. And they were seen, by even like powers, like the Roman emperors as rivals or a threat to the political power, and here we are again, in an open Christian world, in a country that used to be all Catholic. Now Catholics are once again seen as rebels or problem cause, or The outcasts, you know. So food for thought. Also super crazy. I have so much energy. It is lent and I am following the traditional Orthodox lent because I am supporting my sister who was atheist for many years. So I'm just so happy she's getting close to the Lord, our Lord. And so I'm doing that orthodox fast so I'm not eating anything. And then at night I eat and I'm it's fully vegan fast and I have so much energy, it's insane. Okay. Edward, the sixth reign, shaped by his youth and the power of his protectors, was a turning point in English Christianity and moved the country toward Protestantism, but also created an even deeper division. And to make matters worse, King Edward was dying. As Edward the Six grew older, he began to suffer from serious health problems, and in early 1553, when he was only about 15 years old, he developed a long lasting cough, fever, and weakness. Most historians believe he had tuberculosis, though some think it may have been another serious lung infection. At first, Edward may not have understood how sick he truly was, but as the months passed and his strength faded, it became clear to him and to those around him he might not live much longer. young king, who had ruled since he was nine years old, now faced the frightening truth that he was dying. And the weeks before his death, his thoughts were fixed on one question what would happen to England after him? His greatest fear was his older sister, Mary, the first of England, who, like her mother Catherine of Aragon, remained deeply devoted to the Catholic faith. Edward had spent his entire reign guiding England further into Protestantism, and he believed with certainty if Mary took the throne, she would undo everything and restore the country to the authority of Rome. To Edward. This was not simply a difference in policy or preference, but a direct threat to what he believed was the true faith. The reforms made during his reign were not political experiments. In his mind, but necessary corrections, and the thought of watching them being reversed after his death filled him with urgency as his strength continued to fade. Edward also struggled over what to do about his other sister, Elizabeth the 1st. Elizabeth was Protestant and much closer to him age, and the two had shared similar tutors and a rigorous humanist education. They were both sharp and thoughtful well trained in theology and languages, but Elizabeth's life had been marked by uncertainty from the time she was a child. After her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed, Elizabeth was declared illegitimate and raised under suspicion, moving carefully through a court where trust was rare and loyalties shifted quickly. Edward likely did not doubt her intelligence nor her faith, but he may have questioned whether she had enough support or political authority to defend the Protestant reforms in a kingdom that was already so deeply divided. Now, under succession law passed during their father's reign, both Mary and Elizabeth were legally next in line after Edward. Their claims were recognized even after the years of confusion over their legitimacy. Yet as Edward's condition worsened and it became clear that he would not recover, he chose to act in what would become his final political decision. He set both of his sisters aside from the Crown, instead, he named Lady Jane Gray as his heir. Jane was about 15 or 16 years old. Highly educated and firmly Protestant, she was Edward's first cousin once removed. Descended from Henry the eighth. Younger sister. Edward believed she would preserve the religious reforms he had worked to establish and protect the Protestant direction of the Kingdom. When Edward died on July 6th, 1553, the news was kept quiet for several days. While those in power prepare to secure the succession. Then, on July 10th, Lady Jane Gray was proclaimed queen, but England did not move with her. They refused to accept her. Mary, the First of England, did not hesitate at this opportunity. As soon as she learned that her brother had passed away, and that Lady Jane Gray had been proclaimed queen, she left immediately for East Anglia, a region where she knew she had loyal supporters. From there, she publicly declared herself the rightful queen. Under the succession law established during her father's reign, wrote letters to nobles, city leaders, and officials across the country calling on them to stand with her. One by one, men began to choose sides. Troops gathered. Local leaders pledged their loyalty. Support for Mary grew quickly, not only among Catholics, but also among those who believed that whatever their religion, she had the stronger legal claim to the Crown. In London confidence in Jane's rule began to crumble. The Duke of Northumberland, who had arranged Jane's claim and hoped to hold power through her, try to raise an army to stop Mary before she could march towards the Capitol. But the momentum was no longer with him. Members of the Privy Council started to reconsider their position, watching as more and more of the country declared for Mary, the atmosphere shifted almost overnight. What had seemed settled now looked fragile. After only nine days, the council in London changed course. On July 19th, 1553, they abandoned Jane and proclaimed Mary the rightful queen, church bells rang throughout the city. Crowds gathered in the streets and they started cheering Mary's name. The transfer of loyalty was swift and decisive. Jane was arrested and taken to the Tower of London, the same fortress where monarchs were crowned and prisoners were held. At first, Mary did not intend to execute Jane. Jane had not fought for the crown. She had been placed on it by a powerful man. So this was not Jane's fault at all. but months later, when a rebellion broke out that aimed to remove Mary and restore Jane, the young girl became too dangerous of a threat leave alive. In February 1554, Lady Jane Gray was executed at 16 or 17 years old, meeting her end with a reported calm and faith Honestly, that's super freaking tragic. She had nothing to do with this. when Edward the Sixth passed away. It happened in a single day. But the impact of his death reached far beyond that moment. What followed was not just a fight for a crown. It was a struggle over faith and authority and the direction of an entire nation that was continuing to find direction and take home. After King Henry the Eighth rock, the boat at the center of it were young rulers shaped by belief and circumstances, carrying the weight of England's religious divide on shoulders that were barely grown. I mean, King Edward passed away at 15 years old. He was given the crown at nine. There was manipulation by his protectors And then Lady Jane, she was only 15 or 16 years old, passed away at 17. I mean, these are literal kids, guys. literal kids. Can you imagine your mentality when you were that young? During Edward's reign, the country was definitely pushed firmly into Protestant reforms. We can see that King Henry, he broke away from the crown and made himself the head of the Church of England. But he kept everything. I mean, he kept confessionals, purgatory, baptisms for infants. He kept the presence of the Eucharist, the sacrifice of the mass. So he didn't really actually push any Protestant reforms the way many people think. But Edward, under his rule and from the authority that was, in his head constantly, definitely moved into the Protestant theology that we see very much alive till this day, Adding to that was the attendance at the new Church of England. Services were required by law, even for Catholics, and refusing to attend could result in fines, imprisonment or worse. While only a small number of Catholics were executed, and it was usually those who openly resisted or challenged the new religious laws, the government did pressure, punish, and silence those who refused to conform to Protestant beliefs. Now, if you are a Catholic like me, and you find yourself listening to this thinking quote, we would never do that. end quote, history quickly humbles all of us. When Mary, the first of England, became Queen, her decision to execute hundreds of Protestants earned her the name, quote unquote, Bloody Mary. And it cast a long shadow over Catholic history in England, a dark history that we will step into in the next episode we cover. So yeah, guys, isn't that crazy? The folklore of Bloody Mary say her name three times and I wonder how it evolved into that. If we can make the episode short enough, packed with rich history. I'm going to probably add that little tidbit of Bloody Mary, how she developed into Bloody Mary and what Bloody Mary is today. But yeah, that was Edward, the sixth contribution to the Protestant Reformation. I hope that you enjoyed this episode. Don't forget to follow subscribe like review, whether you're listening to this episode on YouTube or on Spotify or Apple. It really helps me a lot. with that being said, thank you so much for being here with me today. I appreciate you so much and I will see you in the next episode when we cover Bloody Mary by.