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Erasmus: An Introduction

© Michelle Powell-Smith

Desiderius Erasmus was, without a doubt, one of the greatest thinkers of the sixteenth century. Erasmus was a humanist, deeply concerned with religious reform. Unlike many of the reformers discussed in previous articles, Erasmus continued to seek reform from within the Catholic Church.

Erasmus was born in Holland in 1466, to apparently well off, but unmarried parents. He was well educated, and in 1492 took both monastic and priestly vows. He travelled widely throughout Western Europe during the 1490's and early part of the 1500's, spending time in England and Italy. He eventually received a papal dispensation allowing him to remain in the world rather than in a monastery.

Erasmus was among the most prominent scholars of his day. He was a close friend of Sir Thomas More in England and maintained a long correspondence with Luther and several other reformers.

Erasmus criticized the church in many of his writings; however, he remained loyal to the Catholic church throughout his life. He was publicly supportive of Catholic doctrine concerning the Eucharist, and while a friend of Luther's, he politely refused to support Luther's cause. Erasmus' private religous beliefs are perhaps more Protestant than Catholic, as we might define them; however, his goal was to create a peaceful society, free of violence and corruption. He saw a universal church as a means to that end.

Erasmus was a prolific writer. Among his best known writings are the highly satirical in Praise of Folly, and the more serious Manual for a Christian Gentleman, and the Institutio Principis Christiani. Erasmus is also known for his careful and heavily researched Latin translation of the New Testament.

For more information on Erasmus, please see http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/e/erasmu... To read some of Erasmus' works, please see http://books.mirror.org/gb.erasmus.html