Tuesday, September 8, 2026

It is the 8th of September 2026. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

This many shows and no specific episode dedicated to one of the giants of the Reformation? He has been called “the equal of Calvin” and “the most learned of all the Italian refugees”. And, as you hear the story of Peter Martyr Vermigli, you may hear echoes of our show last weekend with Balthasar Hubmaier. You may also wonder why anyone would take the name “martyr” and if that’s just asking for it.

Peter Vermigli was born in Florence on this, the 8th of September in 1499 to Maria and Stefano. Stefano was a wealthy shoemaker and this allowed his son (the oldest of three) to be educated, first at home and then at the Cathedral school. In 1518 he joined the order of Augustinian Canons Regular. Note the year (he’s going to be confronted with the Reformation from its onset) and that he was Augustinian (similar to Luther). When he joined the Augustinians, he took the namesake of Saint Peter of Verona, who was martyred in 1252- hence “Peter Martyr,” a name he would keep.

At the University of Padua, he would become associated with a circle of humanists. One was Reginald Pole, the cousin of Henry VIII of England. A popular preacher and teacher, he served as a Vicar in Bologna, where he learned Hebrew from a local Jewish doctor. He was made Abbot of Spoleto and was in the circle of Gasparo Contarini, the Catholic Cardinal who sought reconciliation with the Reformers. In 1537, Vermigli was then made an abbot in Naples; it was there that he met Juan Valdez, the shadowy reformer, and it is here that he would read the contraband books of Luther and others. He soon began preaching Reformation doctrines and was suspended for denying the doctrine of purgatory.

When the Inquisition was re-established in 1542, Vermigli went into self-imposed exile. He left a note behind that read that he was “free from hypocrisy through the grace of Christ”. He made his way to Florence and then to Zurich, Basel, and eventually Strasbourg at the invitation of Martin Bucer.

In 1547 he was invited to England by Thomas Cranmer- Henry had died, and his young son Edward came to the throne. Cranmer invited Vermigli and others to help develop a distinct Reformed English church. He was made Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford, where he was influential in the drafting of the Book of Common Prayer and the 42 Articles. Vermigli’s doctrine of the Eucharist cut a middle path between Zwingli and Luther. Similar to Calvin, he taught that Christ was actually present, despite the outward substances remaining. But, unlike Luther, he taught that with Christ at the right hand of the Father, he could not be physically present in the elements.

With the death of Edward and the ascension of Queen Mary, Vermigli went into exile once again, and again to Strasbourg. However, Strasbourg had adopted the Lutheran Reformation, and Vermigli’s teaching on the Lord’s Supper forced him to Zurich, where he would spend the rest of his life. He was invited as a companion to Theodore Beza for the colloquy at Poissy attempting to reconcile French Catholics and Huguenots. He would open his house for others fleeing religious persecution and wrote extensively on theology. He died in Zurich in 1562.

As he was in life, so too has he been in death- an Italian refugee, never quite at home and thus sometimes forgotten or falling between the cracks (how did we get this far in this show without him!). His Loci Communes, that is, his Theological Commonplaces- a kind of systematic theology is likely his most popular work, edited, expanded, and widely translated. Born on this, the 8th of September in 1499 Peter Martyr Vermigli, son of a shoemaker and theologian in exile was 63 years old.

The Last word for today comes from the daily lectionary and more of your government's favorite Bible verses- this from Romans 13

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 8th of September 2026 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man who agrees; they do tend to be agents of wrath… he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who could just read the daily Psalm instead of stirring the pot with the assigned epistle reading… I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.