When Luther was 21 he almost died. He was in a terrible storm where he was nearly struck by lightning. He was so scared that he yelled "Saint Anne, Help me! I will become a monk!" Martins dad was not happy with him.

When Martin was a monk trying to find peace of mind. He confessed his sins, slept with no blankets, and fasted regularly fasted. Even after all that he still felt rejected by god

Luther sat alone studying the phrase "The just shall live by faith". Suddenly Martin thought he understood. He realized that a strong faith in god is all the matters.

Martin became offended by the deeps of Johann Tezel. He sold letters of indulgence or pardons that release the  buyer from purgatory. He sold these deeds to raise money to re build St. Peters Cathedral in Rome.

Indulgences are used to free a sinner from only the 

penance a priest had set.

 Tetzel was overeager to collect money.

He made people think they could buy there way into heaven.

Luther was very angry about Tetzel's tactics. His anger led him to write 95 theses attacking the "pardon-merchants" he posted it on the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. Six months later Martins name was know all over Germany. This was the start of the Reformation.  

The pope tried to silence Martin. Martin wanted a full reform of the church. His teachings were Salivation by faith alone, The bible as the only authority for Christian, The priesthood of all believers.