Biography of John Huss

John Huss was one of the principle Christian leaders responsible for helping to ignite the reformation, as he was a proponent of John Wycliffe, who is largely credited with kindling the flame which let to the sweeping changes in Christendom.

As a Catholic priest he attempted to reform the Medieval church, attempting to engender a discourse over the writings and assertions of Wycliffe, even though he didn't necessarily agree with everything Wycliffe wrote. He was adamant that they weren't to be cast off as casually as they had been by Catholic leaders.

Those believing in the teachings of Huss were called Hussites in that day, and later on those that were called the Moravian Church by outsiders considered themselves spiritual heirs of Huss.

Among other things, Huss battled against the assertion by Catholic clergy that they were the only ones making up the church. Huss and Wycliffe both blasted this as a falsehood. That easily can be seen as a precursor to one of the main themes of the reformation: the priesthood of all believers.

The priesthood of all believers refers to more than that of course, but to be even considered a priesthood, ordinary believers first had to be recognized as officially part of the church.

Huss also spoke against the immorality of Catholic leaders and their love for money by charging for the services offered by priests, such as "confession, for mass, for the sacrament, for indulgences, for churching a woman, for a blessing, for burials, for funeral services and prayers," said Huss, according to Macek, 16.

Below is a film biography of Huss and his battle against the excesses and immorality of the Catholic church leaders of his day.

Huss, who is also called Jan Huss outside the West, was burned at the stake on July 6, 1415.

Huss and Wycliffe are two of the major influences on Martin Luther who is largely credited with sparking the reformation.

Biography of John Huss