The Devil's Bagpipe: The True Life of Martin Luther

by James Lang, Fr Robert Nixon (translator)

In the following pages, we read about an ambitious Luther trying to obtain for himself the dignity of the cardinalate at a young age. We learn about the true motives for his objections to indulgences, which sprang principally from resentment at the loss of income for his own Augustinian Order. We witness also his bad temper and vitriolic tongue, his nocturnal conversations with demons (whether they were real or imagined), and his scandalous and degrading bouts of drunkenness and debauchery. The title given here for this biography, The Devil's Bagpipe, was suggested by a striking woodcut image produced in 1535 by Erhard Schoen, and reproduced on the cover of this volume.

This is a work which all Catholics (and indeed, all people interested in history) should read, for it substantially modifies and corrects the popular but inaccurate "myth" of Luther, replacing it with a more balanced, credible and truthful account of the life, character and motives of a man who gravely distorted the Gospel of Christ and did untold damage to His one true Catholic Church.

106 pages, Paperback

Published January 10, 2024

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil's Bagpipe was written by a man who was alive at the same time as Martin Luther was, he spoke to many people who knew Martin Luther really well.

This book is a really important book for Protestants and "Bible only" Christians to read.

Martin Luther was a Catholic Monk he wanted the Pope to make him a Cardinal even though he didn't have the required experience and he was still a young man in his twenties.

Martin Luther claimed to have spoken many times to the Devil and demons.
He was in deep sin and found it too difficult to live a sinless life. He had an affair with a Nun, he hated the sacraments of the Catholic Church because of all of his sinful ways. This is the beginning of him deciding the Church needed a Reformation a change to fit his lifestyle of sin.
He has also said that if he didn't understand or like something that was in the Bible he removed it, he removed text and entire books.

But unfortunately that's not all he did. Martin Luther also blasphemied Jesus Christ. He said some awful shocking things.

After reading this book I was a bit skeptical of some of these claims being true, so I researched and sadly I found many other books and authors etc that go into this a bit more. Martin Luther was a disturbed man.

I highly recommend this book to all reformed Christians, it is important to know what exactly you are following and the background of the person that makes certain claims about truth and being saved. As the Lord says you must discern.
Martin Luther truly believed that he was superior to Jesus Christ.
Martin Luther said he spoke to the Devil on a regular basis.
Luther also said numerous times that you can go ahead and sign and "sin greatly" because you will never lose your salvation. But thats HIS interpretation not what came from the One who decides who is saved, Jesus Christ.

This book helped make it clear to me that discernment of spirits is really important and what spirit did Martin Luther have (he said he spoke with the Devil regularly).

This is a must read.

[Galen Rohr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic work that shows from what kind of origin Protestantism derives, and the true life of this supposed "great reformer." Laing was also one of the only writers who knew Luther and wrote about him within a century of his death. Luther was as arrogant as it gets, overflowing with pride in his own intellectual might. He was also a drunk, whore, apostate, and slanderer, and known for his Satanic apparitions. He most definitely is not the sort you would want to commend yourself. He is perhaps the greatest heresiarch in Church history, and one of Her worst enemies.

Here are my notes:

1. On the Characteristics of Heretics:
“He discoursed at excessive length, in a manner that was deeply ambiguous, obscure and perplexing, to such a point that all of his listeners became deeply frustrated and profoundly bored with him. This is very typical of all cunning heretics, who strive to frame their erroneous positions in a way which eludes all proper understanding and evaluation.” (Laing, p. 59).

2. Luther and Henry VIII nearly single handedly destroy Europe
“It was out of this scandal that schism against the Church first emerged in England. After this schism from Rome, England began to follow heretical doctrines. It is out of this pestilential doctrine of Lutheran heresy that Scotland also has now almost perished, that Ireland is sorely vexed, that France is agitated, and that Flanders has been alienated from its king – in short, that all of Europe has been imperiled!” (Laing, p. 65).

3. Luther’s recommended changes resemble those implemented at Vatican II:
“Shortly after this, in an effort to tear the general populace from the unity and concord of the Catholic Church, Luther took it upon himself to rewrite the book of ceremonies of the Church. To add to the confusion, he changed nothing in the customary sacred vestments of the Roman Church. He also changed nothing in the Canon of the Mass, with the exception of removing the memorial of the dead. But this audacious heretic demanded that the Epistle and Gospel be read in the German language. He also ordered that all sacred images should be destroyed, with the exception of those depicting the death and passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. And he removed all feast days of the saints from the calendar. In addition, Luther took it upon himself to rewrite the ceremonies for baptism and marriage, establishing entirely new rites to suit his own ‘new Gospel!’” (Laing, p. 71).

[Zach de Walsingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was tragedy, comedy, and horror rolled into one.