Martin Luther and the Devil

During the height of his popularity, Martin Luther was almost continually under the influence of morbid impressions. His chief hallucinations consisted in visions of Satan, and of men with horns and tails, with the features of animals, converted into various inanimate objects, dressed in all sorts of strange and fantastic garbs, some foaming at the mouth, others roaring and screaming with rage. While staying at the castle of Wartburg, he declared that he had conferences with the devil. He described the appearance, voice, and manner of his Satanic friend; had arguments with him concerning private Masses; acknowledges that the devil got the best of the argument, and convinced him that the Mass was idolatrous. Convinced of his errors; he decided to follow Satan’s advice and never celebrated Mass again.