After Darkness, Light

The motto of the city of Geneva, Switzerland, is the "Post Tenebras Lux." It is Latin for "After Darkness, Light." It was the motto of the early Reformers and is engraved on the Reformation Wall monument in Geneva. 

We at Citygate Films produced a short film about John Calvin's Geneva with John Piper for his ministry, Desiring God. We filmed there in May, as Dr. Piper was speaking at The Gospel Coalition's conference there. And since today is Reformation Day, in honor of Martin Luther posting his 95 theses on the Wittenberg door in 1517, Desiring God released this short film.

One woman's name is also included at that monument (seen in this film). Her name is Marie Dentière. I read about her life in the book, Feminine Threads, which I highly recommend for an understanding of Christian women in history. Here is an excerpt from that book, written by Dr. Diana Severance:

Marie Dentière became abbess of the Augustinian convent of Tournai in Flanders in 1517, the year Martin Luther published his 95 Theses. Luther's ideas quickly spread to Flanders, and around 1524, Marie converted to the belief that salvation came by faith in Christ, not works in the Church. Forced from the convent and abandoned by her family, Marie fled to Strasbourg. There she met and married a former priest, Simon Robert. When Robert died in 1533, Marie married Antoine Froment, a Reformer in Geneva. Antoine at the time was a teacher and a merchant, though later he became a pastor. Marie helped Antoine in the shop while also caring for her three children. ...

[In 1536] Marie anonymously published the first Protestant history of the Genevan Reformation - The War and Deliverance of the City of Geneva. This small book described the victory of the gospel over the tyranny of the Pope and the Duke of Savoy. Her history was not merely a chronicle of contemporary events but a theological reflection upon them. She wrote to convince the Genevans of God's purpose for their city. Soon after, John Calvin arrived and worked with William Farel to establish the government of the city based on the Bible.

Marie's productivity as a wife, shopkeeper, and writer was grounded in her love for the Bible. Her passion for truth is the reason she, like the others honored there, are part of this monument. We share in that heritage. Happy Reformation Day.

Comments

[Karan]

Reminds me of "Now you know the rest of the story" So many people of God are used to uphold the truth and spread the truth that we will never get the chance to meet..some are hidden jewels in God's economy of precious people..

[Hannah]

Thank you for sharing about Marie... such an inspirational & faithful woman who went 530 years ahead of us - following the same God. Amazing!

[Shelly Sorem]

What an inspiration Marie is - thanks for sharing. We all need to be reminded about how others have chosen to love and serve the Lord throughout their lives - regardless of how busy they were! We tend to think that we are the first people in history that are this busy but the fact is - busyness is just an excuse not to find time for God. Spending time with Him is as much of a choice today as it was in the past. I pray that all of your readers make the choice to spend time with Him daily - it will truly transform their lives!