Guido de Bres facts for kids

Guido de Bres (born in 1522, died in 1567) was an important religious leader from the Southern Netherlands. He was a pastor and a key figure in the Protestant Reformation. Guido de Bres studied with famous reformers like John Calvin. He is best known for writing the Belgic Confession, a statement of faith still used by many Reformed Churches today. He was born in Mons and later died in Valenciennes.

Early Life and Beliefs

Guido de Bres was born in Mons, a city now in southwestern Belgium. His father was a painter who worked with glass. Young Guido learned this art from his father.

Guido's mother was a very religious Roman Catholic. Guido himself was raised Catholic and was very devoted to his faith. But as a teenager, he became interested in the Protestant religion. He first followed the teachings of Martin Luther. Later, he became a follower of Calvinism, a different branch of Protestantism. He even went to Geneva to study with John Calvin himself.

Becoming a Reformer

Guido de Bres changed his religious views between the ages of 18 and 25. He likely learned about the Reformed faith by reading books. At that time, many books were banned by the Roman Catholic Church. These included new translations of the Bible and writings by Protestant thinkers.

In 1548, while still in Mons, Guido became friends with an English couple. They were accused of going against the Roman Catholic faith. Guido had to leave the country and fled to England.

Time in England

England was a safe place for Protestants during the reign of Edward VI. Guido de Bres met many other religious refugees from Europe there. He attended the church led by John à Lasco. In 1551, he learned about à Lasco's London Confession, another statement of faith. Guido left England in 1552, before Mary, a Catholic queen, came to power.

Return to the Low Countries

After leaving England, de Bres traveled to Germany. He later moved back to Geneva for a short time. Around 1559, he returned to the Low Countries (which include modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands). He became a traveling Calvinist preacher.

From 1559 to 1561, he worked as a minister in Tournai. In 1561, de Bres wrote the famous Belgic Confession. This document was meant to explain to the Spanish government that Calvinists were not extreme rebels. Instead, they wanted to reform the Roman Catholic Church based on the Bible. The ideas in the Belgic Confession were strongly influenced by Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion".

To make sure the Spanish government saw his confession, de Bres did something bold. On the night of November 1, 1561, he threw a copy of his confession over the castle wall of Tournai. This was where Margaret of Parma, the governor of the Netherlands, was staying.

Death and Lasting Impact

In 1567, after a difficult time known as the Siege of Valenciennes, de Bres was arrested. He was charged because of his Calvinist beliefs and his actions during the siege. He was put on trial by the Spanish Inquisition, which was a religious court. He was sentenced to death.

Guido de Bres was executed in Valenciennes on May 31, 1567. He died in front of a large crowd after sharing his final thoughts about his faith. Just twelve days before his death, he wrote a letter to his wife, showing his strong trust in God.

De Bres wrote several books, but the Belgic Confession is his most important work. It is part of the Three Forms of Unity, which are official statements of belief used by many Reformed churches around the world. His work continues to be important for these churches today.