There were no extra Bibles; a Bible in those days cost the equivalent of 8-10 thousand dollars. That would have been a bit like car dealers passing out keys to new cars at parties.
Most people who were (a) literate; and (b) not dirt-poor had a book called a "primer," which contained a psalter, other parts of the Bible, the Mass, and various devotions, etc.
The idea the people were ignorant of the Bible before the Reformation is somewhat silly. (Although many people were illiterate, and so obviously couldn't actually read a Bible, but they could be, and were, taught big parts of the content through plays/skits, songs, etc.)
Oh, and it was Luther's confessor who told him to read Romans and Galatians when Luther expressed his concern that he couldn't "do enough" to get back into God's good graces. Just one of the many facts of the story your preacher omits from his "history".
I agree with you. I was being sarcastic to vladimir998 who seems to have a idea that everyone had Bibles. You may wish to past this along.
The idea the people were ignorant of the Bible before the Reformation is somewhat silly. (Although many people were illiterate, and so obviously couldn't actually read a Bible, but they could be, and were, taught big parts of the content through plays/skits, songs, etc.)
I think you make a valid point. I don't think the author claims otherwise. It's stated Luther was familar with parts of the scripture but never understood the whole story. I think that was indicative of many people at that time. They couldn't read. They didn't have Bibles. But undoubtedly they went to Mass.
But bear in mind that many of them attended mass very infrequently due to the hardship of their lives. In one of these articles it talked about how they would hold mass only four times a year due to the effects of the Black Plague. They certainly must have had an understanding of some sort but it was limited simply because they infrequently attended Church.