The Malleus Maleficarum (commonly rendered into English as “Hammer of [the] Witches”; Der Hexenhammer in German) is a treatise on the prosecution of witches, written in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer, a German Catholic clergyman. The book was first published in Speyer, Germany, in 1487. Jacob Sprenger is also often attributed as an author, but some scholars now believe that he became associated with the Malleus Maleficarum largely as a result of Kramer’s wish to lend his book as much official authority as possible. Both purported writers of the work were Dominican clergy, and the work came about as “the result of a peculiarly Dominican encounter between learned and folk traditions, an encounter determined in part by the demands of inquisitorial office, and in part by the requirements of effective preaching and pastoral care.”Template:Broedel In 1490, three years after its publication, the Catholic Church condemned the Malleus Maleficarum, although it was later used by royal courts during the Renaissance, and contributed to the increasingly brutal prosecution of witchcraft during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Kramer wrote the Malleus shortly after being expelled from Innsbruck by the local bishop after a failed attempt to conduct his own witchcraft prosecution. Kramer’s purpose in writing the book was to explain his own views on witchcraft, systematically refute arguments claiming that witchcraft does not exist, discredit those who expressed skepticism about its reality, claim that those who practised witchcraft were more often women than men, and to convince magistrates to use Kramer’s recommended procedures for finding and convicting witches.
The Malleus Maleficarum (via Sacred Texts)
Normally for our Coven the Malleus Maleficarum only holds importance during Samhein for two reasons: Remembering of our ancestors, and the death of innocent people at the hands of fanaticism, ignorance and discrimination regardless if they were pagan or not. A very beautiful and symbolic ritual of remembrance was created by one of the Elders around these events.
History is not always pleasant, and magick/witchcraft is not always fairies, rainbows and red wine reflecting the light of the Lady upon its surface. People tend to forget these things to quickly, and then scoff at Covens who hold some Secrets for the sake of Tradition. The Burning Times are the darkest patch in the History of Witchcraft, and it is in honour of it that Covens like mine hold some Secrets (usually just the identity of members). We still live in a world full of Religious Fanatics and as open and free we can be now, the dangers still exist. However not in the form of a stake and a fire, but home made explosives. I guess the most common saying around major losses and times of war hold ground here…
LEST WE FORGET!
And in the words spoken by the High Priestess of my Coven at Samhein… “Never again, The Burning Times”.
Wiccan Witchcraft 