John Ronge; The Holy Coat of Treves; New German-Catholic Church

"The Holy Coat of Treves" by Johannes Ronge is a mid-19th-century book that examines the public display of the Holy Coat relic in Treves and analyzes its impact on religious followers. The book starts with a quote from Luther, immediately establishing a tone of doubt towards Church-endorsed relics and their benefits. It carefully looks at the history of the Holy Coat, the excitement it causes during showings, and commonly, the lower-class pilgrims it attracts. The author voices worries about how believers are taken advantage of for money and the possible harm to their spirits from these rituals. Ronge illustrates the supposed miracles and questionable motives behind the veneration, urging readers to think critically about established religion.