The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

II. Older Italian Waldenses Form Connecting Link

Although it is frequently stated that the Waldenses separated themselves from Rome,, it would be more accurate from their point of view to say that Rome, degenerating, gradually departed from the original principles of the church maintained by the proto-Waldenses long before Peter Waldo of Lyons. They continued for centuries without a separation from Rome, until Rome attempted to force her errors. Then they “went out of Babylon.” In her attempt to sustain the claim of unchangeableness and antiquity, Rome has resorted to the con tention that the Waldenses were late innovators, thus denying the Vaudois contention that they are the spiritual link that unites evangelical Protestantism with the teachings of the primitive church, just as she claims that Protestantism is without credentials or antiquity—as but of yesterday, forsaking the mother church by a revolution, miscalled a reformation. But the Waldensian principles of doctrine and worship were those which antedated papal ritualism and error. PFF1 836.3

1. TRADITION OF DISSENT FROM ROME

In north Italy, as noted, evangelical tendencies were repeatedly coming to the surface. That ecclesiastical independence of the ancient see of Milan, built up by Ambrose, enabled that region to remain a haven for the preservation of greater purity of faith and worship. There, in the Cottian Alps, Vigilantius found a hearing for his protest against growing superstition, and there Claudius, later attacking the worship of images, was accused of reviving the teachings of Vigilantius. There flourished reforming and schismatic groups proud of their ancient heritage of freedom. PFF1 837.1

That the older Lombardian Waldenses reached back as a connecting line to Claude of Turin, and even to Vigilantius before him, is the considered conviction of various investigators. Thus A. H. Newman makes Claudius “a connecting link” between these early Reformers and the evangelicals of the twelfth century. ²⁰ The Waldenses are by several clearly connected with the antecedents Peter de Bruys and Henry of Lausanne. Waldo’s followers simply became the rallying point for other earlier groups, such as the Petrobrusians, Arnoldists, and Humiliati. These became fused together, and this union eventuated in a great spiritual and missionary impulse that nothing could check. PFF1 837.2

2. PRE-WALDO ROOTS of WALDENSES

Much of the early Waldensian testimony as to their antiquity and origin was admittedly destroyed in the dark days of papal persecution. But sufficient evidence remains, coupled with the attesting witness and candid admission of their enemies, to constitute satisfying evidence of their pre-Waldo rootage in northern Italy. An analysis of the available contemporary source statements of the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries is rather technical for inclusion in the running text of this chapter. It is therefore given in detail with source references in Appendix D, and is there visualized by means of an analytical chart, The sources naturally comprise the only fair basis for a sound conclusion. The opinions of authorities are interesting and helpful, but they are not decisive. Too often prejudice or bias or ecclesiastical leaning overbalances evidence. PFF1 837.3

Picture 1: WALDENSIAN COLLEGE, TORRE PELLICE AT ENTRANCE TO VALLEYS
Beatiful for situation, thus Waldensian college is nestled conveniently on the slopes of the foothills which merge into the Alpine peaks with their eternal snows (upper), statue of Henri Arnaud, leader of the glorious return in 1690 with library at right (lower).
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