In 1517 on this day Martin Luther “nailed” his 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany, putting in motion forces that would eventually lead to the Protestant Reformation.  One of these theses (number 62) reads: “The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.” (To read an English translation of all 95 propositions, click here)

Today is the birthday of John Keats, who was born in 1795.  Keats is the author of the poem “Ode to a Grecian Urn,” which has proven over the years to be the bane of many school students forced to study or memorize it.  “Ode” does however contain these memorable lines:

“Beauty is truth, truth beauty,”- that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on this date in 1984 near her home by two of her Sikh security guards. Two of her more famous quotes include: “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist,” and “Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one.”

Galileo was absolved of charges of heresy (for claiming the earth revolved around the sun) by Pope John Paul II on this date in 1992.  This came a little late to serve as any consolation to Galileo, who had died 350 years beforehand.