I'm not saying I agree with him on everything, or that this is even true, I was pointing out that he was not in Lourdes as a form of "protest."
Some seem to think that devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is disavowed by ALL Protestants, that is not the case and it NEVER has been.
Thank you for noting that distinction, one which certainly was made also by the good Cardinal.
One of the best ways to begin with understanding Luther's view of Mary is Luther’s Marian hymn, completed A.D. 1545, one year before his death.
Luther scholars frequently—generally correctly—differentiate between “young, Catholic Luther” and “old, Protestant Luther”. Well, here is “old Protestant Luther, some 28 years after posting the 95 Theses sounding very Catholic indeed:
To me she's dear, the worthy maid,
And I cannot forget her;
Praise, honor, virtue her are said,
Then all will love her better.
I seek her good,
And if I should
Right evil fare,
I do not care,
She'll make up for it to me
With love and truth that will not tire,
Which she will ever show me,
And do all my desire.
She wears of purest gold a crown
Twelve stars their rays are twining,
Her rainment, glorious as the sun,
And bright from far is shining.
Her feet the moon
Are set upon
She is the bride
With the Lord to hide.
Sore travail is upon her;
She bringest forth a noble Son
Whom all the world must honor,
Their king, the only one.
That makes the dragon rage and roar,
He will the child upswallow;
His raging comes to nothing more;
No jot of gain will follow.
The infant high
Up to the sky
Away is heft
And he is left
On earth,all mad with murder.
The mother now alone is she,
But God will watchful guard her.
And the right Father he.