In 1510 Luther was dispatched to Rome to settle a dispute involving the Augustinian Order in Germany. He was to present his evidence to the head of the Augustinian Order in Rome and spend some time in the city. For Luther, like many other devout Christians of the time, Rome represented the very pinnacle of their spiritual aspirations. In fact, in Luther's mind, his trip to Rome would shore up his failing spirituality and help him to have a fresh start.

When he approached the Holy City, he fell on his knees and exclaimed "Salve, Sancta Roma!" (Holy Rome, I salute you!). For Luther, it seemed that all his dreams had come true. But his trip was to end in disillusionment and confusion. Rome was corrupt. In fact, it was so corrupt that Luther later wrote "if there is Hell then Rome is built over it". He called it a 'cesspit of sin', appalled at the vice and debauchery he experienced there not just among the laity but especially among the clergy and going even as far as the Pope.

While he was in Rome, Luther visited every relic he could think of and availed himself of every ounce of grace each moment of homage to such an object offered him. But these supposedly sacred sights were at odds with the corruption he saw around him. He saw, as never before, just how completely the church had monetized the grace of God and it shocked him.

His spiritual turning point came when he decided to avail himself of a limited indulgence the Pope had issued. Anyone who cared to cash in on it simply had to ascend the Scala Sancta, (Pilates' Staircase) one step at a time, pausing to recite the Lord's Prayer on every step. Whoever made it to the top would be given enough grace for themselves and whoever else they had paid for to shave off a prescribed number of years from Purgatory.

As Luther ascended the stairs he heads a voice whispering to his heart "the just shall live by faith". These were words that he had read and re-read while he was lecturing at Wittenberg not two years ago and though they had made an impression on him then, it was not until he found himself crawling up a set of stairs to pay for God's grace that the truth of those words was driven home to his soul.

He bolted to his feet, hurried down the stairs, and exited the building. It was a turning point for Luther. A moment of clarity that drove him to dig deeper, ask more questions, and truly seek the truth about salvation once and for all.