Katie Luther

Maddie mastered the art of a solid research paper this year. She really wrote this paper with hardly any guidance from me at all. I read her rough draft, and I only had to fix or suggest a few words and phrases. She has become a good little writer! 

Madeleine

4/2/16

Katie Luther

         Most people have heard of Martin Luther, the man who began the Protestant Reformation. However, few people know of his wife Katie. Katie Luther grew up in a convent. Once she married Luther, she supported him in every way she could. Katie was known for being hospitable and generous.

         Katie Luther spent her early life in a convent. Katie’s full given name was Katherine von Bora. Starting at the age of three, she lived in a nunnery because her unkind step-mother didn’t like her. As a girl, Katie was a negative influence on the other girls in the convent. Sometimes she would tempt her friends to climb trees or steal fruit, which were explicitly forbidden. Katie, however, decided to be an honest and virtuous nun when she was sixteen years old. Solemnly, she took vows never to marry, to have no belongings of her own and to stay in the convent for the rest of her life. In the Marienthron Convent, Katie, who was now eighteen years old, started hearing of a man named Martin Luther. Everyone was amazed at the flagrantly foolish things that he did. Some things that he did, like preaching in German instead of in Latin, were considered sinful crimes. “Luther affirms that faith in God will get you to heaven not doing good works!” exclaimed the bewildered people. “Luther insists that you don’t have to pray to the saints, and you can pray directly to God!” “Luther says that you don’t have to live in a convent to serve God, and he proposes that nuns, monks and priests can marry!” This excited Katie! She dearly wanted to marry. Katie wanted to have children. So with the help of some of Luther’s loyal friends, about ten young nuns, Katie included, secretly escaped from the convent. On the seventh of April 1523, Katie and her friends arrived joyfully in a new town, free from the convent. Katie was now 23 years old. Up until this point in her life as a young woman, Katie had spent almost all her life living in a convent.

         Katie didn’t stay single for long; she and Luther married and she became a loving and supportive wife to Luther. When Katie was twenty-six years old and Luther was forty-two, the couple married on June 13, 1525. Katie quickly noticed how hard Luther was working every day and realized he needed a way to relax. She encouraged him to become interested in other things besides church matters. For instance, she turned him into a gardener. Katie patiently helped him grow eight different kinds of fresh, fragrant fruit in their orchard and peas, beans, turnips, melons and lettuce in their vegetable garden. Katie also bought hens, ducks, pigs and cows. Working in the garden and caring for the animals, helped Luther to relax and take a break from his stressful work. Katie took the initiative to do the desperately needed work on their property and house. She had practical things like stairs installed in the house. She gave Luther a comfortable pillow to help him rest better, and she made him make his messy, matted bed, which was something he hadn’t done in forever! Katie did every task she could so Luther could focus solely on church work. She was the chief cook, nurse, bookkeeper and brewer. Skillfully, Katie took care of the garden when Luther was away and managed the farm and animals herself. Ultimately, she helped Luther translate the bible into the common tongue of the day. If Luther was sick, Katie was there at his side nursing him back to health. She would use the herbal remedies she had learned in the convent. Other times, if Luther was just depressed, Katie would send for some of his friends to cheer him up. She was incredible! Without her Luther would have been lost. Over all, Katie was certainly the most supportive wife Luther could have had.

         Katie was known for her hospitality and generosity. Ironically, the Luthers lived in a colossal deserted monastery. Although it had numerous rooms, their large house continuously stayed full. They raised their six children there and eleven orphans. Besides all those children, there were also six of Luther’s nieces and nephews and some of Katie’s relatives who lived with them too. They didn’t neglect anyone. Student boarders, tutors and even unexpected guests all stayed at their house. It was noisy! Coming to stay at the Luthers, travelers knew they would be comfortable. Katie was extremely busy, and she worked hard to cheerfully house all these people. During the devastating plague, the Luthers converted their house into a hospital! Later they constructed several lecture halls and a bowling alley inside their house! It must have been as noisy as a barnyard! Katie always graciously welcomed people into their home. Although they were poor, the Luthers were profusely generous and shared what little they had. Because of the way she lived her life, Katie has always been remembered for her generosity and hospitality.

         Katie began her life in a convent. She later became a supportive wife to Luther. Katie was extremely hospitable and generous. Luther positively influenced the church in significant ways, but without Katie’s support he never would have accomplished all that he did. When we remember Luther, we should also remember his wife Katie because without her he would never have been so successful.