| As Christmas nears, I can’t dream up a story more inspirational than Katie Luther’s…brings us back to the true meaning of this season. The photo from last year here in Pine fits because “The heavens are telling the glory of God…” And so does the powerful metaphor this woman used on her deathbed! This is a reprint from the Christian History Institute, with the author listed below. https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/ Wednesday, December 20 – Daily StoryFighting for Life, Katharina Luther Clung to Christ  KATHERINA VON BORA’S LIFE was one of hard work and solid virtue. When she was a young girl, her father placed her in a German convent following his remarriage. She heard Luther’s teachings in her early twenties and accepted his doctrine of justification by faith alone. With some other nuns she contacted the reformer, requesting help to escape the convent. Luther arranged for a delivery-man to smuggle the women out in empty fish barrels. Luther asked the families of the young women to take them back. When they proved unwilling, he found husbands for all of them. However, he was not able to find a place for Katie. Eventually he proposed to her and married her the same day. They seem to have been a happy couple. Her hard work and practical domestic skills (budgeting, raising livestock, and brewing beer) fed and clothed them, their children, several orphans, and the many students who boarded with them. After Luther’s death, Katie reared their younger children alone for six years. Elector John Frederick, the ruler of Saxony, set up a small trust fund and helped her purchase a farm near Wittenberg. However, her land was taxed unmercifully by contending armies during the Schmalkaldic War, leaving her in crushing poverty. As a result, she had to flee. Her animals were confiscated and her house burned to the ground. After peace was restored, Katie borrowed a thousand gulden to rebuild. To repay her loan, she took student boarders. When plague broke out in Wittenberg in 1552, the university staff and students moved to Torgau, a place less affected by the disease. With her boarders gone, Katherina was again in dire financial straits. She decided to follow the university, but her decision proved catastrophic. At the end of the sixty mile trip, not far from the gate of Torgau, her horses bolted and she had to leap from the wagon into a lake. She was lifted from the water severely bruised. Friends carried her into the city. Although she fought for life for three months, the pain and hardships of her latter years sealed her inevitable end. Her last recorded words were, “I will cling to my Lord Christ as a burr on a coat.” On this day, 20 December 1552 she died. Next day, the entire university turned out for her funeral.—Dan GravesThe magazine, Christian History, is offered on a donation basis and you can sign up for a year for free here: https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/subscribe |
My Catholic lady friend and I (Lutheran) both enjoyed your story. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Great!
You’ve presented information I’d never read about, Gail. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!
Most of it I hadn’t either…if we’d all DIG a little more, we’d find out
such wonderful, inspirational stuff! Merry Christmas, thanks for your comments here.
Thank you for this story of Katy Luther. My own
Kathryn was born on December 20. An interesting connection, the name and a shared date. You do a lot of research which the rest of us can gain from.
MerryChristmas.
And we have our Katie, born on Dec 16 (Boston Tea Party day) –research is so much fun! Have a lovely Christmastide, Leone.
And we of today believe we have difficulties! Thanks for your research, Gail. History is fascinating. I wish for you and yours a Merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2024!
To you, too.
Inspiring story about a very inspiring woman. Thank you for sharing!
Merry Christmas, friend!
And to you!
Wow! What a beautiful story of faith & perseverance. Thanks for sharing! Have a blessed Christmas!
Too you, too.
Katherina was an amazingly resilient woman. She reminds me of Job and his domino of catastrophes. Thank you for sharing her story.
‘Twas a good reminder for me, too.