Emily: “Hello everyone! This is Emily Cox with Love Notes: Timeline Edition, and today we’re back with more from Martin and Katharina Luther. Dr. and Mrs. Luther, I really appreciate your taking the time to have this conversation with me, especially considering all the responsibilities you have in your lives.”
Martin: “No problem.”
Katharina: “It’s a good excuse to get Martin out of his office. When he opens that door, it’s like he’s entering another planet. He loves what he does, and sometimes he gets carried away with it.”
Martin: “I remember the time Katie took my office door off its hinges..”1
Katharina: “Yes – I did that because he was spending too much time alone in there – I was worried about him! God wants us to use our minds for his glory, but he also gives us the gift of rest. And friends and family and fresh air. Life has a rhythm to it – a time for everything and everything in its time.”
Martin: “Of course, Katie, of course. You’re right as always.”
Katharina: “Not ALWAYS.”
Martin: “What about when you said you wanted to marry me?”
Katharina: “Hm, let’s see..I was definitely right *laughing.*”
Emily: “That brings us to the story of how you both met. I know that you used to be a nun, Katharina, and now you’re married, but what happened in between? How did you become a nun in the first place?”
Katharina: “*sighing* I was sent to a convent as a young girl. I missed my family, but I suppose they felt it was the best thing for me. As I look back, I can see that God was working everything for good, even when I couldn’t see it at the time.”
Emily: “So how did you decide that you wanted to marry Dr. Luther? Being a nun involves commitment to a life of singleness, and you obviously had other ideas!”
Katharina: “*laughing* Yes, well, I took my vows of commitment to the Cistercian order of nuns when I was only sixteen.2 At the time, I thought that celibacy was more pleasing to God than marriage, but when Dr. Luther’s teaching reached Nimbschen, I started thinking differently. That’s when I and several other nuns decided to escape.”
Emily: “Escape? You mean you couldn’t just leave?’
Katharina: “Absolutely not! Abandoning my order would have been considered a serious offense against the Church, and anyone caught removing a nun from a convent could be in deep trouble, depending on the provincial government.”3
Emily: “Wow. How did you get out of Nimbschen then?”
Katharina: “One of my sister nuns, Magdalena von Staupitz, wrote to Dr. Luther asking for help.4 In the end, he arranged for us to be smuggled out of our convent on the morning of Easter Eve.”
Emily: “What was that like? I’ve heard that you hid in herring barrels.”
Katharina: “Let’s just say we looked quite fishy, and I was glad when it was over!”
Emily: “When did you meet Dr. Luther?”
Katharina: “Not long after I arrived in Wittenberg. After he helped me and my friends escape from Nimschen, he felt that it was also his responsibility to see that we were settled in good marriages.”
Emily: “Really? Did that include proposing to you, Katharina?”
Katharina: “Not at first.”
Martin: “Right – I did what I felt was my part to help the other nuns find husbands, but nothing was working out for Katharina. Finally, she said she would either marry me or a certain colleague of mine. But she preferred me.”
Katharina: “I did prefer him.”
Emily: “How long did it take for you to propose, Dr. Luther?”
Martin: “Not too terribly long. Katie and I were married in June 1525, the same month we got engaged.”
Emily: “I’ve heard of short engagements, but I think that’s a record! What did your families think of all of this?”
Katharina: “After I surprised them with my “convent break,” I don’t think I could outdo that. They were also surprised by my sudden marriage to Martin, but I think they were happy for me.”
Emily: “What about your family, Dr. Luther?”
Martin: “They couldn’t be happier. My parents have always had high social aspirations, and even though I’m not a lawyer as they had hoped, I have produced some cute grandchildren, so that seems to make up for my career change.”
Emily *laughing*: “That’s great.”
Martin: “Of course, not everyone thought it was a good idea for me to marry Katie. Even some of my friends thought our marriage would be detrimental to the Reformation.”
Emily: “They did!? Why would they think that?”
Martin: “I think it’s ridiculous too. But they were concerned that my opponents would get the idea that I was opposing Romanism just so I could marry a beautiful woman.”
Emily: “But you didn’t even know Katharina when you started advocating for reform, and she’s the one who said she wanted to marry you.”
Martin: “All true!”
Emily: “What’s your opinion, Katharina? How do you believe your marriage has impacted the way people see the Reformation movement?”
Katharina: “I think it’s been a good thing for the Reformation. Martin is the target of a lot of insults, and as his wife I’ve been a target too, but when people look at our home I hope they see that biblical marriage isn’t just a means of personal enjoyment. God intended it as an institution that strengthens society from the inside out, and an instrument of blessing to others.”
Emily: “From what I’ve seen at Lutherhaus, I think you are definitely expressing that here. Now, before we close I’m going to ask two more questions. Katharina, could you share one thing you love about your husband?”
Katharina: “His zeal for the gospel.”
Emily: “Dr. Luther, what is one thing you love about your wife?”
Martin: “I love so many things about her. She is an encouragement to me spiritually and she also manages our household with wisdom and grace. The skills she learned at the Nimbschen cloister have really come in handy at Lutherhaus! I’m free to write, teach, and do the work God has called me to, knowing my earthly estate is in good hands.”
Emily: “That’s definitely a blessing. Katharina, the way Martin described you reminds me of Proverbs 31:11: ‘The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.’”
Martin: “I always think of her when I read that verse.”
Emily: “Thank you both for having me in your home and letting me interview you again! I have really enjoyed our discussion, and you’ve given our listeners a lot to think about.”
Katharina: “We’ve enjoyed it too.”
Martin: “Soli Deo Gloria!”
Emily to listeners: “Thanks for listening to Love Notes: Timeline Edition. I’m Emily Cox. Join us next time for more Love Notes throughout history!” (Martin in background: “Where did I put my pen?”)
Works Referenced.
- Legend mentioned on Issues Etc podcast.
2. https://www.luther.de/en/bora0.html
3. “Katharina Von Bora” by Joshua J. Mark. World History Encyclopedia.
4. Christian History Institute. Women of the Reformation: Did You Know?
Also referenced: https://lutherstadt-wittenberg.de/en/see-discover/famous-personalities/katharina-von-bora
God Calls it Good 