Illustrated History of Catherine Catharine von Bora & Martin Luther THE BETROTHAL OF LUTHER TO CATHERINE VON BORA On a certain day in May or early in June, 1525, Luther, accompanied by his friend Lucas Cranach, wended his way to the home of Philip Reichenbach and made to Catherine von Bora the proposition of marriage, which was promptly and joyfully accepted. It is this scene the artist Scheurenberg seeks to present to us in the painting reproduced on this page. Ladies Behind Luther 3 www.amypuetz.com
LUTHER S MARRIAGE Luther s courtship was brief. Constantly under the eyes of the world, with enemies and friends observing his every movement, he naturally wished the matter conducted as speedily as possible. The marriage took place June 13, 1525, more than two years after the nun had renounced communion with Rome. Luther had invited the two chief pastors of Wittenberg, Bugenhagen and Jonas, Dr. Apell, a colleague of the law faculty, and Lucas Cranach and his wife. Pastor Bugenhagen officiated the marriage. Ladies Behind Luther 4 www.amypuetz.com
Escape of the Nuns Escape of of the the Nuns Nuns ear Grimma, in Nimpstchen, in the year 1523, stood the Cistercian convent. It had existed for a long period of time, and many zealots had lived, wrought and passed away Nwithin its walls. Here, many noble families sent their daughters to live what they thought to be the holiest of all lives. Many, many were the holy sisters who had passed, within these walls, their lives of penance and self-denial. Here, for years and years, the silent nuns had worshiped, suffered and died, without any care for aught beyond their confines. Catherine von Bora was sent to this convent at a tender age. In the first quarter of the sixteenth century, however, a change came over the hitherto quiet and peaceful convent. At this time, there were among the sisterhood several young women with active minds ever ready to discern truth, and true hearts willing to follow it. They were enthusiasts, with minds open and fresh to receive impressions. They had been sent here by their parents at an early age before they had reason or discretion enough to choose for themselves. They entered into the true spirit of the Order. Day by day, they attended masses and matins, told their beads, repeated their aves, chanted their missal, and did penance for their sins. Often severe chastisement, selfinflicted, would follow the wandering thoughts; for their restless minds would, despite restraint, wander to the world beyond the gray convent walls. Quiet, peaceful, happy hours Definitions Masses - See missal below. Matins - Morning worship or service; morning prayers or songs. Beads - The Romanists use strings of bead in rehearsing their prayers. Aves - A form of devotion in the Romish Church. Their chaplets and rosaries are divided into a certain number of ave-marys and paternosters. Rosary - A string of beads used by Roman Catholics, on which they count their prayers. Missal - Mass, The service of the Romish church. Penance - The suffering, labor or pain to which a person voluntarily subject himself, or as an expression of penitence; such as fasting. From Webster's 1828 dictionary. Ladies Behind Luther 13 www.amypuetz.com
too, they had, over their embroidery and sewing, while one of their number read aloud. Works of charity filled in their time, and many were the blessings that arose from the sick and the destitute as the holy sisters walked among them. Among the books that came from Eisenach, from Cotta's printing-press, were several translations of Dr. Luther's. The attention of the young nuns was arrested; they re-read them; they were wonder-stricken, doubtful; finally they were overflowing with enthusiasm for the Doctor of Wittenberg, and convinced of his truth. What he wrote must be true; their reason and judgment confirmed his words; and surely these passages from the New Testament came from God. Oh, then, how far astray from his teaching have been their lives! What good has been done by Unwanted Daughters For a noble but impoverished family to send their daughters to a convent was common. It was a family arrangement, practiced generation after generation in noble German households. Magdalena von Bora had been the victim in the previous generation, and Catherine found her aunt an inmate of the convent when she went there in 1509. Magdalena von Bora left the convent some time after her niece, and was a member of Luther's household. their penance, scourges, and chastisements? They read--there is freedom in forgiveness of sins; salvation is free to all; works are dead, it is faith that justifies; self can do nothing, it is God through Christ and not we ourselves. All this is new to them. Next comes Luther s treatise upon monasteries. This is another revelation to them. They had lived with the conviction that a life within the sacred walls of the convent was most pleasing, most holy in the sight of God--for had they not wedded the church, and cast all else aside? But here comes Dr. Luther, telling them a life in a convent is not the true Christian life; that their lives are no purer, no better, no holier than those of ordinary mortals; that the life of a true follower is not one of seclusion, not a fleeing from temptations, but to bear up under them, to withstand them--to stand in the midst of the world and yet apart from it. The nuns of Nimpstch were awakened to new ideas of life. They caught the truth, they felt it, they determined to act upon it. The serenity of the convent was broken up, for the young nuns speedily made known their belief, and told the truth to their sisters. The older ones were unconvinced; they looked with sorrow, even with hatred, upon the young heretics--with derision called them the Lutheran sisters. More books were received at Nimpstch, and deeper and warmer became their enthusiasm for Dr. Luther and his words. With this came also a distaste for the convent life--nay, it became hateful to them. Their bonds chafed them, their duties were unendurable, and their ever-present thought was to break their chains and get beyond their prison walls. They became refractory--refused to perform their religious duties; no more invocations to the saints, no nightly vigils, fasts, or scourges. Faith, and a life conformed to that faith, was the idea which possessed them. Ladies Behind Luther 14 www.amypuetz.com
Finally, they resolved to use some means of escape, as all their letters to friends and relatives brought them no hope of release. Instead of sympathy and a welcome back to home, there were indignation, threats, and a denial of all assistance. They wrote to Dr. Luther, informing him of their troubles and their desire to escape, and asking aid. Tradition says that nine of the nuns, all who dared the venture, met in the cell of Catherine von Bora, who had planned the rescue. This letter brought about the desired result. A night was appointed, and within the cloister the young nuns were preparing to leave their narrow world and enter into the trials of an untried greater one. Night came, and the nine women were in waiting before the high stone walls. Master Leonard Koppe, of Torgau, and Wolfgang Tomitzsch, were ready to assist them; and soon they stood upon the ground, without the convent, free from its forms and duties--free to worship as their hearts directed. They entered a covered wagon, filled with herring barrels--wherein, in case of necessity, they might hide--and drove away from bondage. At length they arrived at the old Augustinian convent, where their hearts were rejoiced to behold face to face their beloved Doctor Luther. The livery of the nun was laid aside, and these courageous, truthful, noble women are ready to do whatsoever is required of them by their new religion. Several persons kindly received them into their houses, and soon all of them were settled in Wittenberg. After the lapse of time, some were sent for by their relenting friends, some were married. These nine nuns, who thus with courage and a brave independence shook off the unnatural bonds of the Roman church, and joyfully encountered any trial that would open the way to a true life in Christ--having found the truth which makes men free--were Magdalena Staupitz, Elizabeth Kanitz, Eva Gross, Eva and Margaret Schonfeld, Laneta Golis, Margaret and Catherine Zeschau, and Catherine von Bora. Independence of thought even amidst such bondage and freedom of will and action, could only result from strong character, and a deep firm conviction of truth. The entrance of truth into the heart gives that power and strength of character. Ladies Behind Luther 15 www.amypuetz.com