This Day in Christian History: December 20
This Day in Christian History: December 20
December 20, 1552: Death of Martin Luther's wife, Katharina von Bora
German reformer Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, a former nun on June 13 1525. Katharina was sent to the cloister in 1504 by her father, and became a nun sometime around 1509.
Around 1523, Katharina and some of the other nuns in her monastery gained an interest in the reformation movement and wrote a letter to Martin Luther begging for his assistance to escape the monastery. She and the other nuns escaped by hiding in a covered wagon among fish barrels.
After their escape, Luther successfully arranged homes or marriages for all of the nuns, except Katharina. Though she had many suitors, Katharina told Luther's friend Nikolaus von Amsdorf that the only suitors she would accept was Martin Luther, or Nikolaus himself.
Martin must have won that one, because Katharina married him in 1525, two years after her escape from the monastery.
I really enjoy reading your bits of history!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoy them, Sandy! Because I really enjoy sharing them. :)
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