1499-1552AD Katharina Luther and other women of the Reformation

There is a phrase used that "behind every good man is a good woman" -- this phrase couldn't be any more true than for Katharina von Bora the wife of Martin Luther. But who is this woman? Perhaps this is the first time you have ever heard her name.

When Katie was age 5 her mother died and her father remarried, after which Katie was sent away to live in a convent (with nuns). She later transferred to another convent where at age 16 she took vows to become a nun. At about age 20, the now educated, Latin-reading Katie was being influenced by the writings of the Reformers -- especially Luther. She & a few other nuns desiring to leave the convent secretly contacted Luther, since leaving or assisting anyone leaving their vows was punishable by death.

Tradition has it, Luther arranged for the women to be smuggled out of the convent in fish barrels on a wagon that made routine deliveries to the convent. The runaway nuns were then arranged to be married -- many to former monks. Katie however did not like the various potential husbands with which she was matched & rather held out that perhaps Luther himself would marry her.

Finally, on June 25 1525 Luther married Katie. Katie immediately became a fine example of the Proverbs 31 wife but nor was she merely a housemaid but was active in the many discussions Luther would entertain at the house -- discussions which would later be recorded by some of his students & come to be known as "The Table Talk" as these discussions would happen at the meal table.

Katie lived only 6 years beyond Luther & those years after Luther's death were tragic for Katie as several wars raged, & the Black Plague was upon Europe. She eventually died most likely due to injuries she suffered in a wagon accident.

Luther & Katie's marriage became the model for much of not only marriage life among the Reformed but also in most of Europe. Luther lovingly called Katie, "My Lord Katie", humorously expressing her charge over the house details. Katie, like many women of the theologians quietly contributed to the Reformation.

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Women of the Reformation

Katharina von Bora	Kurfuerstin Elisabeth von Brandenburg	Elisabeth von Brandenburg	Walpurga Bugenhagen	Barbara Cranach
Elisabeth Cruciger	Katharina Falk	Argula von Grumbach	Katharina von Mecklenburg	Katharina Melanchthon
Ottilie Müntzer	Ursula von Münsterberg	Anna Rhegius	Anna Zwingli

1499-1552AD Katharina Luther and other women of the Reformation

Katie von Bora