Martin Luther: Family

Figure 1.--And his family became a source of psychological support to him and his struggles in upsetting the entire Christian world. And the marriage which began on a rocky start with the two committing several capital crimes became the model German family of all time. The image here depicts what most Germans came to see as the ideal family and the way Christmas should be celebrated. The drawing was done by Gusav K�nig in 1847, the coloring was probanly added later.
One of Luther's reforms was a celibate priesthood, a Roman Catholic rule that was not Bible based. In fact, celibacy was not introduced for a millenia, and then primarily to prevent land donated to the Church from being acquired by priests for their families. This change of course meant that the former monk and priest could marry. This is why Protestant clerics can marry and have families. Soon after the Reformation began, Luther learned about a group of nuns who wanted to escape from their convent. This was not at easy step at the time. Katherine von Bora (1499-1552) and 8-11 other nuns (accouts vary) wanted to escape their cloister. They could not just walk out. They secretlly wrote to Luther whose new ideas had reached even their isolated convent. Liberating nuns was a capital offense. Luther decided to help them. He contacted Leonhard Koppe who delivered herring to the cloister. Koppe when he made the next delivery of herring smuggled twelve nuns out inside hus empty herring barrels. A Wittenberger wrote after the nuns were liberated heighligting the danger of the action. "A wagon load of vestal virgins has just come to town, all more eager for marriage than for life." Luther took a personal interest in the nuns. He found husbands for most, but he struggled to find a suitable match for Katherine. She was a feisty redhead who spoke her mind and in her mid-20s. This was older than the usual age for marriage at the time. Luther suggested an older man, but she refused him. Katherina added, however, that if Luther, who was not seeking aide, were willing, she would say yes. Luther at first declined saying that he daily expeted to be arrested and executed as a heretic. Luther eventually married Kate in a secret ceremony (June 1525). As iconic as the Luther family became, when word leaked out, he was sharply criticized from all quarters, including some of his supporters. One of the sharpest condemnations came from English King Henry VIII, at the time aefender of the faith and Catholic family man. Kate proved a marvel. Luther's quarters were desheveled and he never even even made his bed. Kate changed all that. And she helped bring Luther's finances into balance. It was not an easy job. The Luther home usually overflowed with reffomers and the needy. One friend wrote, �a motley crowd of boys, students, girls, widows, old women, and youngsters. For this reason there is much disturbance in the place.� Kate proceeded to supervise the chaotic situation with skill and patience. And if that was not enough, Kate planted the garden, cared for an orchard, harvested a fish pond, looked after the barnyard, and slaughtered the livestock. [Thigpen] The marriage prospered in other ways. They had six children, but only four survived childhood. From their marriage until his death, Luther's family life became a model of a Christian German family. And his family became a source of psychological support to him and his struggles. And the marriage which began on a rocky start with the two committing several capital crimes became the model German family of all time. Many artists as the Reformation became established depicted the family. Some are contemprary and served as a model for later depictions.

Sources

Thigpen, Paul. "Katherine Von Bora (1499�1552): Runaway Nun Who Became Luther�s 'Lord',� Christianity Today/Christian History Magazine (1993).






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Created: 10:40 PM 7/7/2016
Last updated: 10:40 PM 7/7/2016