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1500s, 1523: Katharina recounts her story of being the subject of scandal in 16th century
Katharina Luther: Nun, Rebel, Wife
What you need to know before your trail
On 31st October 1517 Martin Luther pinned ninety-five theses on the Castle Church door, Wittenberg, criticizing the Church of Rome; they were printed and published by Lucas Cranach and caused a storm.
Nine young nuns, intoxicated by Luther’s subversive writings, became restless and longed to leave their convent. So, on Good Friday 1523 someone smuggled them out hidden in empty herring barrels.
Five of them settled in Wittenberg, the very city at the heart of the scandal, but there was one – Katharina von Bora – who further scandalised the world by marrying the revolutionary former monk.
Here Katharina charts her life and experiences of what it meant to have been the subject of such a scandal in 16th century.
Travel Guide
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was many things: a priest, monk and a very important figure in the Protestant Reformation. He played a major role in disputing the claims and practices of the Cathlolic church. His central belief was that ini order to receive salvation and eternal life, you could not earn it by doing good deeds, but that it was only possible if you had faith in Jessu Crhist and received it by God’s grace.
People who believe his teachings and words of wisdom are called Lutherans .
He posted 95 theses states that you could not have your sins forgiven and therefore be exempt from God’s punishment by effectively buying your way out. When the Pope stepped in to the furore that was building and demanded that he renounce his words and theses, he refused and so was excommunicated.
This is effectively the story that began the Reformation and in 2017 it will be exactly 500 years ago that events in this novel actually took pace. It was a dark and difficult time – witch hunts were common place and religion was everything so a man who goes against the common belief and a nun who gets pregnant by him are more than just outcasts!
Monastery life in Germany
Katharina’s story is one of poverty and isolation. At only 9 years old she starts her association with the convent when she attends a monastery which is also a school. This was commonplace at the time.
Life in the monastery is silent. Communication is by sign language only. But life here is good, safe and she grows as a woman. Compared to her early life, this was positively safe and welcoming, a welcome contrast to her early life
When her path crossed with Martin Luther, she begins to question all that she has been brought up to belief. Reading the bible in a language other than latin proves to be the breakthrough – a new view on a subject and faith she thought she knew.
Streetview Maps
B) Wittenberg - Burial site
D) Eisleben - Luther's Birth House
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
I admit that before reading this book, I’d heard of Martin Luther but knew nothing about him or the times in which he lived. I was a bit worried I wouldn’t understand certain aspects of the church mentioned and the lives these influential people led. But the writing and the passion with which the author writes makes this accessible and more. More because I saw each and every part of the story as clearly and as heartfelt as if I were beside Katharina herself.
The story quite cleverly centres of Katharine rather than her husband Luther but this in itself allows you to gain such an insight into both their lives that it left me utterly captivated. She had quite the journey of her own even before the met and married. It is such a fascinating and adventurous life that I was amazed at much of what happened – the lengths these people had to go to, the way she was shunned, the religious fervor of the day that controlled all aspects of life…
I’ve never been to Wittenberg but studied aspects of it during German class years ago. I never imagined it would be possible to go there back in time with a book in my hand and an open mouthed expression of utter delight and amazement on my face.
What a story – read this and you will get not just a sense but a 360 degree visual and sensory feast of the 1500s and the reformation in Germany. With beautiful writing, I can only imagine the manuscript was submitted in calligraphy to finish off this historical tale.
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: Katharina Luther: Nun, Rebel, Wife
Author/Guide: Anne Boileau Destination: Wittenberg, Mansfeld, Eisleben Departure Time: 1500s
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