After the Edict of Worms condemned Martin Luther and his writings, many monks, priests, and nuns renounced their vows and married. One nun was Katherine von Bora, age 26.
When Katie, as she was known, was only 9, her father had placed her in a nunnery. His wife had died and his new wife disliked Katie and her quick wit and sharp tongue. Six years later, Katie made her vows.
In 1525, with Luther's help, Katie and eleven other nuns snuck out of the convent in a dozen barrels emptied of their smoked herring at the cloister.
Luther eventually found homes for all but Katie. He found her temporary employment as a maid with his neighbor.
On her own, Katie found a man and fell in love with him, a young man from a distinguished Nurnberg family. However, his parents refused him permission to marry her.
Katie was heartbroken, and refused any man Luther presented. In a note to Luther, she said she would consider only two candidates: Amsdorf, one of Luther's Wittenberg professors, and Luther.
Luther's father had never wanted him to become a monk and was pleased when Luther abandoned the monastery. He was even happier when Luther announced his marriage to Katie.
On June 13, 1525, Luther and Katie were married.
Katie cleaned up Luther's bachelor ways. She provided him a pillow and clean straw to sleep on. She patiently cared for his various illnesses and endured his many moods. She even rebuffed him when his language became coarse and crude, for which he was known.
The Luthers' biggest adjustment dealt with money. Katie was economical and hid the money so Luther wouldn't give it away. She demanded live-in students pay for their room and board. Under Katie's management, the Luthers accumulated a considerable amount of property. The Augustinian monastery was deeded jointly to Katie and Luther and made a perfect residence for their six children, his six nieces and nephews, four orphaned children of a friend, as well as relatives, tutors, and student boarders. Katie also inherited a farm in Zulsdorf, which she used as a retreat from their large household.
A deep friendship existed between the Luthers. When he spoke of the book Galatians, whose reading led to his spiritual rebirth, he called it "my Katharine von Bora" because it was the closest to his heart.
The Luthers lost two children: the first before she was one and Magdalena at 14. Luther took Magdalena's death harder than Katie. His health worsened and he became increasingly bitter. In 1546, Luther, 62, died.
Katie died four years later. Her final words were, "I will stick to Christ as a burr to a topcoat."
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