This day the church remembers with deep affection: Katharina von Bora Luther, Entrepreneur and Renewer of the Church, 1552

Born of recently impoverished nobility, Katharina von Bora, was sent in her early teens to live at a Cistercian convent near Grimma, Germany. She took her formal vows to live as a nun at the age of 16.

On Easter Day in 1523 twelve nuns managed to escape the convent (in herring barrels, if lore is to be believed!), and at the urging of Luther’s teachings, sought marriage. Though Luther attempted to match her with another colleague, Katherina protested that the 42 year old Luther would be the best fit.

Katherina, or Kadi, not only managed the bustling Luther home, but also Luther’s bustling schedule and guests. She ran the brewery of the Black Cloister and their stables. The Luther family had six children.

Katherine von Bora Luther is remembered for her courage and bravery in leaving the convent and marrying in response to God’s call, her managerial and analytical mind which Martin found to be indispensable in ministry, and her business savvy.

She is a reminder for me, and should be for the whole church, that the one who gets all the accolades is rarely the saint who did the bulk of the work.

Let those with ears to hear, hear.

-information gathered from Philip Pfatteicher’s New Book of Festivals & Commemorations