My Lord Katie

On Saturday December 20, we honor the festival for Katarina Von Bora, who became Mrs. Martin Luther. She waws born to an impoverished nobleman and was 5 when her mother died. She was sent to live in a convent and took vows as a nun, but later escaped the convent in a herring barrel at age 24 so that she could go join the reformer Martin Luther. With Luther, she had 6 children and cared for other children as foster children. For Luther, she was a trusted partner, gifted manager of the household while he pursued more theological pursuits, and a partner in prayer. Luther often called her the morning star of Wittenburg, because she rose so early to tend to the home and farm. He also jokingly called her "my Lord Katie". I love the stories about Katie Luther, because they show us a woman who was strong in her faith and grounded in her care of those she loved. There are stories that Katie once took the study door off its hinges to bring a meal to Luther because he had been locked in his study for days working on his writing and had not stopped to eat. Katie worried that he had died and so took down the door to check on him. She also was known for her staunch belief in Luther's reforms. Often, men like Luther or Calvin or others who led the Protestant Reformation are noted, but Katie gives us a reminder to look beyond the headlines for those who also influenced our faith traditions.