Katharina and Martin Luther

The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk

by: Michelle DeRusha

• Format

  E-Book

  ISBN

  9781493406098

  Pub. Date

  Jan 2017

  SRP

  $16.99

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About

Their revolutionary marriage was arguably one of the most scandalous and intriguing in history. Yet five centuries later we still know little about Martin and Katharina Luther's life as husband and wife. Until now.

Against all odds, the unlikely union of a runaway nun and a renegade monk worked, over time blossoming into the most tender of love stories. This unique biography tells the riveting story of two remarkable people and their extraordinary relationship, offering refreshing insights into Christian history and illuminating the Luthers' profound impact on the institution of marriage, the effects of which still reverberate today.

Together, this legendary couple experienced joy and grief, triumph and travail. This book brings their private lives and their love story into the spotlight and offers powerful insights into our own twenty-first-century understanding of marriage.


"No wonder it is sometimes said that the impact of this marriage was as great in the social sphere as the Ninety-five Theses in the religious sphere. Here is a story of a growing love accompanied by sorrow, the joys of marriage, and faith in God's providence. These well-researched pages are filled with unexpected treasures."--Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, pastor emeritus, Moody Church, Chicago

"Michelle DeRusha gives us a fascinating peek into the Luthers' individual lives, their theological wrestlings, and an unexpected partnership that redefined yet another biblical institution--Christian marriage. The Luthers, through DeRusha's masterful portrayal, remind us again and again how the grace of Christ truly affects all of life."--Christine Hoover, author of From Good to Grace and Messy Beautiful Friendship

"We owe Michelle DeRusha a debt of gratitude for her impressive commitment to tell the story of this unlikely marriage. This book is a gift for believers everywhere, a reminder of how the transformational grace of God can leave a lasting and unforgettable legacy."--Emily P. Freeman, author of Simply Tuesday

"A fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most well-known Christian couples of all time. This is the Luthers' story, but in important ways, it's the story of all of us."--Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of The Happiness Dare

"I promise that this book will hold your attention and open your eyes."--Warren W. Wiersbe, author; former pastor of Moody Church, Chicago


Michelle DeRusha is the author of 50 Women Every Christian Should Know. She publishes a monthly column on religion and spirituality for the Lincoln Journal Star and writes about faith in the everyday on her blog, www.michellederusha.com. She lives with her husband and their two boys in Lincoln, Nebraska.

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Endorsements

"Strip away the veneer of the differences between the Luthers' marriage and the typical modern marriage of today, and what shines forth is a picture of what God has always intended marriage to be: an obedience to him and to each other that glorifies him and is a picture of Christ's relationship to the church."

From the foreword by Karen Swallow Prior, professor of English, Liberty University

"Those who read this book not only will be rewarded with a detailed account of one of the most fascinating marriages in history, but also will be introduced to the customs, cultural context, and historical significance of Katharina and Martin Luther's life together. Though I had often studied Luther, I had no idea of the opposition he and Katie received when they chose to marry and the harassment Katie received as a widow. No wonder it is sometimes said that the impact of this marriage was as great in the social sphere as the Ninety-five Theses in the religious sphere. Here is a story of a growing love accompanied by sorrow, the joys of marriage, and faith in God's providence. These well-researched pages are filled with unexpected treasures."

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, pastor emeritus, Moody Church, Chicago

"When Martin Luther wrote his Ninety-five Theses, he famously charted a new course for the church. He couldn't have known, however, how his stance would eventually lead him to marry a former nun named Katharina. In Katharina and Martin Luther, Michelle DeRusha gives us a fascinating peek into the Luthers' individual lives, their theological wrestlings, and an unexpected partnership that redefined yet another biblical institution--Christian marriage. The Luthers, through DeRusha's masterful portrayal, remind us again and again how the grace of Christ truly affects all of life."

Christine Hoover, author of From Good to Grace and Messy Beautiful Friendship

"This is a powerful book, not only for a pastor and his wife but for everyone who wants to get behind the scenes of Luther's life and ministry in Reformation Germany. What a dedicated woman Katharina was! She and Luther were almost strangers on their wedding day, but he soon learned how skillful she was in cooking, teaching, handling money, nursing the sick (he himself had many ailments), and teaching children. I promise that this book will hold your attention and open your eyes."

Warren W. Wiersbe, author; former pastor of Moody Church, Chicago

"Though I've been a Christian for over thirty years, I admit I didn't know a lot about Martin Luther and even less about his wife, Katharina. We owe Michelle DeRusha a debt of gratitude for her impressive commitment to tell the story of their unlikely marriage. This book is a gift for believers everywhere, a reminder of how the transformational grace of God can leave a lasting and unforgettable legacy."

Emily P. Freeman, author of Simply Tuesday

"Martin Luther had a wife? We forget--if we ever knew--this important part of the great man's life. In so doing we miss what C. S. Lewis called 'the clean sea breeze of the centuries,' the vital lessons and inspiration we need from the past. Michelle DeRusha helps us restore what we have lost."

Stephen Mansfield, author of Ask the Question; founder of The Mansfield Group

"This is no dusty, dry-bones textbook tale. Michelle DeRusha masterfully pulls back the curtain on a revolution lit by conviction and sustained through tragedy and scandal. Equal parts history, destiny, and rogue love story, Katharina and Martin Luther is a testament to the power of surrender, a necessary reminder that the future is shaped where courage and truth collide."

Shannan Martin, author of Falling Free: Rescued from the Life I Always Wanted

"As a Lutheran, I thought I knew everything I needed to know about the Luthers. Was I ever wrong. This book is a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most well-known Christian couples of all time. It's well researched but entirely accessible. This is the Luthers' story, but in important ways, it's the story of all of us. I highly recommend this captivating book."

Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of The Happiness Dare

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