Character of Catharine.
It must be acknowledged that there is nothing remarkably striking in the
history of Catharine de Bora, considered apart from her relation to her
illustrious husband. She was distinguished by no extraordinary talents
or surprising act of heroism after her marriage; she has left no
literary monument to perpetuate her memory, nor any public institution
founded by her munificence. She was nothing more than the “virtuous”
woman so eloquently described by King Solomon in the last chapter of the
Book of Proverbs, but she was that in an eminent degree. A noble dignity
and a temperate self-reliance were the fundamental traits of her
character. Hence, though dependent on others for support, she possessed
sufficient independence of mind to reject several brilliant offers of
marriage, and showed herself worthy of Luther. Her resolution to
exchange the noiseless cloister for a life of honorable and useful
activity in the disturbed world without, displayed not only a noble
courage in the certain anticipation of poverty and persecution, but also
a strong confidence in God. It is more than probable that she read many
of Luther’s writings as soon as they appeared, not actuated by a blind
curiosity, but with a sincere desire to ascertain the truth, and to
derive from them instruction for heart and head. Afterwards, during her
married life, she took every opportunity of correcting and enlarging her
religious views. Although, as the result of the spirit of that age and
of her previous monastic training, she was not profoundly educated, yet
Luther esteemed her as a woman possessing a noble, dignified,
independent spirit, in whose feelings and opinions he found an echo of
his own. Pious, in the proper sense of the word, she found her highest
enjoyment in solitary communion with God, and those hours which she
devoted to the attentive reading of the Scriptures were always the most
happy. To this profitable exercise she was often exhorted by her
husband, and she followed his advice. Said she, “I hear a great deal of
the Scriptures, and read them diligently every day.” In writing to Jonas
on one occasion, Luther says, “She is a diligent reader of the Bible;
she shows deep earnestness in this duty.” She faithfully attended the
public means of grace also, and with her Christian brothers and sisters
worshipped God in the sanctuary. She was devotedly attached to the
doctrines of the Reformation, and one of her dying prayers was for their
preservation in purity to the end of time. She never neglected her
_domestic_ duties. To her husband, in all the relations of his active
life, she was the most affectionate companion; in his sickness, the most
faithful nurse; in his troubles, the most tender comforter: to her
children, she was a most gentle mother; in her household affairs she was
a model to all in regard to cleanliness, order, and neatness; to her
domestics and dependants, a condescending and indulgent mistress. She
was liberal without extravagance, economical without meanness,
hospitable without ostentation. Her questions and opinions, still
preserved in Luther’s writings, show a strong desire for mental
improvement, an enlightened understanding, a clear and dispassionate
penetration. This elevated, intellectual character of Catharine,
connected with her lofty independence and self-confidence, created a
distaste for the company of other less cultivated and less dignified
ladies, for the glory of her husband also encircled her head, and the
house of Luther was the central point of union of the distinguished men
of that day. Hence we need not wonder that, by the envious, she was
accused of pride. It is true, that now, after the lapse of three hundred
years, there may be many more refined and accomplished women than
Catharine was, for she was not distinguished for learning or science;
but none exceed her in that pious, Christian disposition which was so
forcibly expressed in her words and actions. Her lively temperament and
affectionate heart admirably qualified her to feel the warmest sympathy
in the diversified events of her husband’s life, and most kindly to
participate with him in his joys and sorrows. But above all, it was not
less her pious disposition than her persevering faith which identified
her so completely with himself! Whenever the opposition of the enemy
disturbed the quiet of the husband, Catharine never faltered for a
moment, and proceeded to administer consolation to his dejected heart.
During the prevalence of a contagious disease, in 1527, her confidence
in God was not unshaken, so that Luther could in truth write, “Catharine
is yet strong in the faith.” Also, as a widow, when she was subject to
attacks of sickness and adverse circumstances, her equanimity never
entirely failed. She was especially solicitous about her children, and
devoted all the energies of body and mind to their welfare. It cannot be
denied that Catharine partook of the common lot of mortals; she had her
faults and infirmities; but they are all overshadowed by those numerous
exalted virtues which are not always found united in one person of her
sex. She was a pattern of every domestic and Christian virtue; of
righteousness and good works to her generation, and may the daughters
and wives of the present day imitate her example, and profit by the
practical lessons which her life has taught!
If she could make no pretensions to personal beauty, still she possessed
not a little that was attractive. She was of medium size, had an oval
face, a bright, sparkling eye, an expansive, serene forehead, a nose
rather small, lips a little protruding, and cheek-bones somewhat
prominent. Erasmus speaks of her as a woman of magnificent form and
extraordinary beauty; but Seckendorf says this is an extravagant picture
of her. The later opponents of Luther agree with Erasmus in representing
her as very beautiful, and falsely charge the Reformer as being
attracted only by her personal charms. Maimbourg says, “Among the nuns,
there was one named Catharine von Bora, whom Luther found to be very
beautiful, and whom, on that account, he loved.” Varillas and Bossuet
report, “That he married a nun of high rank and uncommon beauty.”
Chardon de la Rochette relates the following fact: “I have found the
likeness of Luther and his wife in a lumber-room in Orleans, where they
are in great danger of going to ruin. I will bet that there is no man
who would not wish to have so beautiful a wife as Catharine von Bora. It
is the first time that I have seen her picture, and it justifies the
opinion which Bossuet has expressed of her appearance. She has a noble,
expressive, and animated face.” But Luther himself says of her, “A wife
is sufficiently adorned and beautiful when she pleases her husband, whom
she ought to please.”
Her likeness was frequently painted, and at various periods of her life,
by the distinguished artists of that age, such as Cranach, senior,
Cranach, junior, and Hans Holbein, junior. Cranach, senior, painted her
likeness in oil colors _sixteen times_, and the other artists mentioned,
several times each. Many of these original portraits are still to be
seen in the various picture galleries of Europe. There are extant more
than _forty_ different copper-plate and wood-engravings of her likeness.
It has also been transferred to porcelain-ware and other articles of
domestic use. A number of medals containing her likeness have been
struck to commemorate her virtues, and plaster casts of the bust of full
life size have also been made. All this shows the high esteem in which
she has ever been held by those who can appreciate exalted virtue and
genuine Christian character.
As a proof of her artistic skill and her proficiency in ornamental
needle-work, even in that distant age, there is, to this day, exhibited
in the vestry-room of the cathedral at Merseburg, a blue satin surplice
which she embroidered for her husband, and which he wore on the occasion
of some great solemnity, and in the former University library at
Wittenberg, they still show a likeness of Luther, neatly and elegantly
worked in silk by Catharine. But these works will perish, whilst the
results of her faith, hope, and charity, will endure forever.
THE END.
FOOTNOTES
[1]1 Cor. 7; 7, 8, 26, 28.
[2]1 Tim. 3; 2, 12. Tit. 1; 6. 1 Cor. 9; 5, 6. Matt. 8; 14. Mark 1; 1.
Luke 4; 38.
[3]The passage 1 Cor. 9; 5, 6, speaks of Christian _married women_, who
accompanied the apostles on their travels. From this and other
passages it is undeniable that most of the apostles, and that, too,
during their apostleship, were married men. John probably lived
unmarried; and Paul seems to say the same of himself. 1 Cor. 7; 7,
8, compare ch. 9; 5, 6. The idea that in Phil. 4; 3, he is speaking
of _his own_ wife, conflicts with the connection of the verse.
[4]Melanchthon married (Nov. 25, 1520,) Anna Krappe, daughter of the
burgomaster of Wittenberg; Carlstadt, (Dec. 26, 1521,) Anna von
Michael. Soon after, he gave his reasons for this step in a letter
to the Elector, in which he says, “I have learned from the
Scriptures that there is no condition of life more pleasing to God,
more blessed and more consistent with Christian liberty than the
married state, if we live in it agreeably to God’s design.” Luther
highly approved of the measure.
[5]He thus expressed himself in one of his tracts: “I hope I have come
so far _that by the grace of God I may remain as I am_, although I
have not yet got over the difficulty.”
[6]His brother and predecessor, Frederick the Wise, had died May 5,
1525.
[7]Dr. Jerome Scurf, Professor of Theology at Wittenberg, among others,
said, “If this monk should marry, the whole world, yea, the devil
himself would laugh, and he would thereby spoil all his previous
works.”
[8]His annual compensation did not amount to more than about $160, but
the Elector, John Frederick, supplied him with wheat, wood, free
house, clothes, &c. &c., to some extent. He inherited only 250
guilders from his father. The King of Denmark, Christian III., gave
Luther towards the end of his days a pension of $50 a year. A man
who was executed for murder in Leipzig in 1537, with a vain hope
probably of reconciling heaven, bequeathed Luther $530, and
Melanchthon $300.
[9]In 1529 he wrote to Link, “I am daily buried in books, so that
windows, chairs, benches, &c. &c., are full.” As early as 1516 he
said to Lang, “I have full employment for two secretaries. I do
scarcely anything all day but write letters.”
[10]Luther was aided in this work by several of his learned friends, as
Melanchthon, Cruciger, Jonas, Bugenhagen, and others. He submitted
his work to their review, and adopted such alterations as his
judgment approved. Various sections or books were published from
time to time, until finally, in 1534, the complete Bible was
published. His work superseded all other previous translations, for
it excelled them all in fidelity, force, and distinctness; and even
now, 300 years after its appearance, with all the modern progress in
criticism and biblical interpretation, and the improvements of the
German language which are displayed in many more recent
translations, Luther’s Bible still maintains the ascendency in
private and public use.
[11]Jerome Weller von Wolsdorff, Luther’s intimate friend, has said, “I
remember hearing Luther often say that he always regarded himself
extremely happy that God had given him such a prudent and thrifty
wife, who cherished him so tenderly in sickness, &c. Whenever Dr.
Luther was depressed, she, like a sensible wife, always consulting
his welfare, secretly invited Dr. Jonas to her table, so that he
might cheer him by his interesting conversation. She knew that no
one could so well entertain him as Dr. Jonas.”
[12]This was during the Peasants’ War.
[13]This property was obtained by gifts from the benevolent.
[14]The Elector had presented him with a house.
[15]He was born in Eisleben on the 10th of November, 1483.
[16]All the property he ever owned was received from his father, his
friends, and the Elector. He never accumulated any by his own
savings.
[17]This son, John, afterwards studied law at Wittenberg, and
subsequently filled responsible offices under several successive
Electors.
[18]Sons of Melanchthon and Jonas.
[19]See a translation in Hymn 907 of our Hymn-Book.
Transcriber’s Notes
--Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook
is public-domain in the country of publication.
--Corrected a few palpable typos.
--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
_underscores_.