LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Assignment: Book Analysis
Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk
Submitted to Dr. David Pederson in partial fulfillment.
of the requirements for the completion of`
CHHI 525-D01
History of Christianity II
by
Carlinda Rashid
Student ID-L03511260
April 9, 2023
Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................3
Brief Summary........................................................................................................................3
Critical Interaction..................................................................................................................4
Conclusion..............................................................................................................................6
Bibliography...........................................................................................................................7
Introduction
The incredible story of a runaway nun and a renegade monk is not your typical love story
that is read every day. Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora radical marriage changed the
narrative and set a precedent for all individuals in clergy to consider regarding their life choices.
The book Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a
Renegade Monk by Michelle DeRusha presents to a glimpse inside the lives of Martin,
Katharina, and their family. Their lives began on different ends of the social class ladder. One’s
life changed due to a thunderstorm and a vow, and the other’s, life was determined by her
father fulfilling a religious obligation for tithe offering. Martin Luther changed the lives of so
many people including his wife.
Brief Summary
The biography of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora outlines an unlikely story of two
people whose lives would have never crossed paths without the reformation occurring. As the
author Michelle DeRusha specified, these two individuals were on two different courses but due
to reformation their lives were transformed for the better. Martin Luther professional life began
with studying to become a lawyer, but was changed over night due a violent thunderstorm,
causing a vow to made becoming a servant of the Lord as a monk.
After being a faithful monk following the laws, statues, and teachings of the Catholic
Church, Martin Luther experiences his own personal Damascus Road experience. This revelation
occurred through the study of God’s Word versus what was being taught through the doctrine
of the Catholic Church. which began the reformation leading to the Protestant Church. The
impact of Martin Luther’s Damascus Road experience because of the doctrine of Catholic
Church affected so many people on clergy including his future wife, Katharina von Bora.
Katharina von Bora’s life began entirely the opposite of her husband Martin Luther. She
was born into a family of nobility and was sent to a convent as a child to become a nun.
Katharina’s life changed after reading the writings of Martin Luther speaking against the vow of
chastity, so she chose to leave the convent to become a bride. This book discusses Martin and
Katharina’s marriage, their family life, problems, and concluding with the death of Martin
Luther.
Critical Interaction
Michelle DeRusha authored a wonderful book examining the everyday life of Katharina
and Martin Luther. This book gives authenticity to the story of the family of Martin Luther and
the importance of the impact of how the Reformation affected their lives. “Luther’s decision to
marry Katharina von Bora specifically also contributed to the Protestant understanding of
marriage because of the particular ways these two particular people shared one another and
the life they created together.”1
Michelle DeRusha purpose for this book was to outline the foundational base of the
Luther’s family narrative. This foundational base was constructed due to revelation through
biblical scripture, historical and geographical mapping in the 16th century, theological and
doctrinal perspective from the Roman Catholic Church. And because of foundational base this
leads to a true love story of a radical nun and renegade monk. DeRusha indicates from a biblical
perspective how Martin Luther received an epiphany of “God’s righteousness was not
something God did not against sinners as punishment but something God gave to sinners as a
gift. The key,
Luther finally realized, was that God’s love and grace were not merited, but freely given and
freely received through faith alone.”2 Luther’s scriptural revelation allowed him to present his
issues with the specific doctrine components within the Roman Catholic Church. Historical and
geographical perspective the author issued information based upon the 16th century records for
land ownership and historical events. From the theological and the doctrine of the Catholic
Church, the author presents how this doctrine caused Martin Luther issues in the area’s
1 Michelle DeRusha. Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a
Renegade Monk. (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group), 2017.
2 Michelle DeRusha. Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and a
Renegade Monk. (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group), 2017.
indulgences, penance, vow of chastity, and papal primacy. DeRusha goal for this book was to
present a model for marriages in the Protestant Church by using Katharina and Martin Luther
marriage as an example.
Michelle DeRusha outlined the life of Martin and Katharina Luther from their beginnings
and the radicalization of everyone presented in this book by proving her point for the purpose
of authoring this book. How the author proved her point or issued validity to this story was at
the end of this text. When Martin Luther died, his property was not given to Katharina as his
wife.
But in the 16th century women had no rights and endured hardships because of that issue and
Katharina Luther was a prime example.
The strengths and weaknesses noted in this concentrated on two main areas. The
strengths noted in this book are perseverance of the Luther family through religious opposition,
family tragedies, and financial woes. The weaknesses noted in this book only touched on certain
points of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses and care of widows. “The book is a tribute to the Luther’s
successful practical experimental that showed the holiness of marriage even by, or especially by,
person wholly devoted to the Lord.”3
Conclusion
In conclusion, a runaway nun, and a renegade monk is an unlikely pair, because by all
standards would have never met without Martin Luther’s Damascus experience after studying
Romans 1:17. DeRusha achieved her goal in this book by presenting a Christian family as they
dealt with adversity. What begins as a marriage of convenience due to Martin Luther’s match
making to a real love story of a nun and a monk. I recommend this book as a teaching tool for
young couples prior to marriage, because it teaches perseverance. Also, I recommend this book
from historical insight in the lives of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora prior to marriage.
This book gives validity to male dominance and women rights in the 16th century.
3 Chuck Livermore. “Book Review: Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun
and a Renegade Monk.” (2020) https://www.ordinarybeliever.com
Bibliography
DeRusha, Michelle. Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runaway Nun and
a Renegade Monk. (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group), 2017.
Livermore, Chuck. “Book Review: Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a
Runaway Nun and a Renegade Monk.” (2020) https://www.ordinarybeliever.com
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