Reformation Women

The information in this post came from an article in The Lutheran Witness entitled “Faithful Women of the Reformation.”

Katie Luther–Martin Luther’s wife.  Luther called Katie, “my rib” and depended upon her good sense and management skills to run the household that became famous for Luther’s table talks and hospitality to students and many other. Katie was a former nun  You’ve probably heard of her, but what about these other reformation women?

1. Elizabeth Cruciger who like Katie was a nun who converted to Lutheranism after reading the writings of Dr. Luther.  She has the privilege of being known as the first female Lutheran hymn writer and poet.  After sitting at the feet of the Reformation’s foremost theologians, she was inspired to write the text to the hymn, “The Only Son From Heaven.”
2. Elizabeth of Brunswick, daughter of German nobility, married Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Luneberg.  She converted to the Lutheran faith after being introduced to his teachings by her mother and corresponding with Luther himself.  After her husband’s death, Elizabeth ruled as regent for her young son and her influence was instrumental in the establishment of the Lutheran Church in lower Saxony.
3. Ursula Von Munsterberg was the granddaughter of the king of Bohemia.  She was sent to a convent when very young and was instrumental in having Luther’s writings smuggled in for the nuns to read.  This lead many of them to leave the convent and monastic life.  Ursula took refuge in Luther’s home and wrote a defense(which was published)to the accusation that she was encouraging others to godless living.

How can we do our part to be “Reformation Women” today?  Send us your thoughts.