St. John’s, Oak Creek, Bible Class

1. St. John’s, Oak Creek, Bible Class Martin Luther - God’s Reformation Servant “His Family and Later Life”

2. Katharina von Bora29 January 1499 - 20 December 1552 • Born at Lippendorf • Father - Hans • Mother - Katharina nee von Haubnitz (died c. 1505) • 3 brothers and possibly a sister • Aunt Margarete von Haubnitz

3. 1508/09 placed in Cistercian convent of Marienthron at Nimbschen/Nimptschen • 8 October 1515, Kate took her vows • 12 nuns escaped with help of Leonhard Koppe

4. Magdalene von Staupitz and Margarete von Haubnitz • No place for unattached women in this society

5. Luther the matchmaker • Cistercian nuns escaped on 4 April 1523 • Arrived in Wittenberg on 7 April 1523 • Hieronymus Baumgärtner of Nürnberg • Pastor Glanz, lecturer from Orlamünde • “I would marry Nicholas or Dr. Luther.” • Luther initially seemed more interested in Ave von Schönfeld

6. Luther as Husband • Luther had been freed from his monastic vows by Staupitz in October 1518 • Luther had encouraged many others to marry. He had not, but not because he was opposed to idea. • Reasons for marrying NOW • please his father • spite his enemies • confess his faith

7. Bridegroom - 13 June 1525 • 27 June -- public ceremony/reception followed by banquet and “Ehrentanz” • Bugenhagen = officiant • Lucas Cranach = photographer • “What began as a tragedy is now ending as a comedy.” (Erasmus) • Luther -- “the soft touch” • Luther -- faithful, loving spouse

8. Luther’s Wedding “Pictures”

9. Use of Black Cloister, a gift from Elector • only one other monk had been living there with Luther • renovated and given to Luther as parsonage • living quarters + lecture halls Wedding gift from Wittenberg Town Council

10. Kate the Manager • 6 children + relatives + other children + fugitives + students • Took care of finances and augmented income: farm, fish pond, basement brewery • After Luther’s death, Kate often depressed and disoriented • Carriage accident September 1552. She died in Torgau; buried at St. Mary’s Church in Torgau

11. Kate’s tomb in Torgau

12. Luther as Father • John (Hans) - born 7 June 1526 • lawyer • Elizabeth - born 10 December 1527 died 3 August 1528 • Magdalena - born 4 May 1529 died 20 Sept 1542

13. Martin - born 9 November 1531 • studied theology • not a preacher • Paul - born 29 January 1533 • medicine • Margarethe - born 17 December 1534 • married Prussian nobleman

14. Luther as Teacher of family • Spiritual training and education for service • Students served as tutors • Tough disciplinarian • 11 May 1532: “Only the death of a child comes close to the grief at the death of a spouse.” • death of Magdalena changed Luther

15. Tischreden • Married life did not settle Luther down completely • Big meal of the day at 5:00 p.m.; often lasted for 2 hours; Luther ate and spoke and was recorded • 16 recorders in all • Aurifaber first to print separate book 1566 • Mathesius first Luther biographer • Schlagenhauffen did not like Kate

17. Picture by Reifenstein Text by Melanchthon

18. Last Problems • “If gospel preaching is allowed in all territories, then we can go on to other matters.” • Charles V bribed Turks, so he could concentrate on religious question • Schwenckfeld charged Luther with lack of emphasis on moral training • Luther almost retired in summer 1545

19. Last Writings • In 1536 Elector John Frederick banished Jews from Saxony • Capito asked Luther to intervene on behalf of Joel Rosenheim • Luther is not anti-Semite (racial) • Luther is anti-Judaism (religious) • To understand and to forgive is not to condone what he said

20. Back to Eisleben • Luther never lost contact or interest in his homeland of Mansfeld • Brothers and sisters and Counts • Close connections with Count Albrecht until 1536 • Concern for brother James and brother-in-law Paul Mackenrot

22. Counts of Mansfeld dispute • Albrecht, Philip and John George • October 1545 Luther agreed to arbitrate (own relatives persuaded him) -- left in December • Melanchthon’s illness forced Luther to return in January 1546 before agreement • Another session planned for 25 Jan.

23. Preached final time in Wittenberg on 17 January 1546 • Melanchthon did not accompany • Sons [Martin + Paul + Hans (?)] along • Ice on Saale River at Halle on 25 January and letter to Kate • 26 January preached in Halle on conversion of St. Paul (day after festival for that occasion) - noted proper way to honor a saint

24. 28 January 1546 -- 60 (113) Mansfeld horsemen get Luther across Saale • Justus Jonas joined Luther in Halle • Suffered dizziness -- circulatory problems caused by cold • Sent sons ahead to relatives in Mansfeld • Luther stayed in home of Johann Albrecht in Eisleben

25. Luther preached at St. Andrew’s on 31 Jan., 2 + 7 Feb., either 14 or 15 Feb. • Twice he received Lord’s Supper • Ordained 2 pastors on 14 February • John Aurifaber recorded table conversations • “If I go back to Wittenberg, I’ll lie down in a coffin and give the maggots a fat doctor to eat.”

26. Negotiations were difficult for arbitrators and for Luther • The problem: old vs. new Eisleben • “Free me from your worries. I have a caretaker who is better than you and all the angels; he lies in the cradle and rests on a virgin’s bosom, and yet, nevertheless, he sits at the right hand of God, the almighty Father. Therefore be a peace. Amen.” (Letter from Luther to Kate)

27. Luther’s additional contributions to the debate • “We cannot do what everyone wants; but we can certainly do what we want.” • 14 February negotiations almost complete -- except Albrecht and Gebhard • Negotiations result in 2 treaties

28. Death and Burial • Eyewitness accounts from Justus Jonas and Michael Coelius • Luther had not participated in final negotiations on 17 February • Tachycardia = too rapid beating of heart • 8:00 p.m. -- attack of angina pectoris • 10:00 p.m. - Luther wanted to lie down • 1:00 a.m. -- awaken by another attack

29. “Reverend father, are you ready to die trusting in your Lord Jesus Christ and to confess the doctrine which you have taught in his name?” “Yes” • 2:45 a.m. (18 February 1546) Luther dies peacefully • Counts of Mansfeld wish to bury Luther in Eisleben; overridden by Elector • Clothed in white “Swabian smock”

30. Funeral arrangements • Plaster cast of face had been made; also plaster cast of his hands • 19 Feb. at 2:00 p.m. taken to St. Andrew’s church in Eisleben -- Jonas preached funeral sermon

31. Lukas Fortenagel (from Halle) commissioned to paint the dead Luther

32. 20 February Michael Coelius delivered second funeral sermon • Luther’s body reaches Halle at 5:00 p.m.; taken to St. Mary’s church • 21 February funeral service at Halle • About noon on 21 February procession reached Bitterfeld on edge of Electoral Saxony; went as far as Kemberg • 22 February in morning funeral procession went through Wittenberg

33. 22 Feb. funeral service in Wittenberg • Bugenhagen preached • Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 • identified Luther with angel in Revelation 14:6 - proclaiming everlasting gospel (first done by Michael Stifel in 1522) • Melanchthon addresses congregation on behalf of university • Amsdorf - executor of Luther’s will

34. Luther’s final resting place -- at the foot of the pulpit in the Castle Church, Wittenberg