Luther and Katharina by Jody Hedlund

This is a story of two historical characters: an early 16th century German reformer, Martin Luther, who believes that “God’s mercy is not for sale. It’s free…” and a woman, Katharina von Bora, noble knight’s daughter, who becomes a nun, due to a lack of dowry to get married, as this is “the surest way to get to heaven.” 

He is an excommunicated monk, who attracts crowds wherever he moves, such is his pure remarkable love for God, “…given freely, not forced.” She with the other nuns flee the convent as words of Luther reach many cloisters about “cloistered life wasn’t necessary for their soul’s salvation.” He “awakens their desires that had been forced into slumber.” Now they want to experience the new words preached by Luther, “…Marriage is not only honorable but necessary…Men and women, who were created for it…”

The fleeing nuns find shelter at a monastery, where Luther resides. He feels responsible for finding them new homes and that’s what he does. Except for a bossy woman from a noble family, Katharina…

The author recreates a valid atmosphere between nobles and peasants, their clashes, and interaction seen through conversations between Luther and Katharina. But above all, she paints well a picture why Luther is so passionate about the Reformation; the abuses of the Church had been going for far too long.

Overall, this is an interesting story and pretty well-written. I gave it four stars as there is too much arguing between Luther and Katharina to a point that it is hard to be believable, especially when both of them are ordained for religious duties. 

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