After the peace of Passau (July 31, 1552), security was re-established for the Protestants, and the former elector of Saxony was restored to liberty.
About this time a contagious disease broke out in Wittenberg, and all the members of the University removed to Torgau. Catharine also determined to leave the place with her two younger sons, Martin and Paul (John was studying at Konigsberg), and her only daughter, Margaret, was to follow them a short time after. On the journey the horses became unmanageable and ran away with the carriage. Catharine, more concerned about the children than her own safety, and with the hope of facilitating their escape, leaped out of the vehicle and fell violently into a ditch full of water. This painful accident gave such a severe shock to her system that she was conveyed to Torgau in a very weak condition, where she took her bed and never left it alive. Her illness increased from day to day, and soon assumed the decided character of consumption. Two months after, December 20, 1552, she died in the 54th year of her age. Her funeral was attended by an immense crowd of persons. The professors, students, and citizens, united in demonstrations of respect for the deceased widow of the illustrious reformer.
During the whole period of her sickness, she comforted herself with the promises of God’s word. She heartily prayed for a peaceful departure out of this vale of tears. She frequently commended the Church and her children to the continued protection of God, and her daily supplication was that the true doctrine, which the Lord had given to the world through her deceased husband, might be transmitted uncorrupted to posterity.
A plain monument in the city church of Torgau designates the place where her remains repose. On the monument or tombstone there is a recumbent statue, the size of life, with an open Bible pressed to the heart. The inscription is, Anno 1552, den 20 December. Ist in Gott selig entschlaffen alhier Zu Torgau Herrn D. Martin Luther’s Seligen hinterlassene Wittwe Katharina von Bora.
CHAPTER VII.
Luther’s Children—Domestic Character—Catharine.
Catharine had been the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters. 1. John, born June 7, 1526; studied law, and became a civil officer in the service of the Elector of Saxony; died October 27, 1575, aged 50 years. 2. Elizabeth; born December 10, 1527, died August 3, 1528. 3. Magdalena; born May 4, 1529; died September 20, 1542, aged 14; 4. Martin; born November 7, 1531—studied theology; died March 3, 1565, aged 34. 5. Paul; born January 28, 1533—studied medicine, and became court physician to the Elector of Saxony; died March 8, 1593, aged 61 years. 6. Margaret; born December 17, 1534; died 1570, aged 36 years.
Luther was accustomed to say, “The more children we have, the more happiness we enjoy. They are the loveliest fruits and bonds of the domestic life.” He was never more happy than in the circle of his family, and whoever saw him there forgot that he was the man who spoke without fear or trembling with emperors, kings, and nobles. He was much averse to noisy entertainments. “I lose too much time at such festal gatherings with the citizens. I do not know what demon it is that prevents me from abandoning them, and yet they do me much harm,” said he. It was in the bosom of his family and in the company of a few select friends in which he sought the most agreeable relaxation from the burdensome cares of his life, and gathered fresh vigor for his arduous labors. Surrounded by his wife and children, and by the side of his intimate friends, as Spalatin, Bugenhagen, Cruciger, Melanchthon, and a few others, he took part in the innocent amusements of life with a heart full of gratitude to God, who favored him with these evening relaxations. In 1543, he celebrated his 62d birthday, and invited Melanchthon, Bugenhagen, Cruciger, George Major, and Eber; it was the last time he celebrated that day. Subjects of solemn import came up for conversation. Luther, in a prophetic spirit, said, “As long as I live, with God’s help, there will be no danger, and Germany will continue peaceful; but when I die, then pray! There will be really need of prayer; our children shall have to grasp their weapons, and there will be sad times for Germany. Hence, I say, pray diligently after my death.” He then turned to Eber particularly, and said, “Your name is Paul; hence be careful, after Paul’s example, to preserve and defend the doctrine of that Apostle.”
Luther was a man of a sociable disposition, always enjoying conversation enlivened by wit and edifying anecdote. He excelled in spicy conversation himself, and was the life of every circle of distinguished men. But he especially found the sweetest enjoyment in conversation with his wife and children, and often, too, from the innocent prattle of the latter he derived no ordinary edification. When his heart was sad, he would take one of them into his arms and tenderly caress it. Thus, on more than one occasion, he took the youngest child, and, pressing it to his bosom, with deep emotion exclaimed, “Ah! what a blessing these little ones are, of which the vulgar and the obstinate are not worthy.” On another occasion he said, “I am richer than all papal theologians in the world, for I am contented with little. I have a wife and six children, whom God has bestowed on me; such treasures the papistic divines do not deserve.” Little Martin was once playing with a dog; “See,” said Luther, who took a religious view of the most ordinary circumstances, and thus also in social life he became the teacher of those around him; “See,” said he, “this child preaches God’s word in its actions; for God says, ‘Have, then, dominion over the fishes of the sea and the beasts of the earth,’ for the dog suffers himself to be governed by the child.” On one occasion, this same child was speaking of the enjoyments of heaven, and said “In heaven, loaves of bread grow on the trees.” The father replied with a smile, “The life of children is the happiest and best of all, for they have no worldly cares; they know nothing about fanatics and errorists in the church, and have only pure thoughts and pleasant reflections.” He was amusing himself one day with the child, and said, “We were all once in this same happy state of mind in Eden; simple, upright, without guile or hypocrisy—we were sincere, just as this child speaks of God, and in earnest.”
At another time, he remarked that Martin afforded him special delight because he was his youngest child. “We do not find such natural kindness in old persons; it does not flow so freely and fully. That which is colored or feigned loses our favor; it is not so impressive; it does not afford as much pleasure as that which springs up naturally from the heart. Hence children are the best playmates; they speak and do everything sincerely and naturally. How Abraham’s heart must have beat,” he continued, “when he was called on to sacrifice his son! I do not think he told Sarah anything about it! I could contend with God if he demanded anything similar of me.” Here the maternal feeling of Catharine was roused, and she observed, “I cannot believe that God could demand of parents the slaughter of their children.” He removed her objections by reminding her of the greater sacrifice which God the Father made by offering his own son as a ransom for our sins.