By E. Jane Mall
I purchased this wonderful book some 50 years ago from the Lutheran Bookshop in Pirie Street, Adelaide.
I read it with my fifteen-year-old eyes and felt such sympathy for the young child of nine who had been placed in the Nimbschen Convent. Even though her father’s sister, Magdalene, was a nun there and her mother’s sister was the Abbess, it still seemed to me that it was a cold way to be treated by her father and stepmother. Katherine remained at the convent to become an obedient nun, but as she realised how a few power-hungry men were bringing dishonour and corruption to the church, she longed for freedom.
Having heard of the work of Dr Luther, and how he was helping monks and nuns to escape their confinement, Katherine’s Aunt Magdalene wrote to him asking for help to allow herself, Katherine, and twelve other nuns to escape Nimbschen. They all faced grave danger of being caught before they reached their safe haven.
Luther found husbands for the nuns but, after two years, Katherine yet remained single. Convinced by his friends that he should take a wife, Luther asked Katherine to marry him. When she agreed he told her that they would be married the next day! He took Katherine to the parsonage at Wittenburg, where they remained for their married life.
Katherine’s hard work sustained the growing Luther family, students and all those in need. She also started a women’s group, where they first had devotion and then worked to aid those who had less than themselves. Probably the first Lutheran Women meeting, with about the same format as today!
Both very happy and desperately sad, I loved this book at 15 and I love this book at 65. As Reformation approaches, I urge you to find a copy of Kitty, My Rib. It is a celebration of Martin Luther, the reformer, and Katherine, his wife.
Kitty, My Rib is available from online bookshops such as Amazon, and from Koorong bookshops. Some second-hand copies can also be found, with varying prices.
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