Review: Katie Luther: The Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom
What does it mean to be free? This question permeated my thoughts as I finished Gretchen Ronnevik’s book Katie Luther: The Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom. Whether in the forefront or background of our minds, our daily choices reflect our desire for freedom. Sometimes this desire drives us to sinful autonomy and a life away from God. But by God’s grace, sometimes our quest for freedom can drive us to the God who generously offers complete freedom in Christ. This was the case with Kathryn von Bora, wife of reformer Martin Luther.
Gretchen Ronnevik’s exploration of the life and faith of Katie Luther is a wonderful and encouraging read. Ronnevik skillfully places the Luthers, with all of their joys and sorrows, into the world of Germany in the 1500s. Having only a general knowledge of life during this period, I appreciate how Ronnevik opens a window into the past for her audience that buoys and does not distract from the main character. Since it is a biography of Katie, Martin is often mentioned, but his presence does not overwhelm the narrative. Katie was a woman with her own story of sadness and redemption, a woman with a clear mind and strong convictions, whom God used to bless many.
At the beginning of Ronnevik’s book, it is clear that Katie was not always free to choose the circumstances of her life. After losing her mother at the age of five, Kathryn was sent to a cloister to live and work among nuns. At first, her situation was tolerable, but eventually her father suffered financial difficulties, forcing her to move to a stricter convent where every hour was controlled for her. She was not free to leave, to sleep when she wanted, to speak when she wanted about what she wanted, or even to keep small sentimental items to remind her of her family. Perhaps her only freedom during that time was the freedom of her thoughts, though one might argue her thoughts were not even free: Katie was always wondering if she was pleasing to God. Every aspect of her life was tightly restricted to make her more acceptable to God and make her prayers more effective. Ultimately, these daily rhythms and requirements morphed her relationship with God into one of transaction, and she became bound in ways that God does not bind his people.
Through these harsh conditions, God made her life ripe for a harvest of faith, spurring her on with whispers of Martin’s teachings and what we would now call the doctrine of justification by faith. Her desire for freedom motivated her to plan a daring escape, eventually leading her to the home of Martin Luther.
With abundant reminders of God’s goodness, mercy, and providence, Ronnevik clearly conveys what Katie learned and lived — salvation through Christ is a gift and cannot be earned. Our children need to hear this message. They need to read good books about people who suffered, who loved, who worked hard and loved their neighbors, but most importantly, they need to know that if we are in Christ, we are accepted by God — freely. As the apostle Paul says to the Galatians, “…if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Gal 2:21). When Katie Luther realized that our working to gain redemption is not God’s message, it changed her life in drastic, costly ways. As Ronnevik notes in the last chapter, “The relationship between Jesus dying on the cross and our good works is important to know because getting it wrong can cause a lot of heartache.”
I was deeply encouraged as I read this book, and heartily recommend it to children and families. The targeted audience is ages 8-13, though I think those outside of this range will also benefit. I plan to read it aloud to all of my children (ages 5-13), even though my 13-year-old already finished it in less than a day. I also told my husband he must add it to the pile of books on his nightstand. Ronnevik has done a wonderful job of communicating important and little-known facts about a woman who is sometimes overshadowed by the courage of her husband.
Katie Luther’s life challenged me to consider if I am living in bondage or in freedom — in bondage to the idea that my good works are what restores my relationship with God, or in freedom to do good works out of gratitude for God’s extravagant grace, resting securely in the perfect work of Christ. Even though she was not perfect, Katie Luther’s life shows us what living in freedom looks like: no longer striving to be flawless to please God, no longer slaves to sin, but letting God work in and through us as we extend his love and kindness to those in our lives. I am grateful that Gretchen Ronnevik’s book Katie Luther: The Nun Who Escaped to True Freedom makes that truth accessible to young and old alike.
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I also enjoyed this book immensely. I loved meeting Katie, who was such a powerful woman in her own right, and seeing how her work also had an impact on those around her. She is inspirational!