Martin Luther is one of the most famous men in the last 500 years. Seen as the fire starter of the Protestant Reformation, his actions are seen as among the most important to move Christendom away from Rome. Through his life, he endured many trials for his stance, the most difficult trial in his life, however, was not when he faced the Diet of Worms or was stuck in the castle tower nor when the Papal Bull was issued in his name. Rather, it was when he experienced the loss of his daughter.
When his daughter Magdelena died, Luther picked her up and said, “Du liebes Lenchen, you will rise and shine like the stars and the sun. How strange it is to know that she is at peace, and all is well, and yet to be so sorrowful!”
The epitaph for her grave was written by Luther and read:
Here, I, Magdalena,
Doctor Luther’s little maid
Resting with the saints
Sleep in my narrow bed.
I was a child of death
For I was born in sin
But now I live, redeemed, Lord Christ,
By the blood you shed for me.
A few days later, he wrote to a friend this: “I expect you have heard that my beloved Magdalena has been born again into Christ’s everlasting kingdom. Although my wife and I ought to rejoice because of her happy end, yet such is the strength of natural affection that we cannot think of it without sobs and groans which tear the heart apart. The memory of her face, her words, her expression in life and in death—everything about our most obedient and loving daughter lingers in our hearts so that even the death of Christ (and what are all deaths compared to his?) is almost powerless to lift our minds above our loss. So would you give thanks to God in our stead? For hasn’t he honored us greatly in glorifying our child?”
The Bearded Ecclesiologian 