Women and the Reformation

Kirsi Stjerna is Associate Professor of Reformation Church History and Director of the Institute for Luther Studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. She is the editor of The Role of the Bishop: Changing Models for a Global Church (2001) and Homoeroticism in the Biblical World: A Historical Perspective (1998).

"Stjerna writes in a style that will be accessible to undergraduate students, and her sophisticated analyses draw on her extensive theological training and wide reading, so that the book will be useful for more advanced students and non-specialist scholars as well." (The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, April 2010)"This work should be viewed as a very welcome teaching resource: it provides novice undergraduate students of the early modern with the means to be informed about and inspired by the Reformation, whilst offering ample resources for postgraduates to develop ideas." (Journal of Theological Studies, April 2010)"Concise descriptions summarize basic biographical information and analyze the leadership role of these women in the larger reformatory movements.... A thorough bibliography (thirty-six pages) offers wide possibilities for further reading. The book succeeds in its goal." (Religious Studies Review, December 2009)"The text is fairly described as ground breaking. An extensive bibliography and a full index are provided. The price for such an academic study is refreshingly modest." (History, October 2008)

• Acknowledgments viiiIntroduction 1The Vision and the Scope of the Book 1The Term “Reformation” and Inclusivity Concerns 3Visionary Studies on Women and the Reformation 5Women in this Book 7Part 1 Options and Visions for Women 91 Prophets, Visionaries, and Martyrs – Ursula Jost and her Publisher Margarethe Prüss 11Introduction – Medieval Women Visionaries 11Anabaptists and Martyrs 14Prophets in Strasbourg and their Publisher Margarethe Prüss 17Prophet Ursula Jost and her Visions 19Conclusion 222 The Monastic Option – The Struggle of the Convents 23Introduction – The Drama of Closing the Convents 23An Excursion – Monastic Calling 24Nuns’ Fight for Freedom 26Conclusion 303 Marriage and Motherhood – The Preferred Calling 32Introduction – Marriage Only? 32The Holy Marital Vocation 33Pastors’ Wives 35Motherhood, Prostitution, Divorce 37Conclusion 384 Learning and Power – An Elusive Option 40Introduction: The Impetus and Obstacles for Theological Writing 40Writing with and without Visions 42The Education Factor 43The Educated Women 46Part 2 Women as Models, Leaders and Teachers of the Reformation 495 “Herr Doktor” Katharina von Bora, 1499–1552. The Lutheran Matriarch 51Introduction 52Katharina – From a Nun to the Ultimate Reformer’s Spouse 52Conclusion 67A Word about Sources and References 696 Argula von Grumbach, 1492 to 1563/68? – A Bavarian Apologist and a Pamphleteer 71Introduction 72Argula as a Defender of Faith – A Valiant Christian, or a Devilish Woman? 73Conclusion 83A Word about Sources and References 857 Elisabeth von Brandenburg, 1485–1555, and Elisabeth von Braunschweig, 1510–1558 – Exiled Mothers, Reforming Rulers 87Introduction 88Elisabeth von Brandenburg née Elisabeth of Denmark – A Reformer in Exile 89Elisabeth von Braunschweig-Lüneburg (Calenberg) 96Conclusion 107A Word about Sources and References 1088 Katharina Schütz Zell, 1498–1562 – A Publishing Church Mother in Strasbourg 109Introduction 109A Church Mother, a Pastoral Care Provider, a Writer, Even a Preacher 110Conclusion 130A Word about Sources and References 1319 Marie Dentière, 1495–1561 – A Genevan Reformer and Writer 133Introduction 133Marie Dentière – A Feminist Reformer and Biblical Interpreteter 135Conclusion 146A Word about Sources and References 14710 Marguerite de Navarre, 1492–1549, and Jeanne d’Albret, 1528–1572 – The Protectors of the French Reformers 149Introduction 150Marguerite d’Angoulême/de Navarre – The Illustrious Queen, Writer and Spiritual Mother 150Jeanne d’Albret, a Protestant Queen and a Huguenot leader 158Conclusion 173A Word about Sources and References 17411 Renée de France, 1510–1575 – A Friend of the Huguenots 175Introduction 176Renée – A French Protector of Huguenots in Italy and France 177Conclusion 195A Word about Sources and References 19612 Olimpia Fulvia Morata, 1526/27–1555 – An Italian Scholar 197Introduction 197Olimpia Fulvia Morata, a Classicist Huguenot Teacher 199Conclusion 210A Word about Sources and References 212Conclusions and Observations on Gender and the Reformation 213Reformation and Gender, Changes and Losses 213Individual Choices and Women’s Experiences 216The Options for Women 217Reformers’ Ideas about Women 219Sola Scriptura, Education, and Legal Matters 219Conclusion 221Bibliography 223Options and Visions for Women 223Women as Models, Leaders and Teachers of the Reformation 232Index 259