Church Mother: The Writings of a Protestant Reformer in Sixteenth-Century Germany (The Other Voice in Early Modern Europe)

Imbued with character and independence, strength and articulateness, humor and conviction, abundant biblical knowledge and intense compassion, Katharina Schütz Zell (1498–1562) was an outspoken religious reformer in sixteenth-century Germany who campaigned for the right of clergy to marry and the responsibility of lay people—women as well as men—to proclaim the Gospel. As one of the first and most daring models of the pastor’s wife in the Protestant Reformation, Schütz Zell demonstrated that she could be an equal partner in marriage; she was for many years a respected, if unofficial, mother of the established church of Strasbourg in an age when ecclesiastical leadership was dominated by men. Though a commoner, Schütz Zell participated actively in public life and wrote prolifically, including letters of consolation, devotional writings, biblical meditations, catechetical instructions, a sermon, and lengthy polemical exchanges with male theologians. The complete translations of her extant publications, except for her longest, are collected here in Church Mother, offering modern readers a rare opportunity to understand the important work of women in the formation of the early Protestant church.

Imbued with character and independence, strength and articulateness, humor and conviction, abundant biblical knowledge and intense compassion, Katharina Schütz Zell (1498–1562) was an outspoken religious reformer in sixteenth-century Germany who campaigned for the right of clergy to marry and the responsibility of lay people—women as well as men—to proclaim the Gospel. As one of the first and most daring models of the pastor’s wife in the Protestant Reformation, Schütz Zell demonstrated that she could be an equal partner in marriage; she was for many years a respected, if unofficial, mother of the established church of Strasbourg in an age when ecclesiastical leadership was dominated by men.

Though a commoner, Schütz Zell participated actively in public life and wrote prolifically, including letters of consolation, devotional writings, biblical meditations, catechetical instructions, a sermon, and lengthy polemical exchanges with male theologians. The complete translations of her extant publications, except for her longest, are collected here in Church Mother, offering modern readers a rare opportunity to understand the important work of women in the formation of the early Protestant church.

'church Mother' Offers Readers A Rare Opportunity To Understand The Important Work Of Women In The Formation Of The Early Protestant Church. Letter To The Suffering Women Of The Community In Kentzingen -- Katharina Schütz's Apologia For Master Matthew Zell, Her Husband -- Some Christian And Comforting Songs Of Praise About Jesus Christ Our Savior -- Lament And Exhortation Of Katharina Zell To The People At The Grave Of Master Matthew Zell -- The Miserere Psalm Meditated, Prayed, And Paraphrased With King David By Katharina Zell--, Sent To The Christian Man Sir Felix Armbruster -- To Sir Caspar Schwenckfeld -- A Letter To The Whole Citizenship Of The City Of Strasbourg From Katharina Zell,--concerning Mr. Ludwig Rabus -- Letter Of Ludwig Rabus To Katharina Schütz Zell (april 1557). Katharina Schütz Zell ; Edited And Translated By Elsie Mckee. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 235-250) And Index. Translated From The German. Content: Letter to the suffering women of the community in Kentzingen -- Katharina Schütz's apologia for Master Matthew Zell, her husband -- Some Christian and comforting songs of praise about Jesus Christ our Savior -- Lament and exhortation of Katharina Zell to the people at the grave of Master Matthew Zell -- The Miserere Psalm meditated, prayed, and paraphrased with King David by Katharina Zell--, sent to the Christian man Sir Felix Armbruster -- To Caspar Schwenckfeld -- A letter to the whole citizenship of the city of Strasbourg from Katharina Zell, --concerning Mr. Ludwig Rabus -- Letter of Ludwig Rabus to Katharina Schütz Zell.