Martin Luther

Born in the mining town of Eisleben in 1483, Martin Luther entered a world scarred by war, superstition and fear. His parents, Hans and Margarethe, were modest farmers who scrimped to send their son to school, first in Magdeburg and later at the parish of St. George in Eisenach. A gifted singer and diligent student, Luther earned his keep by begging and choir work, eventually winning a place at the University of Erfurt where he excelled in both the bachelor’s and master’s examinations.

Yet the prospect of a legal career quickly lost its appeal. A series of vivid personal crises—a near‑fatal injury, the shadow of plague, and a frightening lightning strike—stirred in him a profound religious awakening. Defying his father’s wishes, he abandoned his studies and entered the Augustinian monastery, drawn by the promise of forgiveness and a deeper understanding of the Bible. In the cloister he embraced a life of humility, prayer, and rigorous self‑examination, laying the groundwork for the spiritual journey that would later reshape his world.