Wartburg Castle Martin Luther`s Room Editorial Image

History tells of an impoverished teenage Luther going house to house singing and begging for money or bread, which often left him humiliated and defeated. He eventually came upon Ursula Cotta’s townhouse, and Luther proceeded to sing. Amazed at the beauty of his voice, Ursula invited the despairing Luther inside and asked him to live with her family, not charging the boy a penny for rent. This invitation touched Luther who for the first time witnessed compassion and the love of God. It wasn’t until many years later Luther returned to Eisenach, and under grim circumstances. After publishing his revolutionary work, the “95 Theses,” which condemned the Catholic church and its sale of indulgences, Luther firmly established himself as an enemy of many religious reformers. He was excommunicated by Pope Leo X, and after defiantly defending his work at the Diet of Worms, he was named an outlaw. Luther’s life was clearly in jeopardy. His friend, Frederick the Wise, “kidnapped” Martin Luther and took him to Eisenach for his own safety.Disguised as “Squire George,” Luther arrived at the imposing Wartburg Castle. The UNESCO recognized castle was the site of his greatest achievement; the translation of the New Testament from Greek into German, which Luther completed in only ten weeks.