Reformation Women: Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity Rebirth by Rebecca VanDoodewaard has become one of my favorite short, multi-figure biographies. It drove me to thankfulness for the gifts the Lord bestows on His people to further His will and made me even more eager to study Reformation history.
VanDoodewaard presents twelve extraordinary women to the reader in a meaningful, entertaining, and thoughtful way. The women, ranging from common-born to royal, are portrayed as deeply loving the Lord and using their gifts to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
Often, when I think of women who were impactful during the Reformation, my mind goes directly to Lady Jane Grey and Katie Luther. These were incredible women, but this book brings forth twelve lesser-known women who fearlessly sought to encourage, assist, and provide for many well-known Reformers.
Each chapter focuses on a different woman and their contributions, starting with setting the scene of their life and journey to knowing the Lord. Their inspiring stories brought a new perspective on diving further into Church history. There is such an intricate, interwoven structure of communication, ideals, and work across Europe that I have rarely considered.
The women mentioned in this book are as follows- Anna Reinhard, Anna Adlischweiler, Katharina Schutz, Margarethe Blaurer, Marguerite de Navarre, Jeanne d’Albret, Charlotte Arbaleste, Charlotte de Bourbon, Louise de Coligny, Catherine Willoughby, Renee of Ferrara, and Olympia Morata.
My personal favorite stories were those of Marguerite de Navarre and Jeanne d’Albert, a mother-daughter duo who played vastly different roles but furthered the spread of the Reformation greatly.
If you are interested in reading, I implore you to purchase. As I was reading (for the second and third time), I began to contemplate the boldness and courage that the Lord set upon the hearts of every woman written about in this book.
Beth Walker 