Even the world recognizes the battle hymn of the Reformation, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” What is little known is the poignant story behind it—what Germans call sitzen leben (“setting in life”). And that back-story tells much about its composer, the excommunicated monk Martin Luther (who at the time and for the rest of his life lived under an empire-wide warrant for his arrest and execution).

Read more at the source: "Ein’ Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott"

Article excerpt posted on en.intercer.net from The Fourth Watch.