A Lübeck Prophet in Local and Lutheran Context

Abstract

On the evening of 10 April 1629, the Friday after Easter, the pastor at the cathedral church in Lübeck, Bernhard Blume, M.A., received an unexpected visitor at his home. One of his parishioners, David Frese, a humble citizen of Lübeck, had already called at four o’clock when the minister was out, but now he was finally able to tell of his experience at lunchtime. He had been on his way back from Grönau. On coming to the heath where the border between the territories of Lübeck and Sachsen-Lauenburg was located, near the white stone that had fallen down, he became full of fear and thought about returning when he heard somebody say, ‘Listen, I want to tell you something!’ Then he saw an old grey man, dressed in white, sitting on the fallen stone. Two white doves were perched on his right shoulder, and one on his left. All three doves where drenched all over, and tears were flowing from their eyes. The old man began to speak and asked why it was that the dead in Lübeck were not allowed to rest? The church of St George should remain standing. Enough sin had already been committed by tearing down another church earlier. On the contrary, every week two days of prayer should be celebrated at St George’s; if this was not done, they would see what was going to befall them.