Luther's Daughter - Magdalene

Magdalene, the daughter of Martin Luther and his wife, Katherine von Bora, became very ill in her 14 year.
When the hope of recovery vanished more and more, Luther prayed, "Lord, I love her very much and would like to keep her, but, dear Lord, since it is Thy will to take her away, I am glad to know that she will be with Thee." And when she lay a-dying he said to her, "Magdalene, my dear little daughter, you would like to remain with this your dear father, wouldn't you, but also gladly to to that Father?" The child answered, "Yes dear father, as God wills!" She died in his arms 20th September, 1542 at 9.00pm. The mother was also in the same room, but at a distance from the bed because of her great sorrow. As she wept bitterly and was very sad Luther said to her, "Dear Kate, consider where she is going! She fares well indeed!"

Luther at the Coffin of His Daughter Magdalene.

When they laid her in her coffin he said, "You dear little Lena, how happy you are! You will rise again and shine as the stars, yea, as the sun." To the bystanders he said, "In the spirit, indeed, I rejoice, but according to the flesh I am very sad. Such parting if very painful. It is very strange- to know that that she is in peace and well off, and yet to be so sad!"
Upon her grave he place the following epitaph:
"I, Luther's daughter Magdalene, with the saints here sleep,
And covered calmly rest on this my couch of earth;
Daughter of death I was, born of the seed of sin,
But by They precious blood redeemed, O Christ! I live."
Excerpts from "The Life of Luther", by Gustav Just, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Mo., 1903. (Translated from the German by S. and H.), p. 86-88