Sister, Fight Valiantly

SISTER, FIGHT VALIANTLY by LOUISA M BAUMAN takes place in Antwerp in 1551 where the Emperor Charles V had let loose his inquisitors to try and stamp out the Anabaptists. The Anabaptists had to meet in secret and we see, through what Lizzie and Jerome went through, their incredible faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. In dire contrast to this we see the wickedness of the priests and magistrates who used their man made religion to persecute Christians.
It is an interesting book, very sad, but there is also victory as the believers stand in faith and overcome the enemy "by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." A great deal of the book consists of the letters that passed between Lizzie and Jerome which bring to mind the letters that the apostle Paul wrote in prison.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from BooksGoSocial. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

What an incredible book - it tells the story of Lizzie and Jerome, a young couple who met in the city of Antwerp, Belgium in the 1500’s after Lizzie attended an Anabaptist meeting. Lizzie was a rich heiress, who worked for the Sewing Guild, and Jerome was a coppersmith.
Lizzie was unsure about believing in Jesus and leaving the Catholic church, but as she read the Bible she was convinced to believe in Jesus alone for her faith.
Lizzie and Jerome got married (illegally according to the Catholic church), and they attended illegal meetings until they were arrested one night. Lizzie had just found out that she was pregnant too!
The Catholic priests tried to change her faith, but she refused, even though she was afraid. Jerome and Lizzie wrote letters of encouragement and comfort to each other - their letters will strengthen your faith too!

Jerome Segeps (Segers) and Lijsken Dircks have been described as the Romeo and Juliet of Anabaptist religious history. They lived in prosperous Antwerp, in the 1550’s- a time of vibrant trading and commerce and also a time of social change.

The Anabaptist belief developed to counter what some felt were problems and excesses in the Catholic church. The sect believed in the separation of Church and State and in adult baptism. Amish, Hutterite, Mennonite and Church of the Brethren are modern descendants.

Jerome and “Lizzie” as she is nicknamed in Author Bauman’s thoughtful “Christian love story” were real people. Jerome was a copper craftsman and Lizzie was a high-born, aristocratic young woman. The author has created what their day-today life may have been like, but many of their actual letters to each other are quoted or presented in full.

As the author presents it, Lizzie is invited to a secret meeting of the Anabaptists by a friend. She is scared and leery, because the punishment for being an Anabaptist is torture and death. The meeting lights a spark within her and when she meets the handsome and other-worldly Jerome, she is inspired to learn more about this new faith. She expresses a desire to read the Bible which is forbidden, and he secretly gets one to her- a Bible hidden by the cover of “Romeo and Juliet”.

Their love grows and they are married in an Anabaptist ceremony and Lizzie is baptized. All too soon, they are arrested and imprisoned. In their letters to each other from prison, they share their love for one another, their love for God and their faith in the promise of everlasting life. They await their deaths with joy.

Author Bauman has presented a well-written, loving and humanizing portrait of these two martyrs. While today’s readers may have trouble relating to their story, I found it both shocking and inspiring. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a review copy. This is my honest review