[2] Strasbourg was incorporated within the Holy Roman Empire during this time period, but today is located in France close to the border of Germany.
[3][4] Katharina's family devoted a large portion of their personal finances to the education of their numerous children.
Katharina was introduced to much of these new teachings and views of religion by Matthew Zell, the pastor who took charge of the St. Lawrence Cathedral in Strasbourg in 1518.
The reason behind her marriage was mainly vocational, "Katharina Schütz was convinced that she was called to marry Matthew Zell as an expression of her faith in God and her love for others.
"[8] Katharina was one of the first people to marry a pastor, even before the marriage of Martin Luther, something that was not necessarily thought too highly of at the time.
Her marriage was what would be seen as a true equal partnership in a society that required that the good wife be silent and obedient, and in which women usually only achieved independence as widows.
Stjerna writes, "She believed a distinction should be made between people and creeds, the care for the former outweighing disagreements on the latter.
Noblewomen of the time would have been most likely in the public eye with their pamphlets much more than Katharina who, as a middle-class woman, tended to be less exposed since she was writing more for her local community.
In doing so, Katharina showed his acknowledgment of her important role, and gave value to her personal contributions, "This is why my pious husband only called me his curate, although I never stood on the pulpit – something I did not have to do in my line of duties.
"[19]She considered these Bohemian songs more suitable in subject matter than any liturgical German hymns which had been published in Strasbourg.
In response to her public work, theologians from the University of Ingolstadt were "determined to have the "silly bag" tamed and punish the "female devil.
""[22] In 2022, Zell was officially added to the Episcopal Church liturgical calendar with a feast day on 5 September.