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322 31 The Small Catechism (1529) Before Luther came to public notice with the posting of The Ninety-Five Theses, he preached regularly in Wittenberg’s city church, where he delivered sermons on basic Christian teaching (that is, the “catechism,” broadly defined). In 1522 these sermons appeared as a collection in his Personal Prayer Book.Although this booklet was not a catechism per se, in the preface to his 1526 revision of the liturgy, the Deutsche Messe, Luther appealed to fellow pastors to focus on the instruction of their respective flocks.And the Reformer suggested they use his Personal Prayer Book as the basis of their work.Unlike the order of topics in medieval catechisms, this prayer booklet began with an exposition of the commandments (the law), moved next to the Creed (the gospel),and finally to prayer (the Christian life). Luther’s ongoing attention to parish education reached a highpoint with The Small Catechism, which he published as a series of posters in January 1529.After illness curtailed his activities, he completed the project in the spring with explanations of the sacraments and brief orders for household prayers. These original broad sheets soon appeared in booklet form, to which Luther provided a preface for pastors. All subsequent printings in Wittenberg contained illustrations, biblical references,and two appendices,marriage and baptismal services with Luther’s introductions.They also included various household prayers and a chart of Bible passages for the household (sometimes called the “Table of Duties”). Luther’s Small Catechism focuses on a simple question,Was ist das? (What is this?). The paraphrase of catechetical texts elicited by that question is emphasized by the document’s law-gospel structure, as well as by an expansion of material found in traditional catechisms to include explanations of baptism and the Lord’s Supper . Its prayers for mealtimes, morning, and bedtime come from traditional sources.The list of Bible passages for the household reflects Luther’s view of vocation—that the relationships of daily life provide the context for faithful Christian living (and not some self-chosen, supposedly “saintly” spirituality [that is, the monastic life]). [The Preface of Dr. Martin Luther] Martin Luther, To all faithful and upright pastors and preachers. Grace, mercy, and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord. The deplorable, wretched deprivation that I recently encountered while I was a visitor1 has constrained and compelled me to prepare this catechism , or Christian instruction, in such a brief, plain, and simple version. Dear God, what misery I beheld!The ordinary person, especially in the villages, knows absolutely nothing about the Christian faith, and unfortunately many pastors are completely unskilled and incompetent teachers. Yet supposedly they 1. Luther made official visitations of congregations in electoral Saxony and Meissen from October 22, 1528, through January 9, 1529. He described his experiences in a letter to Nicholas von Amsdorf dated November 11, 1528 (WA, Br 4:597; LW 49:213–14.) These visits were designed to assess the effectiveness of parish ministry.These experiences as a visitor spurred Luther’s longstanding (and ongoing) catechetical reform efforts. The Small Catechism 323 all bear the name Christian, are baptized, and receive the holy sacrament, even though they do not know the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, or the Ten Commandments!2 As a result they live like simple cattle or irrational pigs and, despite the fact that the gospel has returned, have mastered the fine art of misusing all their freedom. O you bishops! How are you going to answer to Christ, now that you have so shamefully neglected the people and have not exercised your office for even a single second? May you escape punishment for this! You forbid the cup [to the laity] in the Lord’s Supper and insist on observance of your human laws, while never even bothering to ask whether the people know the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, theTen Commandments, or a single section of God’s Word. Shame on you forever! Therefore, my dear sirs and brothers, who are either pastors or preachers,I beg all of you for God’s sake to take up your office boldly, to have pity on your people who are entrusted to you, and to help us bring the catechism to the people, especially to the young. Moreover, I ask that those unable to do any better take up these charts and versions and read them to the people word for word in the following manner: In the first place, the preacher should...

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