Monday, May 18, 1528 (Part 1)

Martin Luther preaches a sermon introducing his series of Catechism sermons and explaining the First Commandment. In 1528, Luther will preach three series of sermons on the Catechism: the first series, comprising eleven sermons, from May 18 to May 30, the second series of ten sermons from September 14 to September 25, and a third (ten sermons) from November 30 to December 18. I have not found an English translation of the first series of catechism sermons, but the original (1529) preface to the Large Catechism is based on this first sermon, so I present the first half of it as our Quotation for today.

Quotation:

This sermon is designed and undertaken that it might be an instruction for children and the uneducated. Hence of old it was called in Greek a “catechism,” i.e., instruction for children, containing what every Christian should know, so that he who does not know this should not be numbered among Christians nor be admitted to any Sacrament, just as an artisan who does not know and understand the rules and customs of his trade is expelled and considered incapable. Therefore, the young people must be well and thoroughly taught the parts which belong to the Catechism (that is, instruction for children) and diligently drilled in them their practice.

Therefore it is the duty of every father of a family to question and examine his children and servants at least once a week and to ascertain what they know of it, or are learning and, if they do not know it, to keep them faithfully at it. For I well remember the time, indeed, even now, it is a daily occurrence that one finds ignorant, old, elderly people who knew nothing and still know nothing of these things, and who, nevertheless, go to Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and use everything belonging to Christians, notwithstanding that those who come to the Lord’s Supper ought to know more and have a fuller understanding of all Christian doctrine than children and beginning pupils. However, for the common people, we should be satisfied if they learn the three parts, [1] that have been in Christendom from of ancient days (although they were rarely taught and treated correctly) so that all who are called and wish to be Christians, in fact as well as in name, both young and old, are well trained in them and familiar with them. These are the following:

First: The Ten Commandments of God.

1. You are to have no other gods besides me.
2. You are not to take the name of God in vain.
3. You are to hallow the day of rest. [2]
4. You are to honor your father and mother.
5. You are not to kill.
6. You are not to commit adultery.
7. You are not to steal.
8. You are not to bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You are not to covet your neighbor’s house.
10. You are not to covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male or female servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.

Second: The Chief Articles of our Faith.

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Third: The Prayer, or “Our Father,” which Christ Taught

Our Father who art in heaven.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil. Amen.

[to be continued in the next post]

Notes

[1] I.e., the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer.

[2] German: Feiertag, literally “day of celebration.”