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The Large Catechism
by Dr。 Martin Luther
Translated by F。 Bente and W。 H。 T。 Dau
Preface
A Christian； Profitable； and Necessary Preface and Faithful； Earnest
Exhortation of Dr。 Martin Luther to All Christians； but Especially to
All Pastors and Preachers； that They Should Daily Exercise Themselves
in the Catechism； which is a Short Summary and Epitome of the Entire
Holy Scriptures； and that they May Always Teach the Same。
We have no slight reasons for treating the Catechism so constantly ＇in
Sermons＇ and for both desiring and beseeching others to teach it； since
we see to our sorrow that many pastors and preachers are very negligent
in this； and slight both their office and this teaching； some from
great and high art ＇giving their mind； as they imagine； to much higher
matters＇； but others from sheer laziness and care for their paunches；
assuming no other relation to this business than if they were pastors
and preachers for their bellies' sake； and had nothing to do but to
＇spend and＇ consume their emoluments as long as they live； as they have
been accustomed to do under the Papacy。
And although they have now everything that they are to preach and
teach placed before them so abundantly； clearly； and easily； in so many
＇excellent and＇ helpful books； and the true Sermones per se loquentes；
Dormi secure； Paratos et Thesauros； as they were called in former
times； yet they are not so godly and honest as to buy these books； or
even when they have them； to look at them or read them。 Alas！ they are
altogether shameful gluttons and servants of their own bellies who
ought to be more properly swineherds and dog…tenders than care…takers
of souls and pastors。
And now that they are delivered from the unprofitable and burdensome
babbling of the Seven Canonical Hours； oh； that； instead thereof； they
would only； morning； noon； and evening； read a page or two in the
Catechism； the Prayer…book； the New Testament； or elsewhere in the
Bible； and pray the Lord's Prayer for themselves and their
parishioners； so that they might render； in return； honor and thanks to
the Gospel； by which they have been delivered from burdens and troubles
so manifold； and might feel a little shame because like pigs and dogs
they retain no more of the Gospel than such a lazy； pernicious；
shameful； carnal liberty！ For； alas！ as it is； the common people regard
the Gospel altogether too lightly； and we accomplish nothing
extraordinary even though we use all diligence。 What； then； will be
achieved if we shall be negligent and lazy as we were under the Papacy？
To this there is added the shameful vice and secret infection of
security and satiety； that is； that many regard the Catechism as a
poor； mean teaching； which they can read through at one time； and then
immediately know it； throw the book into a corner； and be ashamed； as
it were； to read in it again。
Yea； even among the nobility there may be found some louts and
scrimps； who declare that there is no longer any need either of
pastors or preachers； that we have everything in books； and every one
can easily learn it by himself； and so they are content to let the
parishes decay and become desolate； and pastors and preachers to suffer
distress and hunger a plenty； just as it becomes crazy Germans to do。
For we Germans have such disgraceful people； and must endure them。
But for myself I say this： I am also a doctor and preacher； yea； as
learned and experienced as all those may be who have such presumption
and security； yet I do as a child who is being taught the Catechism；
and every morning； and whenever I have time； I read and say； word for
word； the Ten Commandments； the Creed； the Lord's Prayer； the Psalms；
etc。 And I must still read and study daily； and yet I cannot master it
as I wish； but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism； and am
glad so to remain。 And yet these delicate； fastidious fellows would
with one reading promptly be doctors above all doctors； know everything
and be in need of nothing。 Well； this； too； is indeed a sure sign that
they despise both their office and the souls of the people； yea； even
God and His Word。 They do not have to fall； they are already fallen all
too horribly； they would need to become children； and begin to learn
their alphabet； which they imagine that they have long since outgrown。
Therefore I beg such lazy paunches or presumptuous saints to be
persuaded and believe for God's sake that they are verily； verily！ not
so learned or such great doctors as they imagine； and never to presume
that they have finished learning this ＇the parts of the Catechism＇； or
know it well enough in all points； even though they think that they
know it ever so well。 For though they should know and understand it
perfectly （which； however； is impossible in this life）； yet there are
manifold benefits and fruits still to be obtained； if it be daily read
and practiced in thought and speech； namely； that the Holy Ghost is
present in such reading and repetition and meditation； and bestows ever
new and more light and devoutness； so that it is daily relished and
appreciated better； as Christ promises； Matt。 18； 20： Where two or
three are gathered together in My name； there am I in the midst of
them。
Besides； it is an exceedingly effectual help against the devil； the
world； and the flesh and all evil thoughts to be occupied with the Word
of God； and to speak of it； and meditate upon it； so that the First
Psalm declares those blessed who meditate upon the law of God day and
night。 Undoubtedly； you will not start a stronger incense or other
fumigation against the devil than by being engaged upon God's
commandments and words； and speaking； singing； or thinking of them。 For
this is indeed the true holy water and holy sign from which he flees；
and by which he may be driven away。
Now； for this reason alone you ought gladly to read； speak； think and
treat of these things if you had no other profit and fruit from them
than that by doing so you can drive away the devil and evil thoughts。
For he cannot hear or endure God's Word； and God's Word is not like
some other silly prattle； as that about Dietrich of Berne； etc。； but as
St。 Paul says； Rom。 1； 16； the power of God。 Yea； indeed； the power of
God which gives the devil burning pain； and strengthens； comforts； and
helps us beyond measure。
And what need is there of many words ？ If I were to recount all the
profit and fruit which God's Word produces； whence would I get enough
paper and time？ The devil is called the master of a thousand arts。 But
what shall we call God's Word； which drives away and brings to naught
this master of a thousand arts with all his arts and power？ It must
indeed be the master of more than a hundred thousand arts。 And shall we
frivolously despise such power； profit； strength； and fruit we；
especially； who claim to be pastors and preachers？ If so； we should not
only have nothing given us to eat； but be driven out； being baited with
dogs； and pelted with dung； because we not only need all this every day
as we need our daily bread but must also daily use it against the daily
and unabated attacks and lurking of the devil； the master of a thousand
arts。
And if this were not sufficient to admonish us to read the Catechism
daily； yet we should feel sufficiently constrained by the command of
God alone； who solemnly enjoins in Deut。 6； 6 ff。 that we should always
meditate upon His precepts； sitting； walking； standing； Lying down； and
rising； and have them before our eyes and in our hands as a constant
mark and sign。 Doubtless He did not so solemnly require and enjoin this
without a purpose； but because He knows our danger and need； as well as
the constant and furious assaults and temptations of devils； He wishes
to warn； equip； and preserve us against them； as with a good armor
against their fiery darts and with good medicine against their evil
infection and suggestion。
Oh； what mad； senseless fools are we that； while we must ever live and
dwell among such mighty enemies as the devils are； we nevertheless
despise our weapons and defense； and are too lazy to look at or think
of them！ And what else are such supercilious； presumptuous saints； who
are unwilling to read and study the Catechism daily； doing than
esteeming themselves much more learned than God Himself with all His
saints； angels ＇patriarchs＇； prophets； apostles； and all Christians For
inasmuch as God Himself is not ashamed to teach these things daily； as
knowing nothing better to teach； and always keeps teaching the same
thing； and does not take up anything new or different； and all the
saints know nothing better or different to learn； and cannot finish
learning this； are we not the finest of all fellows to imagine； if we
have once read or heard it； that we know it all； and have no further
need to read and learn； but can finish learning in one hour what God
Himself cannot finish teaching； although He is engaged in teaching it
from the beginning to the end of the world； and all prophets； together
with all saints； have been occupied with learning it and have ever
remained pupils； and must continue to be such ？