Luther's Large Catechism

This sermon has been undertaken for the instruction of children and simple-minded people. Hence of old it was called in Greek catechism, i.e., instruction for children, which every Christian must needs know, so that he who does not know it could not be numbered with the Christians nor be admitted to any Sacrament, just as a mechanic who does not understand the rules and customs of his trade is rejected and considered incapable. Therefore we must have the young learn well and fluently the parts which belong to the Catechism or instruction for children, and diligently exercise themselves in them and keep them occupied with them. 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 rude, old persons 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 new scholars. However, for the common people we are satisfied with the three parts, which have remained in Christendom from of old, though little of it has been taught and treated correctly until both young and old, who are called and wish to be Christians, are well trained in them and familiar with them. These are the following: First. The Ten Commandments of God. Second. The chief Articles of our faith, or the Creed. Third. The holy Lord's Prayer, or the prayer which God taught and commanded. These are the three parts which have been from of old in the Church, although they were never taught publicly and correctly, until they have now been reduced to such order that everybody can understand and retain them well. We should hold these parts as the most necessary, and such as one must necessarily know; and we should accustom the young people to recite them daily when they rise in the morning, when they sit down to their meals, and when they retire at night; and until they repeat them they should be given neither food nor drink. Likewise every father is under obligation to do the same with respect to his domestics, man-servants and maid-servants, and not to keep them in his house if they do not know these things and are unwilling to learn them. For a person who is so rude as to be unwilling to learn these things is not to be tolerated; for in these three parts everything that we have in the Scriptures is comprehended in short, plain, and simple terms. For the holy Fathers or apostles (whoever first taught them) have thus comprised the doctrine, life, wisdom, and art of Christians, of which they speak, treat, and which they urge. Now, when these three parts are apprehended, it behooves a person also to know what to say concerning our Sacraments, which Christ Himself instituted, Baptism and the holy Body and Blood of Christ, namely, the text which Matthew and Mark record at the close of their Gospels when Christ said farewell to His disciples and sent them forth, and that of St. Paul, 1 Cor. 11. In like manner we have here added the two Sacraments arranged for the people. But this much is necessary, that every preacher and teacher be ready and skilled in such parts and have them well, and that they keep the young people occupied with them. So much in introduction and exhortation. Now we wish to take up the parts one after another and treat of them as briefly and clearly as possible.