# Lehre und Wehre_St. Louis Missouri_M rz 1860_S73
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

The Diligent Practice of the Catechism in Lutheran Times of Old. 73

Chytraeus introduced this wholesome practice into the Austrian congregations, and the General Articles of the year 1580 renewed it for the Electorate of Saxony, "so that the Catechism might become common and well known to everyone."

A quite peculiar arrangement is contained in the edict of Ernst the Pious of the year 1642, namely that "before the catechism sermons, instead of the usual introit, the six chief parts contained in the Catechism should simply be read out once, without the exposition; and then, following the spoken Lord's Prayer, the text which was to be treated in due order in that sermon out of the Catechism should be read out clearly three times in succession, and the same should likewise be repeated that many times at the end of the sermon."

The reciting of the Catechism on the part of the children took place in many places in this way, that they were set up in pairs facing one another, one asking and the other answering. This custom, equally beneficial for clear speech and for exact learning, we find in the Saxon church order of the year 1580; it also existed in Celle, Rostock, and other places down to the most recent times.

The reciting of the Catechism on the part of the pastor together with old and young was very fittingly called "praying" or "praying up." Thus Mathesius reports of Dr. Luther's church visitation: "He examines the poor peasants in their praying, and questions them in the Catechism, gently and with patience, and instructs them"; and Luther himself says: "that a young baptized child, morning, evening, and at table, speaks its Ten Commandments, Creed, and Lord's Prayer — that is properly praying and is heard by God; for it prays as a Christian and a priest, born and consecrated in baptism through Christ." (5, 1508.) All teachers in churches and schools should take this expression well to heart, and, in the reciting of the Catechism by the children, especially in chorus, see to it that it not be an unpleasant, monotonous, heartless and mindless bawling, but a true praying — which will happen only when they themselves pray the Catechism aloud before the children frequently, and then also pray it together with them.

As a close, either at the reciting or likewise at the examination, the short prayer of Dr. Luther may be spoken by individuals or by all together; it runs thus: "I thank Thee, dear Lord God and Father, for all Thy goodness and benefit which Thou hast shown me, that Thou hast created me a rational creature, and hast redeemed me through the innocent blood of Thy dear Son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I beseech Thee, dear Father, grant me grace to learn Thy holy divine Word well, to live a Christian life, and to die blessedly, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our Lord. Amen."

I wish here further to draw attention to the close connection in which confirmation formerly stood with the catechism examination. Of this Dr. Kliefoth says: "On the ground of baptism, catechesis is to