Praying Luther’s Small Catechism

How to use this pamphlet: This pamphlet is designed to aid Christian families in their prayer life. The six chief parts of the Catechism have been modified to follow a prayer format. The reason for this pamphlet is to encourage Christians to pray the language of the Catechism, one chief part for each day of the week (excluding Sundays).

Monday: The Ten Commandments

Dear Heavenly Father,
We will have no other gods before You. We will fear, love and trust in You above all things. We will not take Your name in vain. We will fear, love, and trust in You such that we will not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie or deceive by Your name, but call upon You in every trouble, as well as pray, praise and give thanks. We will remember Your Sabbath day by keeping it holy. We will fear, love and trust in You such that we will not despise preaching or Your Word, but we will hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it. We will honor our fathers and mothers. We will fear, love and trust in You such that we will not despise our parents or other authorities, but will give them honor, serve, obey, love and respect them. We will not murder. We will fear, love, and trust in You such that we will not hurt or harm our neighbor in his/her body, but help and befriend them in every bodily need. We will not commit adultery. We will fear, love and trust in You such that we will lead sexually pure and decent lives in what we say and do and as a husband or wife, we will love and honor our spouses. We will not steal. We will fear, love and trust in You such that we will not take our neighbor’s money or goods, nor get them by false ware or dealings, but will help them to improve and protect their property and business. We will not bear false witness against our neighbor. We will fear, love and trust in You such that we will not deceitfully lie, betray, slander or defame our neighbor, but we will defend them, speak well of them and put the best construction on everything. We will not covet our neighbor’s house. We will fear, love and trust in You such that we will not craftily seek to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, nor obtain it by a show of right, but help and be of service to them in keeping it. We will not covet our neighbor’s spouse, workers or animals. We will fear, love and trust in You such that we will not estrange, force or entice away from our neighbor their spouse, workers or animals, but we will encourage them to stay and do their duty. We believe that You instruct us with Your words recorded in Exodus chapter 20 when You say, “I the Lord Your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and showing mercy to the thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.” With these words You threaten to punish all who transgress Your commandments, therefore we will fear Your wrath and not act contrary to them. You also promise grace and every blessing to all who keep Your commandments, therefore we will also love and trust in You and gladly do what You command. Amen.

Tuesday: The Sacrament of the Altar

Dear Heavenly Father,
We believe that “The Sacrament of the Altar” is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in, with and under the bread and wine, given for us Christians to eat and drink, instituted by Christ Himself. We believe that this is established by the inspired words of the holy evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and the apostle Paul when they were inspired to write, “Our Lord Jesus Christ on the night when He was betrayed took bread and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to His disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also He took the cup after supper and gave it to them saying, ‘Drink of it all of you; this cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’” According to these words, we believe that in “The Sacrament of the Altar” the forgiveness of sins and the promise of life and salvation are given to us, for where there is the forgiveness of sins, there is also the promise of life and salvation. We believe that it is not bodily eating and drinking that work such great things in “The Sacrament of the Altar,” but Your words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the chief things in “The Sacrament of the Altar” and the person who believes these words possesses what they say and express, namely, the forgiveness of sins. And we believe that fasting and bodily preparation are, indeed, fine outward training for “The Sacrament of the Altar,” but the person who is truly worthy and well prepared simply believes these words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” The person who does not believe these words or doubts, is both unworthy and unprepared, because the words, “for you” require all souls to believe. Amen.

Wednesday: The Office of the Keys

Dear Heavenly Father,
We believe that “The Office of the Keys” is the unique authority and responsibility which Christ has given to His Church on earth to forgive the sins of the penitent sinner, but to bring to mind the sins of the impenitent sinner as long as he/she is not penitent. The Gospel of John, chapter 20 says, “[Jesus] breathed on His disciples and said, ‘Whosoever’s sins you forgive, they are forgiven, and whosoever’s sins you retain they are retained.’” According to these words, we believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us according to Christ’s divine command, especially when they exclude manifest and impenitent sinners from the Christian congregation and again when they forgive those who are penitent and willing to change, that it is as valid and certain in heaven as if Christ our dear Lord had dealt with us Himself. Connected to this, we believe that confession embraces two parts; one is that we admit our sins and the other is that we receive absolution from the Pastor as from Christ Himself, and in no way doubt, but firmly believe that by it our sins are forgiven before You Lord in heaven. Before You, we need to confess all our sins as You have taught us to do in the “Lord’s Prayer,” but before the pastor we need to confess only those sins which we know and are troublesome to our souls. To do this we are to consider our stations according to the Ten Commandments as a husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, authority, subordinate, servant, acquaintance, friend or neighbor. We are to consider whether we have been disobedient, unfaithful or lazy; whether we have grieved anybody by word or deed; whether we have stolen, neglected, wasted anything or done other injury. Amen.

Thursday: The Lord’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
Your Son has taught us to pray “Our Father.” With these words You teach us to believe that You are our true Father and that we are Your true children, so that, with all boldness and confidence, we can talk to You as only a dear child can talk to his/her dear father. Your name is indeed holy without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that we would be conscious of this and that Your name would be hallowed particularly in our lives. Your name is hallowed when Your Word, O Lord, is taught in its truth and purity and when we, as Your children, lead holy lives according to it. Please grant us this, dear heavenly Father. However, he/she who lives and teaches contrary to Your Word profanes Your name. Preserve us from this, dear Father in heaven. Your kingdom certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. Your kingdom comes when You give us Your Holy Spirit, so that by your grace we may believe Your holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. Your will is done when You break and hinder every evil counsel and purpose which does not let Your name be hallowed, nor let Your kingdom come, such as the will of the devil, the world and our flesh. Your will is also done when You strengthen and preserve us steadfast in Your Word and faith until our end. This is Your good and gracious will, O Lord. You give daily bread, indeed without our prayer by Your grace, also to the unbeliever, but we pray in this petition that we would be conscious of this fact and receive Your daily gifts with thanksgiving. “Daily bread” includes everything that pertains to the needs and proper wants of our body, such as clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, an honorable and faithful spouse, children, family, associates, authorities, servants, friends, and neighbors. Good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor and the like. You grant forgiveness to all, indeed, without our prayer by Your grace, but we pray in this petition that You would grant it particularly to us, that we would be conscious of it and receive Your forgiveness with thanksgiving. We also pray in this petition that You would not, on account of our sins and sinful nature, deny our prayers, but grant us what we ask according to Your will and by Your grace. For we daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. In response, we will also heartily forgive and readily do good to those who sin against us. We believe that You tempt no one, but we pray in this petition that You would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world and our flesh would not deceive us nor seduce us into false belief, despair or other great shame and vice. We pray that, although we are assailed by these things, that ultimately by Your grace, they would be overcome. Your deliverance comes, indeed, without our prayer by Your grace, but we pray in this petition that You would deliver us and that we would be conscious of this and receive Your deliverance with thanksgiving. We pray that You would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, property and honor and that finally when our last hour comes, You would grant us a blessed end and graciously take us from this veil of tears to Your embrace in heaven. Your Son taught us to close this prayer with the word, “Amen,” which means truth, which is Your Word, because Your Word is truth. In other words, He taught us to close this prayer with the word “Amen” because we can be certain that, while not everything we pray is always according to Your Word of truth and acceptable to You, these petitions are undoubtedly according to Your Word and are acceptable to You as our Father in heaven. For You have, through Your Son, commanded us so to pray and have promised to hear them. “Amen, Amen” means “Your Word is truth and Your will is done.” Amen.

Friday: The Creed

Dear Heavenly Father,
We believe that You have made us and all creatures. You have given us our bodies and souls, eyes and ears, and all our members, our reason and all our senses and still preserve them. You have also given us our clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife, husband and children, land, animals, and all that we have. You richly and daily provide us with all that we need to support our body and life. You defend us against all danger and You guard and protect us against all evil. All this You do purely out of Fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in us. For all this, it is our duty to thank and praise, serve and obey You. This is most certainly true. We believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of You from eternity and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is our Lord. He has redeemed us, lost and condemned creatures, purchased and won us from all sin, from death and from the power of the devil. He has done this, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that we may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness, just as He has risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. And we believe that we cannot by our own reason or strength, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or come to Him, but Your Holy Spirit has called us by the Gospel, enlightened us with His gifts, sanctified and kept us in the true faith, just as He calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In that Christian Church, He daily and richly forgives all of our sins and on the last day will raise us up and all the dead, and give to us eternal life. This is most certainly true. Amen.

Saturday: Baptism

Dear Heavenly Father,
We believe that Baptism is not simple water only, but water comprehended in Your command and connected with Your Word; for our Lord Jesus said, as recorded in the last chapter of Matthew, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We believe that Baptism works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this as Your words and promises declare. O God, as You said through St. Mark in the last chapter of his book, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.” We believe that it is not the water alone that works these great things in Baptism, but Your Word which is in and with the water and the faith that You give which trusts Your Word in the water. For without Your Word there is no Baptism, but with Your Word simple water is made into Baptism, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Spirit. As You inspired St. Paul to write in his letter to Titus, “According to [God’s] mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, that having been justified by His grace we should be made heirs according to the hope of everlasting life.” This is a faithful saying. We believe that baptizing with water indicates that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned to death with all sin and evil lust, and again be daily renewed and arise to live before You in righteousness and purity forever. As St. Paul was inspired by You to write in the sixth chapter of his letter to the Romans, “We were buried with Christ by Baptism into death that just as He has risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too shall walk in the newness of life.” Amen.

Luther’s Morning Prayer

I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings in life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

I thank You my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day, and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things. Let Your Holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Prayer is to the Christian as breathing is to the body. We cannot help but pray. Although we are commanded to pray, prayer is not motivated by the Law. All Christians have been called by the Gospel, enlightened by Christ’s gifts and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Prayer is our unique response to all of God’s gracious acts. It is our response in which we call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks. We are moved by God’s gracious invitations, “Seek you my face” (Ps. 27:8), “Seek the Lord and His strength, see His face forever” (1 chronicles 16:11). We are invited, as Scripture tells us, to “Call upon [God] in the day of trouble and [He] will deliver thee” (Ps. 50:15-16). Our prayers do not go unheard. God promises to hear each and every one of them, “O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come” (Ps. 66:2). Within prayer, we hold God to His Word. We echo back that which has been delivered to us in the Holy Gospel. We hold God to His promise to not only hear us, but to save us from all of our sins. Because of our sinfulness, our lives are full of trouble. Suffering is a powerful motivation for prayer. We are invited to cast all of our troubles, burdens and problems upon our Father in heaven, and not only our own problems, but the problems of our neighbor. In so doing, we humble ourselves before God and are brought to realize, “Not my will Lord, but Your will.” “For we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Rom. 8:26). To Him belongs all honor and praise forever. Amen.

-Pastor Jeremy Mills-