Luther's Little Instruction Book
(The Small Catechism of Martin Luther)
Appendix 1: Devotions
Translated by Robert E. Smith
July 11, 1994
How a Father Should Teach His Household
to Conduct Morning and Evening Devotions.
Morning Devotions
As soon as you get out of bed in the morning, you should bless
yourself with the sign of the Holy Cross and say:
May the will of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be
done! Amen.
Then, kneeling or standing, say the creed and pray the Lord's
Prayer. If you wish, you may then pray this little prayer as well:
My Heavenly Father, I thank You, through Jesus Christ, Your
beloved Son, that You kept me safe from all evil and danger last
night. Save me, I pray, today as well, from every evil and sin, so
that all I do and the way that I live will please you. I put
myself in your care, body and soul and all that I have. Let Your
holy Angels be with me, so that the evil enemy will not gain power
over me. Amen.
After that, with joy go about your work and perhaps sing a song
inspired by the Ten Commandments or your own thoughts.
The Evening Devotions
When you go to bed in the evening, you should bless yourself with
the sign of the Holy Cross and say:
May the will of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be
done! Amen.
Then, kneeling or standing, say the creed and pray the Lord's
Prayer. If you wish, then you may pray this little prayer as well:
My Heavenly Father, I thank You, through Jesus Christ, Your
beloved Son, that You have protected me, by Your grace. Forgive, I
pray, all my sins and the evil I have done. Protect me, by Your
grace, tonight. I put myself in your care, body and soul and all
that I have. Let Your holy angels be with me, so that the evil
enemy will not gain power over me. Amen.
After this, go to sleep immediately with joy.
How a Father Should Teach His Household
to say Grace and Return Thanks at Meals:
The children and servants should come to the table modestly and
with folded hands and say:
All eyes look to you, O Lord, and You give everyone food at the
right time. You open Your generous hands and satisfy the hunger of
all living things with what they desire.
Note:
"What they desire" means that all animals get so much to eat, that
they are happy and cheerful. Because, worry and greed interferes
with such desires.
After this, pray the Lord's Prayer and the following prayer:
Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us and these gifts, which we
receive from Your generous hand, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
_____________________________________________________________________
This text was translated in 1994 for Project Wittenberg by Robert
E. Smith and has been placed in the public domain by him. You may
freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
comments or suggestions to Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
Library at:
Concordia Theological Seminary.
E-mail: CFWLibrary@CRF.CUIS.EDU
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (219) 481-2123 Fax: (219) 481-2126
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