The Large Catechism

by Martin Luther

I read this during Lent, 2025. Here are some notes I jotted down:

In the Preface, when he’s poking fun at people who think they are too good to re-read the catechim, Luther mentions a medieval book called Sermons That Preach Themselves (358). It’s funny to me that a book like that existed even then. Sounds like something WORDsearch would have sold.

Preachers who won’t meditate on the catechism think it is beneath them. This reminds me of Namaan’s servants telling him, “if Elisha had told you to do something great, wouldn’t you?”

“Nothing is so effectual against the devil, the world, the flesh, and all evil thoughts as to occupy oneself with the Word of God, talk about it, and meditate on it… This, indeed, is the true holy water, the sign which routs the devil and puts him to flight.” (354)

“We think we can learn in one hour what God Himself cannot finish teaching.” (361)

363.17 (ie, paragraph 17) says a father should dismiss servants who are unwilling to learn the basics of the faith. This makes me curious about how people related to servants at this time. Sounds much more paternal than I expected.

Where do you look for all good and for refuge? There is your god. (365)

The greatest abuse of God’s name “occurs in spiritual matters,… when false preachers arise and peddle their lying nonsense as the Word of God.” (372)

The Celtic word kyrk means “the circumscribed.” From there, “Kirche,” then “church.” (416, footnote 7)

“He created us for this very purpose, to redeem and sanctify us.” (419)

In the Lord’s Prayer, “God takes the initiative and puts into our mouths the very words we are to use.” Without such an example, we would doubt whether we were praying correctly. “This we should not trade for all the riches in the world.” (423)

Baptism is not our work but God’s. (441)

The simplest proof that God accepts infants to be baptized is seeing adults, baptized as infants, who obviously have the Holy Spirit. (442.49-51)

Baptism suppresses and restrains the Old Adam. The 3rd sacrament, Penance, “really is nothing else than Baptism.” Living in repentance == walking in Baptism. (445)

Rebaptism is not necessary. (446)

The Lord’s Supper is not founded on the holiness of men but on the Word of God. (448)

“The less you feel your sins and infirmities, the more reason you have to go to the sacrament and seek a remedy.” (455)

“When I urge you to go to confession, I am simply urging you to be a Christian.” (460)

Vocab

• acidia - indolence, satiety, thinking they already know it all and have nothing left to learn (378)
• supererogation - Doing good works beyond what is required. (367)