Luther’s Introduction and Short Preface to the Large Catechism

Luther begins his Large Catechism with an introduction and a preface. In the Small Catechism Luther merely stated that the catechism contained "what the head of the household ought to teach his family." In the preface, Luther explicitly states the reasons for the writing of the catechism. There is a lack of religious training among the young. The teaching from a catechism has a long history in the church. Luther himself claims that he needs to daily read the catechism. Imagine that, this great Doctor of Theology feels a need to read the catechism!

In fact Luther often preached on the catechism. The simple truths of the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, he felt, were worth reinforcement time and again. In his book, A Simple Way to Pray, Luther speaks of reciting the catechism as his daily prayer.

Luther felt the catechism should replace legalistic and works-based Traditions in the Church such as the Seven Canonical Hours (observed in nearly every monastery and convent).

Luther's "Short Preface" almost seems like a "copy/paste" of the Small Catechism. In a way it is Luther's outline for what the student of Scripture would find in the Large Catechism. Here Luther states the five doctrines that the Large Catechism addresses.

Luther's Introduction to the Large Catechism

A Christian, Profitable, and Necessary Preface and Faithful, Earnest Exhortation of Dr. Martin Luther to All Christians, but Especially to All Pastors and Preachers, that They Should Daily Exercise Themselves in the Catechism, which is a Short Summary and Epitome of the Entire Holy Scriptures, and that They May Always Teach the Same.

We have no slight reasons for treating the Catechism so constantly [in sermons] and for both desiring and beseeching others to teach it, since we see to our sorrow that many pastors and preachers are very negligent in this, and slight both their office and this teaching; some from great and high art [giving their mind, as they imagine, to much higher matters] , but others from sheer laziness and care for their paunches, assuming no other relation to this business than if they were pastors and preachers for their bellies' sake, and had nothing to do but to [spend and] consume their emoluments as long as they live, as they have been accustomed to do under the Papacy.

And although they have now everything that they are to preach and teach placed before them so abundantly, clearly, and easily, in so many [excellent and] helpful books, and the true Sermones per se loquentes, Dormi secure, Paratos et Thesauros, as they were called in former times; yet they are not so godly and honest as to buy these books, or even when they have them, to look at them or read them. Alas! they are altogether shameful gluttons and servants of their own bellies who ought to be more properly swineherds and dog-tenders than care-takers of souls and pastors.

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