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
If you
would like to talk to a pastor about what Lutherans believe:
