For I acknowledge no book as truly mine, except perhaps the one on The Bondage of the Will, and the Catechism.— Martin Luther, letter to Wolfgang Capito, 1537
And I must still read and study daily, and yet I cannot master it as I wish, but must remain a child and pupil of the Catechism, and am glad so to remain.— Martin Luther, Large Catechism, 1529
Mutual consolation, with Luther
Sometimes, at the bedside, words fail. First listen to what Luther said about the Bible texts that comfort the sick and the one who is departing, and come with something to say.
Luther for the Pastoral Visit
The texts from the section “Ministering to the Dying” of the book Acompañamiento para el cuidado pastoral (in Spanish), for those who care for the sick, for those who visit on behalf of their congregation (visitors, deaconesses, pastors) and for those studying to be pastors. The Bible text is read first, and then Luther’s comment is heard, translated by us from the German and Latin (Weimar edition).
Luther’s house was a hospital
In 1527 the plague reached Wittenberg. Luther told a friend about it in a letter.
Wittenberg, 1 November 1527
To Nicolaus von Amsdorf
Grace and peace.
As it pleases the Lord, my Amsdorf, so it comes about that I, who until now was accustomed to console all the others, am myself in need of every consolation.
One thing I ask, and you ask it with me: that my Christ do with me whatever he pleases; only let him keep me from becoming ungrateful and an enemy of him whom I have preached and worshiped until now with such zeal and fervor, although in the meantime I have offended him with many and great sins.
Satan asks that another Job be given him again, and to be able to sift Peter along with the brethren; but may Christ deign to say to Satan, “Keep his soul,” and to me, “I am your salvation,” as I still hope, that he will not be angry at my sins to the end.
In my house a hospital has begun. Hanna, Augustine’s wife, has harbored the plague within her, but she is recovering. Margaret von Mochau gave us fear with a suspicious abscess and other signs, though she too is regaining strength.
I am very afraid for my Käthe, who is near her delivery; and my little son has been sick three days now, eats nothing and is unwell; it is said to be the violence of teething, and it is believed that both are in great danger. For the wife of Chaplain George, also near her delivery, has been seized by the plague and is already in distress, in case the child might somehow be saved; may the Lord Jesus be mercifully with her.
So there are battles outside and terrors within, and rather harsh ones; Christ is visiting us. One consolation only we set against the fury of Satan: that we at least have the Word of God, to keep the souls of believers, however much he may devour the bodies.
Therefore commend us to the brethren and to yourself, that you may pray for us, that we may bravely bear the hand of the Lord and overcome the force and deceit of Satan, whether through death or through life. Amen.
Martin Luther
Wittenberg, All Saints’ Day, 1527. Our translation from the Latin (WA Br 4, no. 1164).
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