"The deplorable, miserable condition which I discovered lately when I, too,
was a visitor, has forced and urged me to prepare this Catechism, or Christian
doctrine, in this small, plain, simple form. Mercy! Good God! what manifold
misery I beheld! The common people … have no knowledge whatever of
Christian doctrine, and, alas! many pastors are altogether incapable, and
incompetent to teach. Nevertheless, all maintain that they are Christians.
Yet they cannot recite either the Lord’s Prayer, or the Creed, or the
Ten Commandments, they live like dumb brutes and irrational swine.”

Martin Luther’s response to his “Saxon Visitations”

MARCH 2010

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Dr. Martin Luther was many things to many people – reformer, writer, university professor, defender of the faith. But he was also a parish pastor who was concerned because many people in the Church had received little, if any, training and education in the Christian faith. He had visited a number of churches in the Saxony region of Germany in 1528 and early 1529 – and as the above quotation so vividly reflects, Luther was absolutely appalled at how little Christians knew or understood about their faith. As a result, in April 1529 Luther published his Large Catechism, and Luther’s Small Catechism was published the following month. And today, Lutherans throughout the world still use the Small Catechism as the basis of our catechesis for both adults and young adults.

The late Dr. A.L. Barry, in his Catechesis in the Lutheran Congregation, writes, “Catechesis is the art of teaching the Christian faith and life.  It is a lifelong process of learning and growing in the Christian faith and life . . . .  Catechesis is more than simply imparting facts about Christianity. It is the ongoing application of the word of God to the lives of people so that there is a renewing of their minds and hearts in conformity with the will of Jesus Christ.” As St. Paul states in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

During these past months, three young baptized members of our congregation – Mackenzie Bingaman, Allison Kresin and Anna Simac – have been studying Luther’s Small Catechism as they have continued their catechesis in our Christian faith. They have been faithful in their attendance of the weekly Catechism Class, and they are ready and prepared to become communicant members of St. Paul Lutheran Church.  Their process of Confirmation will conclude as follows:

• Sunday, March 21, immediately following the Worship Service, Mackenzie, Allison and Anna will be formally questioned on their understanding of the Christian faith as it is explained in Luther’s Small Catechism. This questioning is traditionally done in the presence of the Elders and officers of St. Paul Lutheran Church – and is, of course, open to all members of the congregation who might wish to attend.
• Sunday, March 28 – Palm Sunday – Mackenzie, Allison and Anna will become communicant members of St. Paul in the Rite of Confirmation, which will take place during the worship service.
• Thursday, April 1 – Maundy Thursday – Mackenzie, Allison and Anna will receive their first communion at the Altar of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Immediately following that service, Sharon and I will host a reception for our three Confirmands in the church basement.

I know that all of you will join me in congratulating Mackenzie, Allison and Anna as they become communicant members of our congregation. But I hope that they – and you – will realize that our growth as Christians is a process that never ends as long as we draw breath on this earth.  As Dr. Barry so wisely tells us, Catechesis truly is “more than simply imparting facts about Christianity. It is the ongoing application of the word of God to the lives of people so that there is a renewing of their minds and hearts in conformity with the will of Jesus Christ.” 

Please keep Mackenzie, Allison and Anna in your prayers as they prepare for the Rite of Confirmation and reception – for the first time – of the Lord’s Supper. Pray that they will remain strong in their faith, not only as they mature as young women, but as they mature as members of the Holy Christian Church.

In Christ,

Pastor Terry O’Brien