The Importance of The Small Catechism in 1580, 3 of 3

We conclude our look at how the Small Catechism was used in 1580; the year the Lutheran Book of Concord was published and adopted as the confession of what Scripture teaches.

Martin Luther's Small Catechism is included in the Book of Concord as one of the Lutheran Confessions.

How did they use the Small Catechism?

The official Church Rules for the Electorate of Saxony (Kirchenordnung fuer Kursachsen) published in 1580 discusses the use of the Small Catechism in three different sections:

• "Of the Catechism," 
• "Of the Annual Examination of the Catechism Which Shall Be Held in the Lenten Season with the Young Servants," and 
• "Of the Office of the Sacristan or Verger."

The third of these three sections reads:

Of the Office of the Sacristan or Verger

Afterwards each sacristan shall be obliged on Sunday afternoons and also in the week, upon a certain day, to teach the children the Catechism and Christian German hymns of Dr. Luther and afterwards to examine them about the sections of the Catechism that were taught them. And where one or more congregations belong to the parish he shall alternate in such instruction under the direction of his pastor that the youth in all the villages may be instructed in the Catechism.


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Found in:
Reu, M. 1929 Luther's Small Catechism: A History of Its Origin, Its Distribution and Its Use. Wartburg Press, Chicago. Page159.

See also Luther's Small Catechism and Lent from March of 2014

[I added paragraphing and typographic styles to make the text easier to read]