The First Catechetical Hymn
By Johann Rist
Happy Reformation Day, friends!
One of the greatest achievements of the Lutheran Reformation is its hymnody. Early Lutherans wrote so many hymns intended for use in the home and dedicated to every topic imaginable. For the weekly devotional, I am translating a book of hymns by Johann Rist (1607–1667) on Luther’s catechism. I’m excited to share the first completed hymn with you today in celebration of Reformation Day.
This first hymn introduces the catechism, and it has been translated to be sung according to our familiar and beloved Pentecost tune, Komm Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott (TLH 224; LSB 497).
A huge thank you is due to David Schotte of The Lutheran Kantor Project for making a recording of this translation and providing us with sheet music so that we can all learn to sing this hymn and use it in our homes. Check out the video and download the sheet music below. I heartily encourage all of you to subscribe to his YouTube channel, which is dedicated to making many beautiful hymns from the Lutheran tradition accessible.
Speaking of YouTube, I would also like to share my own YouTube channel, where I will eventually be posting audio recordings of what I’m translating here. Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it!
Hymn Download:
Click here to download and use the hymn:
Audio from The Lutheran Kantor Project:
The Text:
Holy Father, Son, and Ghost,
Who hidden myst’ries doth us show,
From bygone days and from past years,
Unveiled to us through mouths of seers,
Thy servants in the Word did say,
The ho-ur surely comes one day,
In which the children, newly born,
Would too know Thee and by name call Thee Lord.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Blessed are we to see such days,
When a great throng doth know Thy praise!
O Lord, from elders and from youth,
Shines forth the Light of heav’nly truth.
For Thine instruction of our young,
The honor of Thy name be sung,
Thy lofty deeds have spread abroad,
Prepared for us the way to Thee, O God.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Those who know this teaching clear,
Shall from seductive error steer.
The children’s teaching sets our sight,
That each should strive with all his might,
To know the God who all has made,
And His will and work in the same.
How our conduct on earth should be.
To become righteous in eternity.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
In the children’s teaching sound,
The catechism doth abound,
More than the learning of the world,
Here reason humbly serves Thy Word.
By meditation slow and sure,
Man to salvation shall endure.
In all things Christians now must heed,
And from the youth bring forth right word and deed.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Children are giv'n milk to drink,
While the strong need their meat for strength.
Why should debates to youth be shown,
With lofty words and speech unknown?
To teach the young will not succeed,
Unless taught in simplicity,
How through their pray'r and song upraised,
God is by faith adored and rightly praised.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
No strife of faith is too hard,
For those who know the six chief parts.
Here wisdom is for life's cruel plight,
To heed in darkness Christ our Light.
As children of the Lord Most High,
The righteous live by faith and die,
Neglecting not the good to do,
To hate all evil, and in works improve.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
This instruction teaches well,
Where faith should trust where hope must dwell.
It is the dear soul's trusty guard,
When Satan seeks to press us hard.
To God alone it sets our gaze,
Shows that we are of His hands made,
Whose dearest Son hath set us free,
Whose Spirit makes us bold in every need.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
How to pray with a true heart,
The children's teaching doth impart.
To boldly come before God's face,
Christ says "Our Father" one must pray,
That pray'r for which our God doth yearn,
From us who first from evil turn,
From us set free from vanity,
Who with the Spirit "Abba, Father" sing.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Herein is our teaching's fame,
In raising children whom God claims:
To know God and have true belief,
To strive for heav'n by holy life,
To take our cross and follow Christ,
Not counting cost or bitter price,
For death itself is brought to naught;
All perfectly in this small book is taught.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
With this book by noble hand,
Our fearless hero took his stand.
Delusions of the Antichrist,
These clear chief parts did cast aside.
Against the devil's tyranny,
Life ordered by the Trinity,
Vocation loved and fixed by God,
His favor thus need only here be sought.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
First we have the Ten Commands,
Giv'n by Almighty God's own hand.
They bring to light sins of the flesh.
Next comes the creed where we confess:
In God's Son is salvation's way.
As children then we learn to pray,
And how Baptism brings us grace,
The Supper last, that feeds us through our days.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O come near, both young and old,
And of this precious book take hold.
It must be loved by great and small,
Because its use extends to all.
No one on earth, no child of man,
Can do without this book and stand.
With sweetest verse, our soul, O God,
Shall therefore praise and ever give Thee laud.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Johann Rist, Katechismus-Andachten (1656)
Gustav Spangenberg, Luther in the Circle of His Family (1875)