Written to her shortly before her end. May 20, 1531.
1. grace and peace in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior! Amen. My dearest Mother! I have received the letter from my brother Jacob about your illness, and I am very sorry, especially that I cannot be with you in body, as I would like to be; but I appear here with this letter in body and do not want to be away from you in spirit, along with all of us.
(2) Although I hope that your heart has already been instructed long enough and abundantly enough, and, praise God, is well aware of his comforting word, and that you are provided with preachers and comforters everywhere, I will also do my part and, according to my duty, recognize myself for your child and you for my mother, as both our God and Creator have made us and obligated us to each other, so that I may at the same time increase the number of your comforters.
First of all, dear Mother, by the grace of God you now know that your illness is His fatherly gracious ruth, and even a small ruth compared to the one He has given over the
Even the most wicked are often sent upon his own dear children, when one is beheaded, another burned, another drowned, and so on, so that we must all sing: "We are killed daily for your sake, and are like sheep for the slaughter," Ps. 44:23, Rom. 8:36. Therefore, do not be grieved or distressed by such sickness, but accept it with thanksgiving, as being sent by His grace; considering how small a suffering it is, even if it should lead to death or dying, compared to the suffering of His own dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which He did not have to suffer for Himself, as we do, but suffered for us and our sin.
4 Secondly, dear mother, you also know the true head and foundation of your salvation, on which you should place your comfort in this and all troubles, namely the cornerstone Jesus Christ, Isaiah 28:16, Romans 9:33, 1 Peter 2:6, who will not waver nor fail, nor cause us to sink nor perish. For he is the Savior and is called
1800 L- 54,233-238. tt. Luther's comfort letter to his mother Marg. Luther. W. X, 2111-2114. 1801
"the Savior of all poor sinners," 1 Tim. 4:4, and of all who are in distress and death, who rely on Him and call upon His name.
5th He saith, Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. If he has overcome the world, he has certainly overcome the prince of the world with all his power. But what is his power but death, that he might have cast us under him, having imprisoned us for our sins? But now that death and sin have been overcome, may we cheerfully and comfortingly hear the sweet word: Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
(6) And let us not doubt that it is certainly true; and not only so, but we are commanded to accept such comfort with joy, and with all thanksgiving. And he who would not be comforted by such words does the dear Comforter wrong and the greatest dishonor, as if it were not true that he tells us to be confident; or as if it were not true that he has overcome the world, so that we might strengthen the overcome devil, sin and death, and make ourselves tyrants again against the dear Savior, since God protects us from them.
(7) Therefore, we may rejoice with all certainty and joy, and where we are frightened by a thought of sin or death, we may lift up our hearts and say: Behold, dear soul, how doest thou? Dear death, dear sin, how do you live and frighten me? Do you not know that you are overcome, and you, death, are dead? Do you not know one who says of you: I have overcome the world? It is not for me to hear your terror, nor to accept it; but the consolations of my Savior: Be of good cheer, be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
This is the man of victory, the true hero, who herewith gives me his victory and appropriates it to me: Be of good cheer! I will stay with him, I will keep his word and comfort, I will stay here or go there, he does not lie to me. Your false terror would gladly deceive me and tear me away from such a victorious man and savior with lying thoughts, and yet it is a lie, as true as it is that he has overcome you and commanded us to be confident.
9 So St. Paul also boasts and defies the terror of death, 1 Cor. 15, 44. ff: "Death is swallowed up in victory; death, where is your victory? Hell, where is thy sting?" You can terrify and irritate, like a wooden image of death, but you have no power to strangle. For your victory, sting and power is swallowed up in the victory of Christ, you may bare your teeth, but you cannot eat. For God has given us victory over you through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be praise and thanksgiving, amen.
10. With such words and thoughts, dear Mother, let your heart be troubled, and with nothing else, and be thankful that God has brought you to such knowledge and has not left you stuck in the papal error, since we have been taught, to rely on our works and the holiness of the monks and to consider this one consolation, our Savior, not as a comforter but as a cruel judge and tyrant, so that we must flee from him to Mary and the saints and have no grace or consolation in him.
11. but now we know it differently from the causeless goodness and mercy of our heavenly Father, that Jesus Christ is our mediator, 1 Tim. 2, 5. and our mercy seat, Rom. 3, 25.and our bishop in heaven before God, who daily represents and reconciles all who believe in Him and call upon Him, Hebr. 5,15. 16. Cap. 7, 25. and is not a judge nor cruel, without only over those who do not believe in Him, nor want to accept His comfort and grace. It is not the man who accuses us nor oppresses us, but who reconciles and represents us through his own death and blood, shed for us; that we should not be afraid of him, but approach him with all certainty and call him: dear Savior, you sweet comforter, you faithful bishop of our souls etc., 1 Tim. 4, 10. 1 Petr. 2, 25.
(12) To such knowledge, I say, God has graciously called you; you have His seals and letters, namely, the gospel, baptism and the sacrament, which you hear preached, so that there shall be no danger or trouble with you. Only be confident and give thanks with joy for such great grace.
1802 2.54,235.236.; 279. III. Main St.- E. From the Father-Our esp. 7th petition. W.x, 2U4-2II7. 1803
For he who began it in you will also graciously complete it. For we cannot help ourselves in such matters, we cannot win over sin, death and the devil with our works, therefore there is another in our place and for us, who can do better and gives us his victory and commands us to accept it and not to doubt it, saying, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world," John 16:22, 14:19; and again, "I live, and you also shall live, and your joy no one shall take from you."
13. may the Father and God of all comfort grant you through his holy Word and Spirit
a firm, joyful and grateful faith, so that you may blessedly overcome this and all adversity and finally taste and experience that it is the truth, since he himself says: "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world"; and I hereby command your body and soul into his time of mercy, amen. All your children and my Käthe pray for you. Some cry, some eat and say: grandmother is very ill. May God's mercy be with us all, Amen. On the Saturday after Ascensionis Domini (Ascension Day) 1531.
Your dear son
Martin Luther.