Esaias Heidenreich was born in Löwenberg on April 10, 1532, to Laurentius and Elizabeth Heidenreich. Laurentius was a Roman Catholic priest who became acquainted with and persuaded by Luther’s writings. He later met Luther in person and witnessed the Leipzig Debate of 1519. After twelve years as a Catholic priest, Laurentius was won over to the Reformation and became the first Lutheran preacher of St. John’s in Zittau in 1521. He served as a Lutheran preacher for thirty-six years.
As a child, Esaias’s pious parents ensured he received a sound education, and in 1548, at the age of sixteen, he went on to study at the University of Frankfurt, where he eventually became a Doctor of Theology. Esaias was first a pastor in Lemberg (Lviv, Ukraine), then in Schweidnitz (Świdnica, Poland), and finally in Breslau (Wrocław, Poland), where he was the pastor of St. Elizabeth, a professor of theology at the gymnasium, an inspector of the churches and schools, and a member of the consistory. He served for twenty years until his death on April 26, 1589, at the age of 57.
While not a well-known figure from the Lutheran tradition, Heidenreich published many of his sermons and wrote several works aimed at the edification of the laity through prayer and meditation on God’s Word. One such work is a book of prayers on the Gospel lessons appointed for the Sundays and Feast Days of the Church Year, from which the following prayers on Luke 2:41–52, the Gospel appointed for the First Sunday after Epiphany, are taken.
On the First Sunday after Epiphany
Gospel: Luke 2:41–52
For Christian Parents, to Implore God the Lord for a Blessed Rearing of Children
Almighty and eternal God, we poor parents, whom You have called to the difficult governance of home and rearing of children in these most perilous times, rightly recognize that the fruit of our body, the dear youth, are Your gifts, Your holy seed and tender seedlings, which are created and ordered for the spread of Your most holy name. So grant us and all Christian parents Your Holy Spirit that we may care well for those whom You have entrusted to us for guidance. Grant us to rightly go before our youth as good examples in doctrine, life, and conduct, so that they may grasp and learn from us Your Word, the most holy Sacraments, and all Christian cultivation and discipline. And since we have presented and dedicated them to You and Your dearest Son, Jesus Christ our Redeemer, in Holy Baptism, bestow Your Holy Spirit upon them and upon us, that with blessing they may further grow up in Your grace. Give us also to justly chasten their will with the rod from their youth onwards and to guide them with honorable discipline. Consecrate and bless all Christian teachers, pastors, preceptors, schools, and churches, that they may be found industrious and diligent in their rearing of Your tender seedlings. Kindle the heart of the youth, that they obey Your Word and good admonition. Accompany them with Your dear angels to school, church, and wherever they go, unto the honor of Your name, that the evil foe and wicked company may find no part in them, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, our Redeemer. Amen.
For the Christian Youth
Lord Jesus Christ, at the age of twelve You sat in the temple in Jerusalem among the teachers, listened to them, asked questions, gave answers, and thereby sanctified and blessed our schools, churches, and all godly youth who study unto the honor of Your heavenly Father, so that, by Your grace, we may also find in such gatherings a place before You. We beseech You, according to Your example, grant that we may highly regard Your holy will, obey our parents, pastors, caretakers, schoolmasters, schoolmistresses, and those who teach and discipline us, and show ourselves submissive in every just matter. Through Your obedience, blot out all our disobedience, sin, and transgressions, which we have committed against You, Your commandments, and our parents. And through Your gladsome incarnation, grant us to increase in wisdom, age, and grace, with God and men, to the praise and honor of Your holy name, and to the help and benefit of our neighbor. Amen.
