Luther - Works of Martin Luther Vol. 6 - Righteousness is Love

50All saints’ festivals are to be dropped, or where there is a good Christianlegend, this may be added after the Gospel on Sunday as an example. But Iallow the Festival of the Purification of Mary and of the Annunciation toremain; the Festivals of the Assumption and of the Nativity of Mary onemust allow to remain a while longer even though the songs in them are notpure. The Festival of John the Baptist also is pure. Not one of the legendsof the Apostles is pure, except St. Paul’s; therefore observance of theseApostle Festivals may be transferred to the (nearest) Sundays, or ifpreferred, they may be specially observed.Further matters will be met and adjusted as the need arises from time totime. But the important thing is this, that everything be done so that theWord prevails and does not once more become a clamor or whine, andrattled off mechanically as it has been heretofore. It is better to abandoneverything else except the Word. And there is no better practice or exercisethan the Word; and the whole Scriptures show that this should have freecourse among the Christians; and Christ Himself, also, says, Luke10:42, — One thing is needful, namely that Mary sit at the feet of Christand hear His word daily. This is the best part, which she has chosen, andwill never be taken away. It is an eternal Word; all the rest must pass awayno matter how much work it gives Martha to do.To this God help us. Amen.