After Morning Prayer with Marilyn and three of our grandchildren, Signe, Brynja, and Garrick (Gunny), this morning, I came to our Facebook group, and waiting for us all was this dear gift from one of our members, Erich Heidenreich.
Erich gave permission 
to post it here on the website blog. We present here:
- Erich’s explanation
- Erich’s text
- PDF of Erich’s Catechism prayer page.
Later on we will get it onto the Reading Plans page as well so that you can find it anytime you want it. He posted:
In accordance with Luther’s instructions for praying the Catechism’s primary texts morning and evening, I have the following printed on single sheets of paper for bedside and table use in our home. I know you all know these texts, but I thought I’d provide the simple texts below to make it easy to copy and paste them into a document of your own to print for your family’s personal use too. [smile emoticon ]You may wish to switch it to whichever translation you are familiar with. This is the 1991 translation with minor modification.
We also recite one or more of the meanings each week from another sheet I print on the back, updated every few weeks with more meanings, which allows us to get through the entire catechism sequentially at least yearly.
Here is some of his explanation.
These primary texts provide law and gospel in such a simple and trustworthy manner. I pray in this manner every morning and night from memory (and during the day when I have time) and it takes as little as 90 seconds. Of course we can and should do more, but we don’t always succeed. This is the bare minimum of prayer and devotion that I teach my family to never fail to do every day of their life. I pray they pass on this habitus to their children and grandchildren. It should be as much a habit as brushing our teeth, yet it is infinitely more important, and so it should start from infancy. Of course it takes longer than 90 seconds if you pause to ponder each line, and when I have extra prayers I pray them between the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer, always ending with the comfort of Luther’s morning or evening prayer, commending all things into God’s loving hands.
At the present time we also are using Gerhard’s Meditations on Divine Mercy along with Stark’s Prayer Book for family devotions.
He also quoted a portion of the Introduction to Luther’s Large Catechism that gives further incitement to this practice. You can read that in the group or online at BookofConcord.org here.
Here is his text to make it convenient for you to copy, paste, and adapt should you wish to do that.
Make the sign of the cross in the Name of the Father, Son †, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
1 You shall have no other gods.
2 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
3 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
4 Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
5 You shall not murder.
6 You shall not commit adultery.
7 You shall not steal.
8 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
10 You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, maidservant, ox, or donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. Amen.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Morning:
I thank You, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that you would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your Holy Angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Evening:
I thank You, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day, and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your Holy Angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.