ABSTRACT
The Sterbebücher of this rst category – in which Martin Luther’s Sermon on Preparing to Die is to be counted – are sermons on preparation for death. Only one of them appears actually to have been preached to a congregation: Johannes Oecolampadius’ Nunc dimittis. Three were written to comfort particular prominent individuals: Martin Luther’s Sermon on Preparing to Die, Georg Spalatin’s Eine Troestung and possibly Georgius Mohr’s Eyn Christliche vormanunge. Another two appear to have been written specically for use by persons ministering to the dying: Thomas Venatorius’ Ein kurtz vnterricht and Johannes Bugenhagen’s Ein vnderricht. Steffan Castenbaur’s Ain koestlicher … Sermon was written in prison, perhaps for the author’s own consolation.1
