Luther on dogs

Last week we were on Spring Break, visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and three grand-daughters in Oklahoma. Here we were privileged to witness one of their family milestones: getting their first dog. A bouncing, excited, affectionate Labrador retriever.

It made me recall that Luther was a dog-lover. He had a dog named Tölpel (which was apparently a synonym for “Dummkopf”). I love this quotation:

“The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.”

Think about that! God’s greatest gifts are the commonest. But because they are so common, we take them for granted. Yes, dogs. But what else? (Having children. One’s spouse. Food and drink. Colors. Reading. Baptism. The Lord’s Supper, and on and on and on.)

More quotes from Luther about dogs after the jump.

“Be thou comforted, little dog, Thou too in Resurrection shall have a little golden tail”

via Martin Luther didn’t say that, did he? Yes, he did! | Dreaming Beneath the Spires.

‘When Luther’s puppy [n. 116, Luther’s dog Tölpel is mentioned again and again in the Table Talk.] happened to be at the table, looked for a morsel from his master, and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes, he [Martin Luther] said, “Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope.”

Luther’s Works, Volume 54, Table Talk (Philadelphia: 1967), pp. 37, 38. May 18, 1532

via Quotes from Martin Luther