The Ausbund
In the late summer of 1535 about four
hundred Anabaptist were forced from their homes and farms in central
Moravia.Splitting into smaller groups
most tried to make their way west to the Palatinate and Rhine valley of
Germany, where they knew were others of their kind.The authorities near Passau captured three
smaller groups, totaling about fifty people in August and September 1535.Among those captured were two leaders, Michael
Schneider and Hans Betz.Betz was
distinctive because he had holes burned in both cheeks from a previous
imprisonment, typical of punishment given to heretics.
They were imprisoned in the Oberhaus
(castle) dungeon.Here they would suffer
hunger, fear, and torture.Some died in
this cold, dank prison; most suffered greatly, and a few recanted and were
given their freedom with the commitment that they would leave this sect.With limited resources these prisoners wrote
songs that told their story and allow a window in their hearts and theology. Fifty-three
songs of these Passau Prison Songs, as they became known, were written and
smuggled out of the dungeon. Fifty-one of these are preserved in the Ausbund
today.
From early in the movement, there were
differences between the groups of Anabaptist that tended to separate them, just
as there are today. Prison and suffering broke down these barriers and promoted
a return to their core beliefs.This is
reflected in song 100 in the Ausbund, written by these prisoners.The song has a different author identified by
initials for each of its fourteen verses.One writer would compose a stanza, and the next one would pick up a
thread and compose their stanza.This
provides a sense of connection, while allowing the individual voices
expression.The song is a call to stay
strong and remain unified in the midst of the suffering “in a hard prison:”
You sisters and you brothers,
be strong in this fight,
you are Christ’s members,
dedicated in baptism.
We begun it in God, for whom
we want to hold still.
Although we must certainly
hang and suffer great coercion,
so may his will come to pass
in us. (stanza 11)
This sense
of spiritual connection, care and concern is central to understanding how these
people saw the connection of disciples in this community.The “betterment of others” is reflected in
this call to remain true, and a commitment to stand together.Christian love for each other becomes the primary
indication of their life with Christ.
The Ausbund that so many of us are
familiar with and use, is not only a songbook with wonderful songs that carry
the Anabaptist message, it is also a book with many stories behind it, one of
which is this song.It has a wonderful
spiritual message about the value of community life, but it also has much value
in showing us that we should be able to bridge some of the barriers and work
together to be “strong in the fight.”It
also behooves us to learn about and teach our children about these hymns, for
they tell the story of our faith.
If you would
like to know more about the history of our people or to purchase your own copy
of the Ausbund, or the a book of English translations of these songs, please
call or visit the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center.
We offer guided tours
of “Behalt” – a 10 ft. x 265 ft. cyclorama oil-on-canvas painting
that illustrates the heritage of the Amish and Mennonite people from their
Anabaptist beginnings in Zurich, Switzerland, to the present day. Behalt means
“to keep” or “remember.” The photos in these articles are snapshots of
Behalt.
We are open Mon-Sat 9:00-5:00
and are located near Berlin, you can find us at 5798 County Road 77,
Millersburg, OH 44654.
Please call (330) 893-3192 for more information or to
schedule a day or evening group tour.