Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of November 9, 1873

Overview

A discouraging church sermon reinforced her sense of the barrenness of contemporary theology and left her chilled in spirit. Later, Luther’s march to Worms moved them deeply, especially its courage and joy in the face of danger. R. reflected that joy itself can vanish, adding a note of sobriety to the evening’s impression.

Content

Sunday, November 9:

To church with Lusch; wretched preaching. A dismal spirit holds sway over present-day theology. So chilled, both without and within, that I feel no urge to go out again.

In the evening Father, the march to Worms, quite wonderful; incomprehensible that any servants of Rome still remained: “Just because there are always good people and bad people,” says R. Luther’s saying that he hardly knew now whether he would again undertake the march to Worms in so joyous a spirit brings from R. the remark, “Yes, joy, it can disappear.”