Pray for Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a nation of three languages. Someone walking past the public offices and court buildings of Luxembourg would hear French — the main language of government — echoing through the halls. If he dined at a quiet restaurant by the Alzette River, he would speak with his friends in Luxembourgish, his native tongue. His children would hear their teachers at school speak in German, the main language of education. Next to France, Germany, and Belgium, Luxembourg traces its history to 963, when Count Siegfried acquired Lucilinburhuc, or the “little fortress,” around which a nation grew. Luxembourg was reformed in 1815, after four centuries of foreign occupation, as the world’s only country ruled by a duke. The country has a large workforce in the financial and banking services industries, creating a steady economy and high employment. Almost half the population are foreign immigrants.

Yet, Luxembourg’s booming economy has outpaced its housing market which has forced families into poverty. Besides the homeless, soup kitchens are visited by single mothers, retirees, and low-income workers. Housing prices drive people out of the country; almost 50 percent of Luxembourg’s workforce commutes daily from Germany, France, or Belgium. Meanwhile, a spiritual drift has clouded the nation’s understanding of human life and identity. Every year, hundreds of unborn children die through abortion, and euthanasia takes the lives of the nation’s elderly. The Luxembourg’s schools encourage children to affirm those who practice same-sex marriage and undergo gender transition.

Roman Catholics make up a majority of the population, yet only a handful attend mass on a regular basis — tradition is what holds up Luxembourg’s Catholic heritage. Growing numbers of people identify as nonreligious. The greatest obstacle to salvation in Luxembourg is the comfort that comes with material abundance. People are suspicious of anything that might threaten their affluent lifestyle, especially the Christian faith. There is an urgent need for hearts to be softened so that Luxembourgers may discover Christ Jesus. Although Luxembourgers can read the Word in French and German, believers are translating the Bible into Luxembourgish, which is the most widely-spoken language.