Summer Reading for June 2015

Our Father, Who Art on Earth: The Lord’s Prayer for Believers and Unbelievers. Jose Tolentino Mendonca, with a Foreword by Enzo Bianchi. (Mahwah, New Jersey/New York: Paulist Press, 2012) 114 pages; $14.95. (Reviewed by Brandon H … [Read more...]

The Homiletic Directory

A Guide for Catholic Preaching

In response to a request made by the 2008 Synod of Bishops, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments recently published the Homiletic Directory. The Directory was commissioned to assist homilists in their … [Read more...]

Scripture breathes the Holy Spirit

Editorial, June/July 2011

Recently I read a little book on the mystery of God’s word by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M.Cap. (Jesus Began to Preach, Liturgical Press, 2010). The author is the well-known theologian and preacher to the papal household.  He has held th … [Read more...]

Dust thou art

Editorial, February 2011

Ash Wednesday usually occurs in February, but this year it comes later, on March 9. “Dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return.” The Church offers this prayer for each one of us as the priest traces a black cross on our foreheads with the … [Read more...]

“And unto dust you shall return”

Ash Wednesday is more than an empty ritual—it is a reminder of our mortality and frailty.

Rosary beads, holy water, incense, ashes, et cetera—the “sacramentals” used in prayer and liturgy give Catholicism much of its distinctive flavor. As we are physical creatures in love with a God-made-flesh, the Church encourages the use of m … [Read more...]

Jesus Christ is from above

Editorial, December 2010

Romano Guardini was one of the great Catholic thinkers of the twentieth century. He is perhaps best known for his penetrating analysis of Jesus in his book called The Lord, which first appeared in 1937. Recently I read an article entitled … [Read more...]

In defense of dogma

Editorial, May 2010

I want to raise my voice in defense of dogma. Since the Vatican Council dogma has been neglected, downplayed and even reviled by some theologians. This has been the result of the emphasis on Holy Scripture, because the Council urged … [Read more...]

Three in One

Editorial, February 2010

Every year priests are called upon to preach on the Holy Trinity on Trinity Sunday. That is a sermon I very much like to give because it gives me the opportunity to explain for our people the most fundamental mystery of all the great … [Read more...]

Ephesians 5: Bridegroom and Bride

By submitting herself to her husband, the wife is allowing her man to sacrifice himself for her.

It is Mass on the Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time, in late summer only a few years ago. Fortunately the air conditioning seems to be holding up, for this year at least. The celebrant offers the Opening Prayer, asking the Father for … [Read more...]

Truth in the Pulpit

BE NOT AFRAID: COLLECTED WRITINGS. By George Cardinal Pell (Duffy & Snellgrove, Sydney, Australia, 2004), 306 pp. PB $25.00. http://www.duffyandsnellgrove.com.au/

George Pell began his sermon at the funeral of his friend, Sister Clare Forbes, in this way: “Recently at the funeral of the Melbourne priest Fr. John Keaney, his twin brother Matt, a Jesuit, who preached the sermon, quoted a crusty old I … [Read more...]

Help for the Homilist

CHRISTIAN ELOQUENCE: CONTEMPORARY DOCTRINAL PREACHING. By C. Colt Anderson (Liturgy Training Publications, 1800 N. Hermitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60633) 237 pp. PB

In the 13 chapters of this slender volume C. Colt Anderson, an associate professor of Church History at St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary, provides ten complete sermons from patristic and medieval preachers as translated by Ian … [Read more...]

Challenges to Preaching Paul

St. Paul is a role model for the preacher because he exemplified faith, passion and utility in his letters.

Preaching Paul is no mean feat. The Pauline literature in the Lectionary includes the thirteen disparate letters bearing Paul’s name, as well as Hebrews.[1. Since the Vatican’s Latin Vulgate continues to list Hebrews under the heading of Pau … [Read more...]