October 10, 2012
Homilies should connect Scripture to daily life
Preacher should be in touch with contemporary culture
Sermons should enhance hearer’s relationship with JesusWASHINGTON—The
U.S. bishops will vote on a formal document on preaching at their
annual fall meeting, November 12-15, in Baltimore.
The document,
“Preaching the Mystery of Faith: The Sunday Homily,” will be presented
by the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), chaired by Archbishop Robert
Carlson of St. Louis. It is intended in particular for priests and
deacons and those who educate seminarians.
The document cites
numerous examples from the Scriptures, including the preaching of Jesus
Himself, and encourages preachers to connect the Sunday homily with
people’s daily lives. It said, for example, that “the homilist of
today must realize that he is addressing a congregation that is more
culturally diverse than previously, one that is profoundly affected by
the surrounding secular context, and, in many instances, inadequately
catechized.”
The document also emphasizes that “the homily is
integral to the liturgical act of the Eucharist, and the language and
spirit of the homily should fit the context.”
The homily needs to touch people’s lives and enhance their relationship with Jesus, it said.
“The ultimate goal of proclaiming the Gospel is to lead people into a
loving and intimate relationship with the Lord, a relationship that
forms the character of their persons and guides them in living out their
faith.” It added that “by highlighting his humanity, his poverty, his
compassion, his forthrightness, and his suffering and Death, an
effective homily would show the faithful just how much the Son of God
loved them in taking our human flesh upon himself.”
“The homily
is intended to establish a ‘dialogue’ between the sacred biblical text
and the Christian life of the hearer,” the document said. It added that
“apt stories that illustrate human experience or the realities of
contemporary culture help enliven the homily and open avenues for
understanding the meaning of the biblical text….”
The document
listed qualities needed by the preacher, and said “the homilist should
strive to live a life of holiness” and be well-versed in Scripture.
“His Bible should be near at hand” so he is “carrying it with him when
he travels or perhaps staying linked to it by computer or other mobile
technology.” The goal is “to see the world through biblical eyes” so he
can be “adept at noticing the analogies between the Bible and ordinary
experience.”
Homilists should be in touch with the contemporary culture, the document said.
“Preachers should be aware, in an appropriate way, of what their
people are watching on television, what kind of music they are listening
to, which websites they find appealing, and which films they find
compelling. References to the more popular cultural expressions—which at
times can be surprisingly replete with religious motifs—can be an
effective way to engage the interest of those on the edge of faith.”
The document offers some cautions.
It warned against using the homily “for theological speculation,” for
example, and said “it would be inappropriate for the homilist to impose
on the congregation his own partisan views about current issues.”
It sees Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals as times when the
assembly includes Catholics who attend Mass only occasionally, and said
“This is obviously not the time to chide such Catholics for their
absence.” Instead, it said, this is a time “to invite back those who
have lost contact with the Church.”
Coverage of the bishops’
meeting is open to credentialed media. Sessions open to media will be
Monday, November 12, and Tuesday, November 13. Media conferences will
follow open sessions of the meeting.
Reporters seeking to cover the
meeting can download a credential application form at
www.usccb.org/about/media-relations/upload/application-news-media-credentials.pdf and submit it by November 1 via email to USCCB Media Relations email,
fax to (202) 541-3173, or mail to:
November Meeting Credentials
Office of Media Relations
3211 4th St. NE
Washington, DC 20017-1194
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Keywords:
Bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, homilies, preaching,
Archbishop Robert Carlson, Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and
Vocations, Bible, Scripture
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MEDIA CONTACT ONLY:Sr. Mary Ann Walsh
O: 202-541-3200
Email