Category Archives: Fulfilled in Your Hearing

Let’s finish up Fulfilled in Your Hearing, the full text of which is linked below in the copyright credit. Speaking of copyright, I will mention in light of recent swipes taken at the US bishops and ICEL, that the USCCB … Continue reading →

The conclusion of the FIYH epilogue: [114] We dare to utter that sacred Word because we once heard the voice of Mystery who spoke to Isaiah: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” And we answered with Isaiah, … Continue reading →

FIYH gives its readers a brief epilogue. As we head to the conclusion of the document, we find a reflection entitled, “The Power of the Word.” [112] The pulpit of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna displays an elaborate handrail in … Continue reading →

Let’s say you’re a busy pastor and don’t want to make time or can’t make time to follow all the advice we’re been reading about the past week or two. What do you do? A brief section on the “non-negotiables.” … Continue reading →

We look at a single section of FIYH, but it contains a detailed description of a possible homily preparation meeting. [108] After the group has gathered and spent a few minutes quieting down, the following steps can be followed: 1. … Continue reading →

The US bishops float an idea you’d never find in Rome, I don’t think. [106] An effective way for preachers to be sure that they are addressing some of the real concerns of the congregation in the homily is to … Continue reading →

Practical stuff: [102] Our emphasis on the importance of writing in the preparation of a homily does not in any way imply that homilies should normally be read. Writing is a means to arrive at good organization, clarity of expression, … Continue reading →

This is one lots of preachers, lectors, and even musicians have trouble with: practice. Ever since we were kids, perhaps. But the advice here is not only sound, but it really helps: [101] After revising the homily; practice it. Repeat … Continue reading →

The second of four working stages of homily preparation, revising–it’s a vital one. [97] The revising stage is one of the most important and the one that is too easily omitted for lack of time. To revise is frequently to … Continue reading →

The preparing preacher gets serious; time to pull the ideas from prayer and reflection and start making them incarnate: [94] A time for writing should be scheduled at least two days before the preaching of the homily in order to … Continue reading →

In a short section titled, “letting Go,” the bishops advise spiritually: [92] Sometime in the middle of the preparation process we should allow our­selves to step back from the work we are doing and give free reign to the subconscious … Continue reading →

A particular short-cut is a problem for preachers: [89] One of the major temptations of students when they are assigned a paper is immediately to run to the “experts.” The same temptation afflicts preachers. All too often our preparation for … Continue reading →

We get into some nitty-gritty preparation suggestions with these sections of FIYH. All of this advice is good. Reading in the original languages may be a challenge for some preachers, but the easiest and most fruitful idea is reading the … Continue reading →

Here’s a good discussion point worth considering: how many preachers plan a “continuous” homily reaching over two or more weeks to take advantage of the “continuation” principle in the Lectionary? [84] One final preliminary remark. The method that follows describes a … Continue reading →