Well-struck, sir. I think this grudging tone may ease a bit, but I certainly understand it. I didn't want to be Catholic. I liked being Reformed. I liked the idea of being a pastor. I loved preaching. Preaching is where faith and love meet people, and I like a lot of all three.
I should say Protestant preaching. I don't know who or what is training these priests and deacons, but something is wrong. I've heard really good homilies--a few. And thankfully, the fullness of faith reflected in the liturgy has kept me from dissecting every single one. But I do know one thing: your ability to move someone to do or believe something is directly proportionate to how much you yourself do and believe. That is, holiness is the engine of good preaching. And holiness comes by prayer and repentance. Or, if you happen to like a more Catholic turn of phrase, conversion. I'm not here to say that Catholic preaching should be like Protestant preaching, especially not in doctrinal content. But we know as Catholics that Holy Mother Church gives us all we could ever want in terms of opportunities for communion with God. Preach from that.
It seems to this opinionated wind-bag that a lot of time gets wasted by eager young men eager to share the doctrine of God travelling down side-streets that have nothing to do with the destination, as it were. Let me be frank: the thing I spent the least amount of time on was precise crafting of my actual words. I spent the most time in prayer and reading. You've got to get out of your own way. It's not about you. Easy to say, I know.
My first lesson in homiletics would go like this: "OK, gentlemen. Everyone in your audience is going to die within the hour. Half of them are in mortal sin right now. A quarter just come here out of habit, and the other quarter are faithful, but needing encouragement. You each have exactly 15 minutes to change the world. Now preach."
I should say Protestant preaching. I don't know who or what is training these priests and deacons, but something is wrong. I've heard really good homilies--a few. And thankfully, the fullness of faith reflected in the liturgy has kept me from dissecting every single one. But I do know one thing: your ability to move someone to do or believe something is directly proportionate to how much you yourself do and believe. That is, holiness is the engine of good preaching. And holiness comes by prayer and repentance. Or, if you happen to like a more Catholic turn of phrase, conversion. I'm not here to say that Catholic preaching should be like Protestant preaching, especially not in doctrinal content. But we know as Catholics that Holy Mother Church gives us all we could ever want in terms of opportunities for communion with God. Preach from that.
It seems to this opinionated wind-bag that a lot of time gets wasted by eager young men eager to share the doctrine of God travelling down side-streets that have nothing to do with the destination, as it were. Let me be frank: the thing I spent the least amount of time on was precise crafting of my actual words. I spent the most time in prayer and reading. You've got to get out of your own way. It's not about you. Easy to say, I know.
My first lesson in homiletics would go like this: "OK, gentlemen. Everyone in your audience is going to die within the hour. Half of them are in mortal sin right now. A quarter just come here out of habit, and the other quarter are faithful, but needing encouragement. You each have exactly 15 minutes to change the world. Now preach."
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