Part II, Chapter 2: Interior Dispositions for Preaching

Interior Dispositions for Preaching

WHOSOEVER would preach the word of God in an apostolic spirit should endeavor to acquire the interior dispositions that filled the Divine Preacher and the apostles when they preached the Gospel to the world.

He should so live that he would rather die a thousand deaths than ever be guilty of a deliberate sin, no matter what its nature. Moreover, before daring to speak in the name of the Saviour, he should purify himself from every blemish either by going to confession or by making an act of contrition. He should. dwell in constant fear that the words of the Psalmist might be applied to him: "To the sinner God hath said: Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hast hated discipline; and hast cast my words behind thee" (PS. 49, 16-17).

Banish every shadow of self-love, pride, ambition or vanity. Have no other thought than to please God and to save souls. Satan was damned because he envied God's glory(1) and sought to become like unto Him. "How many great preachers have been lost eternally," exclaims St. Francis Xavier, "because they were consumed with vanity and selfesteem." (2) (1)."Beware of vanity, you who go to preach missions or speak in public . . . Seek only the glory of God, for which end alone you should strive to work and labor. Yes, let His glory and the salvation of souls he your only aim. Otherwise, you will be preaching yourselves, not Jesus Christ. And what can be said of one who preaches solely that he may be applauded, praised and acclaimed? What is he doing but committing a sacrilege? Yes, a sacrilege. To use the word of God and divine things to enhance his own reputation and acquire honor for himself, is surely a sacrilege. 0 God, grant that no member of this little company may fall into such a terrible sin. Believe me, we shall never be able to do the work of God unless we have profound humility and learn to despise ourselves." Saint Vincent de Paul, quoted by the Abbé Maynard in Vie de Saint Vincent de Paul, V0L. 2, P. 393. (2). Epist., lib. 4, cp. 16.

Avoid negligence and the seeking of easy ways, instead of embracing wholeheartedly the hard work entailed in preaching. Study with care and diligence. Prepare your sermon or instruction well in advance. Never go into the pulpit without being thoroughly familiar with the subject for otherwise you are merely tempting God.

Do not rest your entire dependence upon your own feeble efforts. Rather depend on grace and the bounty of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Before beginning even to outline a sermon, kneel down and beg God's help. Seek light and strength before the Blessed Sacrament, adoring there the incomprehensible love which prompted God to send His Only-begotten Son into the world to instruct and teach mankind. Adore the infinite goodness and the charity which moved the Holy Ghost to speak through Jesus, His apostles and saints.

Thank the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost for all these favors, and ask pardon for any misuse made of your talents, ability or opportunities. Be humbled before the divine majesty of God and mindful of your own insignificance.

Renounce self-love and self-esteem. Avoid vanity and pride under any guise. Surrender yourself to the love of the Father, the wisdom of the Son and the charity of the Holy Ghost. Beg them to put in your mind inspiring thoughts so that your sermon may produce abundant fruit in the soul of your listeners.

Adore Christ as the beginning and end of all everlasting verities. Unite your intentions to those which animated the God-man, thanking His bounty for all His manifestations of truth to mankind, and for the great privilege of being associated with Him in the holy work of preaching. Beg divine forgiveness for being unworthy of the great trust bestowed upon you.

Cultivate humility, learning to plumb the depth of your own nothingness, realizing that the preacher speaks only through the goodness of our Saviour, in His name and for His cause. Affirm vigorously that even if you did possess the ability of making the most eloquent human orations, you, nevertheless, would refrain from this display of learning and would choose to proclaim instead the undying truths of the Gospel.

Salute Mary Immaculate, Mother of the Eternal Light and Truth. Thank her and offer her your will , praying in return only for the great

Interior Dispositions for Preaching 79

privilege of being able to continue doing the evangelical work of her Divine Son with merit and fruit. Salute your Angel Guardian and all the saints and protectors of the diocese and the parish where you are to preach. Invoke their prayers and assistance.

While studying, frequently elevate your heart to God. Before going into the pulpit, recall briefly the foregoing injunctions and then consider the importance of the action you are about to perform. Unite yourself with the holy dispositions which filled the mind and heart of Jesus as He preached to His disciples. Make an act of utter renunciation of self. Ask Our Lord to remove from your heart all that is not of Him, so that He alone will speak through your mouth since it is He alone who should speak the words of salvation. Tell Him that you are willing to accept any humiliation, nervousness or confusion which you may suffer while you are preaching. Offer to the Father your memory; to the Son your understanding; to the Holy Ghost your will.

Offer to God the hearts of your hearers, praying earnestly that they may be well disposed. Offer them to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints. Then, kneel humbly and say: Veni, Domine Jesu, veni, veni. "Come, Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Annihilate my own being that Thou alone mayest preach Thy divine word. Come into the hearts of all here present and dispose them to receive and practise whatsoever Thou dost desire them to do." Standing before the congregation, raise your eyes to heaven and ask God to help you to seek His glory alone and to implore the saints to pray for you before the heavenly throne.

Make the Sign of the Cross with great devotion. Let its meaning penetrate the heart, mindful of St. Paul's words: "God ... hath spoken to us by his son" (Heb. 1; 1-2). Try to enter into the sentiments of love which prompted the Eternal Father to give us His Blessed Son. Pray to the Holy Spirit, that His zeal and piety may abound in you as it did in the holy apostles and doctors of the Church.

During the sermon proper, a great spirit of recollection and piety should be maintained. Remember that, in speaking to sinners, you really speak to men like yourself encompassed with every temptation and sin. Do not show impatience at interruptions caused by the congregation. Never display displeasure. Do not scold harshly or rant. Use

kindly words. Speak modestly, not boastfully. Let authority and humility be intermingled.

After the sermon, thank the Blessed Trinity, Our Lord and His holy Mother, the angels and saints, saying: Gloria Patri, Gloria tibi Domine, Ave Maria, Avete omnes Angeli et omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei, benedicti sitis in aeternum, et intercedere dignemini pro nostra omniumque salute.

Likewise, ask pardon for any shortcomings and close your heart and cars against vanity or flattery. If your sermon has not measured up to standard or has been somewhat of a disappointment, offer this trial in a spirit of real faith.

Do not tolerate praise. When well-wishers congratulate or compliment you, humble yourself inwardly and direct to God all honor and glory: Soli Deo honor et gloria (1, Tim. 1, 17). Remember, too, that people who praise you to your face may despise you in their hearts, and that while you may enjoy the approval of a few, perhaps the great majority are indifferent to you, if not actually hostile. Yet, though you are openly acclaimed by all, you should still shun as poison the praises of men for flattery and adulation can kill Christ in your heart: "Woe to you when men shall bless you: for according to these things did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6, 26).

When you are corrected, accept these admonitions in a spirit of humility and submission.

Learn to practise the sublime truths that you preach and apply them to yourself in actuality, lest i t be said of you: "Thou therefore that teachest another, teachest not thyself" (Rom. 2, 21). Remember that the truths that you have expounded will be so many verdicts and condemnations against you at the hour of death unless you have tried to live up to them.

You must be mindful of these things, and in so doing you will be strengthened and fortified with a most potent weapon to protect you against conceit and false estimation of self. St. Prosper says: Bene loqui et male vivere, quid aliud est nisi se sua voce damnare? ( 3 ) (3). Praelat. in Job. cap. 7. 81-