Part II, Chapter X

1

Faults to be Avoided in Preaching

IN ADDITION to several faults already mentioned, the following should be carefully avoided:

1. Guard against affected eloquence which can tend only to corrupt the Word of God. Do not seek to parade a knowledge of worldly subjects, but be concerned only with the spiritual. Do not transform the pulpit into a theatrical rostrum.

2. Avoid long-drawn-out preambles to excuse one's incapacity or unworthiness. Do not expound the difficulty of the subject to be treated, but get to the point at once. Do not make excuses and say that one has not had time to prepare. These things are childish and destroy whatever impression the priest might make.

3. In discussing grave and important matters, use only expressions and phrases which have been carefully thought out. Be sure, too, that they would bear the scrutiny of the most rigid theologians. If by chance you let slip a remark which might be misinterpreted, correct or explain it at once, lest it engender doubt or misunderstanding among the faithful.

4. Do not exaggerate. Stick to the plain unvarnished truth

5. Do not use humor. Christ never sought to amuse his audience

6. Do not forget to bow the head when the name of Jesus is mentioned

7. Do not recite or talk in a sing-song manner, but naturally, warmly and forcefully. In this connection, one can school himself to avoid this fault by teaching catechism for then one must speak in a natural tone, by listening to other pulpit orators, by practising

alone, by preparing the material carefully, by watching the inflections, and by using questions often, such as, "How can you prove this truth?" "Do you recall what St. Paul says?" In this way you will acquire fluency and naturalness, and will avoid any semblance of sing-song and declamation.

8. Do not discourage the faithful, but rather, after pointing out the horror of sin, lift them up to new heights of hope by showing how they may practise and acquire virtue by serious and continued efforts. Show them, too, that, if they are willing and cooperative, God will give them graces of conversion and perseverance, and that it is far easier to be saved than to be lost. Likewise, they should be inspired with the means to avoid evil and to put their trust in God 'Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that worketh evil . . . but glory, and honour, and peace to every one that worketh good" (ROM. 2, 9-IO).

9. Do not imitate those false preachers who are steeped in worldliness, who inject into preaching the spirit of the flesh and motives of avarice and vanity, who preach themselves and not Christ Crucified, using eloquence only for their glory and gratification, who fill the holy office of preaching simply as a means of livelihood and seek only flattery. Never stoop to imitate those who preach not Christian virtues but the vanities of earth, making the road to heaven sound easy and attractive by permitting laxity while minimizing the dangers of hell. Do not imitate those who never use Scripture but depend upon profane authors, who refer to secular sciences rather than to the truth of the Gospel and utter honeyed words which contain no food for thought nor grace of conversion.

10. Finally, do not follow those whose sermons merely arouse expressions of opinion concerning the preacher himself, such as, "What a learned man! What an eloquent speaker!" If listeners who praise i n these words were asked what the priest said, they would be at a loss to give the slightest idea of his sermon for it was empty and devoid of substance. Whosoever would work for the salvation of souls, and not be reproved for failing in his duty, should never fall into these faults of misguided preachers, who endanger their own and the faithful's salvation.

Faults to be Avoided in Preaching 111

11. Again I repeat, there is nothing against which a priest should guard himself more assiduously than vanity for through it many a preacher has fallen. If the great St. Paul avers that he feared he himself might become a castaway after he had preached to others, which of us should not tremble? Which of us should not be humbled? Should we not, indeed, employ every means at our disposal to banish vanity from our lives and preserve within our hearts a Christ-like humility? Should we not crush the slightest thought or feeling of self-love or complacency, mindful of our nothingness? Should we not shun the praises of men as a veritable poison, remembering that honor and glory are due God alone, begging Him to destroy pride within us, that our souls may know true humility? 112-