More from the Synod

The following texts of interventions are taken from ZENIT's website. As I understand it, the short interventions of Synod participants are being published day by day as occurred during the last meeting of the Synod of Bishops. The emphases are mine.

-- H.E. Most. Rev. Mark Benedict COLERIDGE, Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn
(AUSTRALIA)

The Second Vatican Council called for a renewal of preaching which involved a shift from the sermon understood primarily as an exposition of Catholic doctrine, devotion and discipline to the homily understood primarily as an exposition and application of Scripture. Such a shift has been accomplished only in part. One reason for this is that preaching too often takes the kerygma for granted, and this at a moment in Western cultures when the kerygma cannot be taken for granted. If it is, there is the risk of a moralistic reduction of preaching which may evoke interest or admiration but not the faith that saves. Preaching will not be an experience of Christ's power.

A new evangelization requires a new formulation and proclamation of the kerygma in the interests of a more powerful missionary preaching. To promote such a preaching a General Homiletic Directory could be prepared along the lines of the General Catechetical Directory and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.Such a Directory would draw upon the experience of the universal Church in providing a framework without stifling the genius of particular Churches or individuaI preachers. It would help to ensure a more solid and systematic preparation for preachers in seminaries and houses of formation, and this at a time when all recognise how vital preaching is, since the one point of contact with the Word of God for most Catholic people is the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist with its homily.

Though I would perhaps not use the language of "kerygma", I can very clearly recognise here a concern that Catholics today do not have a sense of that central core of Christian belief that inspires conversion towards Christ. Preaching can be evangelising, in the sense of primary proclamation, to meet this need. An element of this proclamation is Scriptural, though it does of course integrate with the teaching of the life and tradition of the Church. And this is profoundly application of the Scriptures to the living of the Christian life by the faithful, application to every day life. The suggestion of a General Homiletic Directory is an interesting one in this context, though it will be interesting to see whether, if it is taken up, it is restricted to just discussing the homily at Sunday Mass.

-- H.E. Most. Rev. Gerald Frederick KICANAS, Bishop of Tucson, Assistant
President of Episcopal Conference (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

The Eucharistic assembly is where the Church is built up.The Word preached in that assembly comforts, heals, brings hope, inspires, instills joy, delights, confronts, teaches, and challenges.The preached Word reveals and affirms the very best of human ideals and longings placed by God in the human heart. The preached Word, mediated by the Spirit, inspires us to live, move, and have our very being in Christ. Through grace, it changes lives.Unfortunately, preaching in our day can lose its savor, become formulaic and uninspired leaving the hearer empty.Bishops, priests, and deacons bear responsibility for preaching at Mass. How can we enhance the preaching of the Word? Well, what if? What if, after this Year of St. Paul, the Church Universal focused a year on preaching in the Eucharistic assembly? What if, in that year of preaching, priests and deacons together with their bishop studied what matters in order to preach better? What if, in that year of preaching, priests and deacons with their bishop met with the laity to listen to their struggles? They could discuss how preaching might inspire the laity to be a leaven for the world, bringing the Gospel values to the questions of the times. What if, in that year of preaching, there would be a thorough exploration of the catechetical potential of the Sunday homily?If all these "what ifs" were realized then the new springtime for Christianity about which the Holy Father speaks could burst forth and bloom throughout the Church. renewing the Church, strengthening evangelization, intensifying catechesis, and enhancing discipleship.

I like the idea of a Year of Preaching. It would be very interesting to see the clergy having to respond to the greater accountability for their preaching that would exist during that year!

A context for this in England is provided by Bishop O'Donoghue's letter to the trustees of his diocesan Catholic Children's Society, and events at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth. These are both Catholic organisations; but there is a real question about why they have trustees, employees etc who lack the commitment to Catholic belief that would arise from a firm conviction of faith. I am less inclined to lay blame at the door of the relevant bishops in these situations, though in one case he may have some responsibility arising from his powers, and more to highlight the responsibilities of lay Catholics. These are both organisations which would rightly be led by lay people. Their current situations represent a failure of lay mission in the Church. Can that failure be traced back to a failure in preaching of the faith?