A scholar in Rome has taken it upon himself to clarify what he thinks goes into the making of a good homily. Father Dario Viganò, director of “Cinema” and president of Ente dello Spettacolo, an Italian foundation dedicated to the cinema, as well as president of the Redemptor Hominis Pontifical Institute at the Pontifical Lateran…

Anyone who has ever climbed into a pulpit to deliver a sermon can appreciate these words from Fr. John F. Kavanaugh, S.J., in America: As a preacher myself, I know there are few moments to compare with the affection and approval of parishioners after Mass, especially if you have been helpful in strengthening their faith.…

Priests, deacons and seminarians got an earful recently at a conference called “You Will Receive Power!,” focusing on how to grow in holiness. Juding from this account, it touched not-so-subtly on the topic of preaching, too: “I think that the Lord wants to give us many graces, because we have to preach,” said Father Francis…

Sifting through my “in” box, I found this very good piece by Fr. James Martin, picking up on a theme that was blazing hot when I left here: the notion of priests preaching politics from the pulpit. I don’t know if it’s gotten much circulation, but it’s well worth a read: Nine years ago I…

More from Beliefnet and our partners
More from Beliefnet and our partners