The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-20
Continued from page ~
BENEDICT XIV ON PREACHING.


revealed which forms the deposit of
the faith, and which is authoritatively
interpreted by the infallible magis-
terium which Christ Himself has put
in the Church. To this most pure
source, therefore, let the sacred
orators have recourse for the saving
water wherewith they are to satisfy
the people thirsting for truth: thence
let them draw the dogmatic doctrines
which alone can revive the spirit of
faith, now grown so lanquid even in
this city of Rome; and thence too
let them derive the moral truths which
must guide the Christian in the fulfil
ment of his duties towards God,
towards his neighbor and towards him
self.
Far from Our mind is the thought
of disappearing the moderate use of
an efficacious refutation of modern
errors; We certainly do not intend
to condemn him who turns his eyes
on the conditions of the society in
which those live to whom his words
are addressed. But the refutation of
modern errors, besides being reserved
to the place where it may be oppor-
tune, We would have presented as
the logical consequence of principles
previously established beyond discus
sion; it is only when the people are
persuaded of the necessity of &C.
cepting the teaching of God even in
things which human reason cannot
understand that one can usefully
deduce the folly of free examination
in matters of faith or the pride of the
| person who denies the miraculous
Turn your eyes, by all means, to the
conditions of the society in which we
live, but not for the purpose of COM
posing descriptions suitable in stu
dents of rhetoric, but chiefly to
indicate the fruit that the faithful
must derive from the preaching to
they have listened.
eve have referred to the fruits of
preaching. Be not impatient, dearly
beloved sons, if We insist on this
point, and tell you openly that sacred
orator must not aim so much at
correcting the intellect as in reform
ing the heart, nay the very act of
correcting the errors of the mind
must be ordained by the sacred orator
to the betterment of the practical
life of his hearers. Let no one among
you, therefore, content himself with
u beautiful exposition of Catholic
CIT ha
brilliant refutation of modern errors,
without descending to the practical
applications in both cases. Oh! how
often it happens that the hearers are
unable of themselves to draw the
consequences which are contained in
premises recognised to be beyond dis
cussion. 1t is for you, heralds of the
Divine word, to perfect your work to
bring home to your hearers how and
when they are to alter their conduct,
now by abstaining from doing some
thing which they formerly did, now
doing that which they formerly failed
to do. Do not be deferred by the fear
of being lacking in the esteem due
to those who listen to you; the con-
crete indication of the fruit which
is to be drawn from a sermon is for
many an absolute necessity; for no
one can it be superfuous just as the
words of a friend are not superfluous
when he encourages another in a good
action which has already been decided
upon.
1--WE say nothing of the form in
which We wish to have the word of
God proclaimed. The respect which
is due to this, and the most high
idea. which, beyond doubt, you have
of your sacred ministry, persuade
you, dearly beloved sons, of the
necessity of excluding everything
which could remove or diminish the
gravity required in the sacred orator.
One thing alone regarding the form
of your discourses We wish you to
remember, and it is the care with
which you should give them a most
clear order in their different parts:
while order makes it easier for all
to understand the proposition which
has been demonstrated, it is on the
other hand difficult for the nearer
of ordinary culture to retain a sermon
in which the various matters do not.
stand forth as connected with one
another, or the different parts are not
mutually co-ordinated.
But in speaking to you who are
to preach in Rome during the coming
lent, We have not thought of saying
things that are unknown to you: We
have meant only to remind you of
what you certainly knew already, to
stimulate you more and more to do
every thing in your power to render
fruitful the mission We entrust to
You of representing Us in proclaim
ing the Divine word to the people of
Rome. 1t can be said that the same
Office of representing Us, entrusted
too in a stable and permanent form.
belongs to the several parish-pricsts
lot this beloved City, because they