Theology of Proclamation - 5471A

A. Course Description

This course is a study of the theology of the proclaimed word, with an emphasis on the knowledge and skills needed to preach in a liturgical context.

B. Goals

This course will assist students to grow in the following knowledge, skills and attitudes.

• Knowledge
  1. To understand the place and importance of preaching within the life of the Church.
  2. To grasp the nature and function of the liturgical homily.
  3. To know how to go about preparing a liturgical homily, and where to go to find resources to assist in this task.
  4. To have a familiarity with the structure of the lectionary, and how that structure affects the task of preaching.
• Skills
  1. To be able to prepare and deliver an effective homily in various liturgical contexts (eg. Sunday and daily Mass, weddings, funerals, etc.).
• Attitudes
  1. A fuller appreciation of the significance of the homily within the liturgical context.
  2. A deep love for the gift of the call to liturgical preaching.
  3. A commitment to life-long learning in preaching.

C. Assignments and Evaluations

1. 5-page Paper on the topic: “What is a liturgical homily?” (20%)
   
   Drawing from the readings assigned, each student will be required to submit a 5-page paper, 12-point font, double spaced, on their understanding of the liturgical homily. The assignment may be submitted at a date of your choice.
    
2. One Written Sunday Homily (40%)
   
   Each student must submit a written Sunday homily, on the readings which will be designated for each student, accompanied by a log describing the process used in the construction of the homily. This is to be submitted at a date of your choice.
    
3. Oral Exam On Course Content (40%)
   
   There will be a 10 minute oral exam on the full content of the course at a mutually agreed upon time during the first semester.

D. Course Outline and Texts

PART 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

• The purpose of the course, and the expected course work.

PART 2:  THE CHURCH’S MISSION: PROCLAMATION

• The Church’s Mandate
• The Bishops’ Mandate
• The Priests’ Mandate
• The Deacon’s Mandate
• The Mandate of the Laity

Required Reading:
Congregation for the Clergy, Circular Letter, “The Priest: Teacher of the Word, Minister of the Sacraments, Leader of the Community”, 1999. (Section II: Teachers of the Word).

PART 3: THE CHURCH’S LEGISLATION ON PREACHING

• Handout

PART 4: A THEOLOGY OF LITURGICAL PREACHING

• Theological Reflection on the nature of the preaching act

Required Reading:

Burghardt, Walter, S.J. “Do This in Memory of Me: The Homily as Liturgy,” in Walter Burghardt, Preaching: The Art and the Craft. Paulist Press, 1987, pp. 108-118.

Congar, Yves, O.P. “Sacramental Worship and Preaching,” in The Renewal of Preaching: Theorgyband Practice. (Concilium 33), 1968, pp. 51-63.

Hilkert, Mary Catherine, O.P. “Naming Grace: A Theology of Proclamation,” Worship 60 (1986), pp. 434-448.

Levada, Cardinal William. “The Homilist: Teacher of the Faith.” Origins Vol. 37, Number 38, March 6, 2008, pp. 601-608.

National Conference of Catholic Bishops: Fulfilled in Your Hearing: The Homily in the Sunday Assembly. USCCB, Office of Publishing Services. Washington, 1982 (Section III: The Homily, pp.17-26).

PART 5: IMAGES OF THE HOMILIST

• The Herald
• The Teacher
• The Interpreter
• The Witness

Required Reading:

National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fulfilled in Your Hearing: The Homily in the Sunday Assembly. USCCB, Office of Publishing Services. Washington, 1982 (Section II: The Preacher).

PART 6: THE HISTORY OF PREACHING

Required Reading:

J. Kevin Coyle, “From Homily to Sermon to Homily: The Content of Christian Preaching in Historical Perspective,” Liturgical Ministry 1 (1992), 3-9.

PART 7: THE LISTENER

Required Reading:
National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fulfilled in Your Hearing: The Homily in the Sunday Assembly. USCCB, Office of Publishing Services. Washington, 1982 (Section I: The Assembly).

Tisdale, Leonora Tubbs, “Exegeting the Congregation,” in Leonora Tubbs Tisdale, Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997, pp. 56-90.

PART 8: THE LECTIONARY

• Ecclesial statements
• Structure of the Lectionary
• Choice of Readings: Options for the Homilist

Required Reading:

Bonneau, Normand. “The Sunday Lectionary: Underlying Principles and Patterns,” Liturgical Ministry 5 (Spring, 1996), pp. 49-58.

PART 9: PREPARING A HOMILY

• An 11-Step Process for Creating a Homily
• Introductions to the Homily
• Conclusions to the Homily

Required Reading:

Miller, Charles, “The Four General Ends,” in Charles Miller, Ordained to Preach: A Theology and Practice of Preaching. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2003, pp. 81-94.

Burghardt, Walter, S.J. “Fire in the Belly: From Experience Through Imagination to Passion,” Seminary Journal No. 3, Winter 1997, pp. 33-42.

Burghardt, Walter, S.J. “The preacher incites people to imagine,” Theology Digest 43:1 (Spring, 1996), pp. 29-36.

National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fulfilled in Your Hearing: The Homily in the Sunday Assembly. USCCB, Office of Publishing Services. Washington, 1982 (Section IV: Homiletic Method).

Untener, Ken. Preaching Better: Practical Suggestions for Homilists (Chapter 8: Preparing a Homily: Just One Pearl...but of Great Price). Paulist Press, 1999, pp. 42-47.

PART 10: THE DELIVERY OF THE HOMILY

• Dealing with nervousness
• Delivery Style
• Preaching location
• Audio/visuals?
• Dialogue homilies?

PART 11: THE FUNERAL HOMILY

Required Reading:

Melloh, John Allyn. “Homily or Eulogy? The Dilemma of Funeral Preaching,” Worship 67 (1993) 502-518.

PART 12:     THE WEDDING HOMILY

PART 13:     PREACHING WITH CHILDREN

PART 14:     PREACHING AND MORAL CONCERNS

COURSE TEXTS:

Course packet

E. University Regulations

Students are responsible for knowing the University’s academic policies and regulations and any particularities of their own course of study. These can all be found at the University’s website (http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/scholoff.pdf). Ignorance of these policies is not an excuse for any violation thereof. The following policies are particularly important to note:

It is the responsibility of the student to organize his or her work so that the assignments are completed on time. For a serious reason, a student may approach the professor before the due-date, and may be granted an extension at the discretion of the professor. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment will be deducted for each day it is overdue without permission.