{"id":1612,"date":"2012-11-15T01:04:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-15T01:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/us-bishops-say-homilies-should-invite-catholics-to-conversion\/"},"modified":"2012-11-15T01:04:00","modified_gmt":"2012-11-15T01:04:00","slug":"us-bishops-say-homilies-should-invite-catholics-to-conversion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/11\/us-bishops-say-homilies-should-invite-catholics-to-conversion\/","title":{"rendered":"US bishops say homilies should invite Catholics to conversion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Baltimore, Md., Nov 14, 2012 \/ 06:04 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Sunday homilies should promote repentance, instill a sense of mission and lead Catholics to grow in understanding their faith, the U.S. bishops said in a new document on preaching.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe ultimate goal of proclaiming the Gospel is to lead people into a loving and intimate relationship with the Lord, a relationship that forms the character of their persons and guides them in living out their faith,\u201d the bishops emphasized.<\/p>\n

\tIn \u201cPreaching the Mystery of Faith: the Sunday Homily,\u201d the bishops offered a reflection on preaching for priests, deacons and those who are responsible for forming them.<\/p>\n

\tMembers of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted to approve the document \u2013 which will also be translated into Spanish \u2013 on Nov. 13 at their fall general assembly in Baltimore. The vote tally was 227 in favor, 11 against and four abstaining.<\/p>\n

\tThe bishops noted that Catholics have asked for \u201cmore powerful and inspiring preaching\u201d in surveys, and that the laity can become discouraged by a \u201csteady diet of tepid or poorly prepared homilies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHomilists should respond to this desire by preaching with a \u201csense of urgency and freshness,\u201d connecting Scripture, the Eucharist and the Creed, they advised.<\/p>\n

\tAs an \u201cintrinsic part of the Sunday Eucharist,\u201d the bishops said in the document, every homily must be centered on the person of Christ, whose death and resurrection are at the heart of our salvation.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIf a homilist conveys merely some example of proverbial wisdom or good manners, or only some insight gained from his personal experience, he may have spoken accurately and even helpfully, but he has not yet spoken the Gospel,\u201d they stated.<\/p>\n

\tAnd while \u201cevery effective homily is a summons to conversion,\u201d the bishops also said this does not mean that a homilist should \u201csimply berate the people for their failures.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tInstead, the clergy should emphasize the \u201coffer of grace\u201d and do so with \u201cpastoral sensitivity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThis invitation and \u201cpromise of grace\u201d is an important context, particularly when addressing those who do not regularly attend Mass or discussing the moral challenges presented by Church teaching on delicate issues such as sexuality and marriage, they added.<\/p>\n

\tThe bishops also acknowledged that many Catholics seem to lack knowledge of Church teaching and be in need of stronger catechesis.<\/p>\n

\tSince \u201cthe Sunday liturgy remains the basic setting in which most adult Catholics encounter Christ and their Catholic faith,\u201d they counseled homilists to use the opportunity to present Church doctrine.<\/p>\n

\tOver time, the homilist should cover the entire scope of the Church\u2019s rich catechetical teaching, including its stance on critical issues such as the respect for human life, the importance of religious freedom and justice for the poor and migrants.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cHomilies are inspirational when they touch the deepest levels of the human heart and address the real questions of human experience,\u201d the bishops said, noting the importance of incorporating both ordinary experiences and the deeper hopes and longings that give meaning to them.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cOur encounter with Jesus inevitably leads to mission,\u201d they noted, adding that homilies are incomplete if they do not inspire a sense of mission that translates love of Christ into love for others.<\/p>\n

\tBuilding on the New Evangelization, the Year of Faith and the call for a renewal of preaching by Pope Benedict XVI at the 2008 Synod on the Word, the bishops explained that preaching is a participation in the apostolic continuation of Jesus\u2019 ministry.<\/p>\n

\tThey pointed to Mary as an example of hearing and proclaiming the Word of God without hesitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\tIn their personal lives, homilists should work towards ongoing spiritual renewal, seeking to lead lives of holiness with a deep love of Scripture and respect for Tradition, they said.<\/p>\n

\tThe effectiveness of preaching can also be improved through an understanding of contemporary culture, including the music, movies and websites that are a part of the people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n

\tThe bishops offered several factors to consider when preparing homilies, including the growing individualism in modern culture, the need to speak respectfully about other religious traditions and the cultural diversity of Church communities.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cOnce he has come to know the customs, mores, practices, history, and religiosity of a people, a homilist can draw on that richness in order to make his presentation of the faith fresh and enlivening,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Baltimore, Md., Nov 14, 2012 \/ 06:04 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- Sunday homilies should promote repentance, instill a sense of mission and lead Catholics to grow in understanding their faith, the U.S. bishops said in a new document on preaching.<\/p>\n

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