An Introduction to the Homily

by Robert P. Waznak SS

Robert Waznak, a preacher and for the past twenty-five years a popular teacher of preachers, believes that before we consider how to preach a homily we need to explore what the homily is. That is why An Introduction to the Homily is not just another "how to" book, but a work that leads to a practical understanding of what the Sunday homily is supposed to do. Based on theological and historical foundations, this work provides sound theory for homilists striving to improve their preaching. Chapter one explores the form of preaching called the homily both from historical and contemporary understandings. It fills a void in many Catholic homiletic texts and articles on preaching by offering a brief overview of the "New Homiletic," a new approach that recognizes other homiletic structures besides the deductive or Aristotelian. Chapter two presents an overview of the preacher from four major images within the Catholic homiletic the herald, the teacher, the interpreter, and the witness. Chapter three examines the origins of the Lectionary to help understand its place in the preaching event and explores some practical solutions to its problems. Chapter four provides helpful responses to questions concerning practical aspects of the homily. Hundreds of books on preaching have appeared since Vatican II, yet these homiletic texts rarely include the theological and liturgical insights from Catholic scholars and church documents. In An Introduction to the Homily, Robert Waznak demonstrates how new homiletic scholarship from Christian churches; the insights found in normative Church documents; contemporary theological, liturgical and biblical studies; plus the lived experiences of preachers and people can help us come to understand the function of the homily in the liturgical tradition of the Church.

159 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1998

Reviews

[Martti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waznakin kirja käsittelee saarnaamista todella mielenkiintoisesti. Waznak pyrkii hahmottamaan VII uudelleen lanseeraamaa homilian käsitettä. Homilia ei ole esitelmä, se on saarna. Waznak esittelee roomalaiskatolista saarnaperinteen historiaa ja sivuaa samalla aiheita, jotka ovat hyvin merkityksellisiä myös luterilaisessa kontekstissa. Erityisen merkityksellinen on kirjan kolmas luku, joka käsittelee kolmivuotisen lektionaarin, tutummin vuosikerran, syntyä, sisältöä ja tarkoitusta. Kirjansa lopulla Waznak käy läpi homiletiikan opiskelijoissa heräämiä kysymyksiä ja vastaa niihin lyhyesti. Suosittelen Waznakin kirjaa jokaiselle saarnaajalle.