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Politics of St. Kassiani and St. Theodora
Father Deacon Basil Ryan Balke Comments Off on Politics of St. Kassiani and St. Theodora
At least when I wrote this column, we are still in an election year and facing a pandemic. This has made me think a lot about the ways in which the saints viewed the politics of their day, and how they worked within, and outside, of the political establishment of their time. I can think Read More
Not a Typical Good Friday
Deacon John Travaline 1
Good Friday this year, to say the least, was very unusual and anything but typical. And we all know why. It occurred in the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and at a time early in the pandemic when everyone was still adapting to the crisis. It was a period characterized by heightened fears and Read More
Marriage and Preaching: A Match Made in Heaven
Deacon Steve Kramer Comments Off on Marriage and Preaching: A Match Made in Heaven
During the past 26 years of ordained ministry, it has been my honor and privilege to preside at more than 400 weddings. Every relationship is different, and I always share with my homiletic students that it is not just another wedding (or baptism, funeral or wake service); it is this family’s wedding. Each time we Read More
Preaching to Young People
Dr. Karla J. Bellinger Comments Off on Preaching to Young People
A few days ago, I was traveling across a bridge over an immense body of water. I marveled at the engineering that could make such a span. Those who built that bridge created it specifically for that site. They scrutinized which structural components were most fitting. They analyzed how to construct it. Their goal was Read More
The Preaching Deacon
Deacon Dominic Cerrato 2
According to the General Instruction to the Roman Missal, “The homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself or be entrusted by him to a concelebrating priest, or from time to time and, if appropriate, to the deacon, but never to a lay person” (No. 66). The term “time to time” is translated Read More
The Funeral Homily
Deacon Frank Agnoli 1
Preaching at the funeral rites can seem daunting. Time is short, and we may not even know the deceased or the bereaved. Emotions often run high. Increasingly, those who gather for a funeral are either indifferent or even hostile to the Christian story. We may be uncomfortable with grief, including our own. There are more Read More
Gazing Upon the Eucharist
Father Thomas Dailey Comments Off on Gazing Upon the Eucharist
Known for his judicious use of words, Oliver Wendell Holmes once purportedly opined: “I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.” Hardly was the Supreme Court justice speaking about the solemn exposition of the Blessed Read More
Deacon’s Role in Liturgical Preaching Outside of Mass
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers Comments Off on Deacon’s Role in Liturgical Preaching Outside of Mass
One of the most anticipated duties that a deacon exercises upon ordination is liturgical preaching. During formation, while listening to homilies in the pew, we may have said to ourselves, “I can’t wait to get ordained so I can preach on .” However, to understand properly how the deacon functions Read More