Matter and Manner of the Sermon

St. Vincent Ferrer Preaching in Salamanca

Below is a succinct passage from Bouscaren and Ellis, Canon Law: A Text and Commentary, Milwaukee, 1951, p. 753, with helpful principles on the nature, purpose, content and style of preaching.

   Matter and Manner of the Sermon. 1. The matter of sermons should be especially the things which the faithful must believe and do in order to be saved (c. 1347, §1). The Third Council of Baltimore (n. 215) especially urges preachers to speak the word of God with authority, to fortify the faithful against the religious indifferentism and heresies amid which they live, but without offense to non-Catholics who may be present; in moral precepts to be neither overrigid nor lax; to avoid novelties, strange tales, politics, personalities.
2. Preachers should abstain from profane and abstruse subjects which are beyond the grasp of the audience; let them exercise the ministry of the Gospel, not in the "persuasive words of human wisdom," nor with profane display and parade of useless and vain eloquence, but "in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power," ever preaching not themselves but Christ crucified (c. 1347, §2). If a preacher spreads errors and scandals he is subject to the penalties of canon 2317 (exclusion from the ministry of preaching and hearing confessions, etc.); if he preaches heresy he should be dealt with according to law (c. 1347, §3). As to language, the Third Council of Baltimore (n. 216) earnestly urges that it be simple, without being crude and flat; as to duration, the sermon at Mass should be short; all preaching requires careful preparation, which consists especially in the study of Sacred Scripture, theology, church history, and in pious meditation.
   Attendance at Sermons. The faithful should be admonished and exhorted to attend sermons frequently (c. 1348).