Editing Homiletics (section)

== Present day ==
[[File:Bishop Patrick Joseph McGrath 070602 1.jpg|thumb|[[Patrick Joseph McGrath|Bishop Patrick McGrath]] giving a [[homily]] in [[Palo Alto, California]]]]
As to preaching in the present day, we can clearly trace the influence, in many respects, of Scholasticism, both as to matter and form. As to matter, a sermon may be either moral, dogmatic, historical, or liturgical—by moral and dogmatic it is meant that one element will predominate, without excluding the other. 

As to form, a discourse may be either formal, homily; or catechetical instruction. In a formal sermon, the influence of Scholasticism is most strikingly seen in the analytic method, resulting in divisions and subdivisions. This is the thirteenth-century method, which had its beginnings in the sermons of Bernard and Anthony. The underlying syllogism, too, in every well thought-out sermon is due to Scholasticism; how far it should appear is a question that belongs to a treatise on homiletics. As to the catechetical discourse, it has been so much favoured by [[Pius X]] that it might be regarded as one of the characteristics of preaching at the present day. It is, however, a very old form of preaching. It was used by Christ Himself, by St. Paul, by [[Cyril of Jerusalem]], by Clement and Origen at Alexandria, by Augustine, who wrote a special treatise thereon (De catechizandis rudibus), also, in later times, by Gerson, chancellor of the University of Paris, who wrote "De parvulis ad Christum trahendis"; [[Clement XI]] and [[Benedict XIV]] gave to it all the weight of their authority, and one of the greatest of all catechists was [[Charles Borromeo]]. There is the danger, however, from the very nature of the subject, of this form of preaching becoming too dry and purely didactic, a mere catechesis, or doctrinism, to the exclusion of the moral element and of Sacred Scripture. 

In recent days, organized missionary preaching to non-Catholics has received a new stimulus. In the United States, particularly, this form of religious activity has flourished; and the [[Paulists]], amongst whom the name of [[Isaac Hecker]] is deserving of special mention, are to be mainly identified with the revival. Special facilities are afforded at the central institute of the organization for the training of those who are to impart catechetical instruction, and the non-controversial principles of the association are calculated to commend it to all earnestly seeking after religion.<ref name=CE/>

===Homiletic Directory===
In the Roman Catholic Church, the [[Holy See]], through the [[Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments]] (headed as of February 2015 by [[Robert Sarah]]), has published an official guide and directory for use by bishops, priests, and deacons, who are charged with the ministry of preaching by virtue of their ordination, and for those studying the subject, among others seminarians and those in diaconal formation, called the ''Homiletic Directory''.<ref name=HD>Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, [http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/HomileticDirectory.pdf Homiletic Directory], Vatican City, 2014</ref> The Directory was developed in response to a request made by participants in the [[Synod of Bishops in the Catholic Church|Synod of Bishops]] held in 2008 on the Word of God, and in accordance with the instructions of [[Pope Benedict XVI]].<ref name=HD />