Editing Homiletics (section)

== Renaissance ==

The next noted period in the history of preaching is the Renaissance, with the rise of humanism. The motto of two representative humanists, Reuchlin and [[Erasmus]], was: "Back to Cicero and Quintilian." Erasmus on visiting Rome exclaimed: "Quam mellitas eruditorum hominum confabulationes, quot mundi lumina." [[Pierre Batiffol]]<ref>(''History of the Roman Breviary'', p. 230)</ref> says: "One Good Friday, preaching before the pope, the most famous orator of the Roman Court considered that he could not better praise the Sacrifice of Calvary than by relating the self-devotion of Decius and the sacrifice of [[Iphigenia]]." 

This period ended shortly thereafter, dying out in the Reformation and post-Reformation period. The [[Council of Trent]] recommended preachers to turn aside from polemics; it also<ref>(Sess. V, cap. ii)</ref> pronounced that the primary duty of preaching devolved on bishops, unless they were hindered by a legitimate impediment; and ordered that they were to preach in person in their own church, or, if impeded, through others; and, in other churches, through pastors or other representatives.<ref name=CE/>