Author Topic: What is a Good Sermon? (Read 1614 times)

bowler · « **on:** October 21, 2013, 11:41:24 AM »

I have not heard a good sermon at my SSPX chapel in years. We have an occasional visiting priest maybe like once every two months, and they too have not delivered good sermons. I see people come to me and say, wasn't that a wonderful sermon? And I ask them, what was it about? And they can't answer.

I saw this in the Novus Ordo the short time I was there. The priests can talk forever and never say anything, and the people say, wasn't that a beautiful sermon? They say, wasn't that sermon by JPII beautiful and insightful? I ask, what did he say? They answer, it was just beautiful.

Now, I have friends that go to "sede" and independent chapels, and they tell me the sermons are excellent. They give me links and I listen to the sermon online, and they are good sermons. Whenever I go to their masses I hear good sermons. I'm talking about three different locations (priests), and their sermons are all excellent, while every sermon at my SSPX chapel is hollow, whether delivered by the local priests or a visiting priest.

It is not so difficult or odd to give a good sermon. There must be a power behind these hollow SSPX sermons, it can't be coincidental. Are the SSPX priest being muzzled, or are they being taught this style at the seminaries?

What is a good sermon to me?

A good sermon teaches men of all levels of intelligence in the audience. What does it teach? It teaches God's truth and how it is applied in our lives. It teaches how to practice this teaching in our every day lives.

Even when preaching about non-Conciliar church issues (which are never talked about in any detail), the SSPX sermons on Catholicsm that I hear at my chapel, by analogy, teach you that you must be painters like Michaelangelo, and how we must strive for the perfection (virtue) of Michaelangelo. However, they don't tell you where to start or how to do it!

To be Michaelangelo, one person has to start by making stick people drawings, another can continue further along the learning process, each person striving to accomplish their step. The sermonist's objective is to teach the people how to strive for perfection step by step. Any Protestant knows that we have to "imitate Christ", and "seek virtue", and "be good", we don't need anyone to tell us that, we need to know how to start "drawing stick men" and all the way up to "doing oil paintings".

I'll let others come in with their thoughts.

A Frustrated Catholic, Bowler

Mea Culpa · « **Reply #1 on:** October 21, 2013, 12:00:54 PM »

Quote from: bowler

I have not heard a good sermon at my SSPX chapel in years. We have an occasional visiting priest maybe like once every two months, and they too have not delivered good sermons. I see people come to me and say, wasn't that a wonderful sermon? And I ask them, what was it about? And they can't answer.

I saw this in the Novus Ordo the short time I was there. The priests can talk forever and never say anything, and the people say, wasn't that a beautiful sermon? They say, wasn't that sermon by JPII beautiful and insightful? I ask, what did he say? They answer, it was just beautiful.

Now, I have friends that go to "sede" and independent chapels, and they tell me the sermons are excellent. They give me links and I listen to the sermon online, and they are good sermons. Whenever I go to their masses I hear good sermons. I'm talking about three different locations (priests), and their sermons are all excellent, while every sermon at my SSPX chapel is hollow, whether delivered by the local priests or a visiting priest.

It is not so difficult or odd to give a good sermon. There must be a power behind these hollow SSPX sermons, it can't be coincidental. Are the SSPX priest being muzzled, or are they being taught this style at the seminaries?

What is a good sermon to me?

A good sermon teaches men of all levels of intelligence in the audience. What does it teach? It teaches God's truth and how it is applied in our lives. It teaches how to practice this teaching in our every day lives.

Even when preaching about non-Conciliar church issues (which are never talked about in any detail), the SSPX sermons on Catholicsm that I hear at my chapel, by analogy, teach you that you must be painters like Michaelangelo, and how we must strive for the perfection (virtue) of Michaelangelo. However, they don't tell you where to start or how to do it!

To be Michaelangelo, one person has to start by making stick people drawings, another can continue further along the learning process, each person striving to accomplish their step. The sermonist's objective is to teach the people how to strive for perfection step by step. Any Protestant knows that we have to "imitate Christ", and "seek virtue", and "be good", we don't need anyone to tell us that, we need to know how to start "drawing stick men" and all the way up to "doing oil paintings".

I'll let others come in with their thoughts.

A Frustrated Catholic, Bowler

If I were you, I'd simply leave the nSSPX, go to one of the 3 Independant Chapels that preach the Truth, have a clear conscience about the priest(s), and as a result, you'll appreciate/benefit from the excellent sermons.

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2013, 12:47:01 PM »

A good sermon is something I heard every Sunday I listened to Fr. Hector Bolduc, of happy memory.

If you've never heard this sermon, maybe it's time you did. This was the last recorded one before he died on September 10, 2012. RIP.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/embed/rZLc7OTdjuk?feature=player_detailpage[/youtube]

The sermons now being given at Saint Michael's, by reports from parishioners that still talk to me, are "feel good" sermons given by SSPX priests. No more relevant, fiery sermons like we used to hear every Sunday.

Frances · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2013, 03:26:16 PM »

In order for a sermon to be "good" the Holy Ghost must speak through the priest. Much of what counts for "good" sermons by Protestants is attributable to oratory skill, style, and academic learning. These are better termed "lectures" than sermons. A sermon must transmit the Heart of Christ to the hearers, so that they are motivated and challenged to persevere in their spiritual journeys toward Heaven. A sermon MAY be fiery, but that alone does not indicate the presence of Christ. As much to be despised as a "feel nice" sermon is a "fiery" tirade where the preacher vents his spleen on the hearers. At times, God does give His people a necessary "verbal spanking.". The difference is found in whether or not the sermon elicits contrition or hopelessness and and anger. There are few good sermons to be heard these days, and if you know of a good preacher, try to access his sermons even if only on YouTube or audio recording.
Remember, the essence of the Mass is the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, not the sermon as the Protestants who have no Sacrifice in which to partake!

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2013, 04:00:14 PM »

Quote from: Frances

In order for a sermon to be "good" the Holy Ghost must speak through the priest. Much of what counts for "good" sermons by Protestants is attributable to oratory skill, style, and academic learning. These are better termed "lectures" than sermons. A sermon must transmit the Heart of Christ to the hearers, so that they are motivated and challenged to persevere in their spiritual journeys toward Heaven. A sermon MAY be fiery, but that alone does not indicate the presence of Christ. As much to be despised as a "feel nice" sermon is a "fiery" tirade where the preacher vents his spleen on the hearers. At times, God does give His people a necessary "verbal spanking.". The difference is found in whether or not the sermon elicits contrition or hopelessness and and anger. There are few good sermons to be heard these days, and if you know of a good preacher, try to access his sermons even if only on YouTube or audio recording.
Remember, the essence of the Mass is the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, not the sermon as the Protestants who have no Sacrifice in which to partake!

I would say that sermons are supposed to be geared towards the congregation: i.e. RELEVANT sermons that touch upon things that are important to the people listening to them.

One of the parishioners noted that there haven't been any sermons about: The Rosary, the necessity of the Catholic Faith to be saved, and other sermons relevant to the congregation.

It's a given that a priest, naturally, would be speaking to his congregation, through the Holy Ghost. It's even more evident hearing it in sermons that are relevant. Sure, fiery doesn't aptly describe what really matters here, which is the CONTENT of said sermon.

clarkaim · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2013, 01:02:36 PM »

Quote from: parentsfortruth

A good sermon is something I heard every Sunday I listened to Fr. Hector Bolduc, of happy memory.

If you've never heard this sermon, maybe it's time you did. This was the last recorded one before he died on September 10, 2012. RIP.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/embed/rZLc7OTdjuk?feature=player_detailpage[/youtube]

The sermons now being given at Saint Michael's, by reports from parishioners that still talk to me, are "feel good" sermons given by SSPX priests. No more relevant, fiery sermons like we used to hear every Sunday.

Wow what great sermon that is. I only know a little about Fr. Bolduc, mostly from family friends in St. Mary's who knew him back in the day. Every Catholic needs to hear that one for sure.

Question: What SSPX priest has been coming up there? Is it Fr. Duverger? One of my older sons is in his "braves" organization here in KC. What are your thoughts? I have mixed feelings, but he is quite personable. PM me if you so choose.

parentsfortruth · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2013, 02:14:40 PM »

Fr. Duverger -was- here in the beginning, but is now gone (thankfully.) But now, we've gotten the "mouthpiece of Menzingen" as I call him, Fr. Themann, which might be worse. I'm not sure, because I will not go to Mass until the SSPX is not there anymore. It's certainly NOT what Father Bolduc had wanted.

bowler · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2013, 11:18:55 AM »

Quote from: parentsfortruth

Fr. Duverger -was- here in the beginning, but is now gone (thankfully.) But now, we've gotten the "mouthpiece of Menzingen" as I call him, Fr. Themann, which might be worse. I'm not sure, because I will not go to Mass until the SSPX is not there anymore. It's certainly NOT what Father Bolduc had wanted.

Your drop from the heights of the Peaks of Fr.Bolduc to the bottomland of the neo-SSPX is much more precipitous than my fall. I was never at those heights. However, we are both now in the desert.

John Grace · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2013, 11:45:40 AM »

To a degree, the SSPX priests I heard were frauds and can't be compared to Fr Hewko or Fr Pfeiffer.

My experience of SSPX priests are very scripted, prepared sermons, add a lie or two.

I heard a Fr Sherry preach a few times. A good priest but it was clearly stage managed and it seemed under duress. What wasn't said mattered.He put the party before the laity.He is a good priest in a ship that sank long ago.

The SSPX of the Archbishop is long gone. Many SSPX priests and laity are more suited to the Indult.

Such a contrast then at 'Crisis in the SSPX' conference in London. You knew where the clergy stood and are two excellent priests. I favour Fr Hewko. I'm convinced he will be a Bishop.

John Grace · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2013, 11:56:03 AM »

Luther preached cracking sermons too. Even if a Neo SSPX priest preaches a 'cracking' sermon that particular cleric still remains part of a 'pious union' that formally sold out Archbishop Lefebvre.

We shouldn't forget they lowered the bar with Rome.

John Grace · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2013, 03:17:49 PM »

Fr Morgan an SSPX priest in England was quite the hypocrite to tell laity not to attend the Indult. Would he still preach the same now that the SSPX has surrendered.

As stgobnait indicated many SSPX folk are turning to the Indult. Others are joining the resistance. The Indult is a controlled opposition, the neo SSPX is a dead end. The resistance is the way forward.

stgobnait · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2013, 03:20:54 PM »

how could he, when thats where most of his supporters are.

John Grace · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2013, 03:24:52 PM »

Quote from: stgobnait

how could he, when thats where most of his supporters are.

He would be a hypocrite if he did. It would be fantastic if Fr Morgan joined the resistance.