Daniel CARDÓ. The Art of Preaching: A Theological and Practical Primer. Washington, D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2021. pp. 216. ISBN 978-0-8132-3473-1. Reviewed by Peter DRILLING, retired professor of systematic theology and pastoral studies, Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY. 

This is a textbook on homiletics for seminarians.  Occasionally, it also references candidates for the permanent diaconate, who would also benefit from this book as they prepare for the ministry of preaching.  It may also be helpful for those who have been preaching for a while.  For example, this reviewer has been preaching regularly at Sunday Mass and at other liturgies for over fifty

The book is divided into two parts.  The first half is devoted to constructive reflection on several aspects of preaching.  The second half consists of the homilies of fourteen major preachers throughout the history of the Christian tradition, beginning with St. Gregory Nazianzen and ending with Pope Francis.  Each chapter concludes with a few questions to inspire and direct the reader's reflection on the chapter's content.

As a longtime and frequent preacher myself, I find that I am generally in agreement with the positions of the author.  I especially endorse the author's emphasis on the Incarnation.  At the start of chapter 4 he writes: "The mystery of the  Incarnation of the Son of God is at the very core of the Christian creed, acting as a hinge or axis to the whole edifice of the faith" (p. 50).  This leads to the statement: "All of this has decisive consequences for preaching" (p. 51), because the major concern of preaching should be to share, with every congregation and at every liturgy, Christ and his mission and what he has done for humankind.

When it comes to the chapters on preparation and delivery of homilies, the author offers convincing advice on ways that the preacher should begin to prepare for the Sunday homily early in the week and devote time each day to prayer and reflection and the development of possible and likely themes for the upcoming Sunday homily.  I am also in agreement with the author's statement on p. 87 that 8-10 minutes is a desirable length for a Sunday homily.

In my view, however, the final chapter of the first half of the book, chapter 9, entitled: "Preaching as Locus Theologicus," asks too much of the homilist and of the homily.  The author's inclusion of Joseph Ratzinger's statement is most a propos: "It follows that the chief points of our faith--God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, grace and sin, sacraments and Church, death and eternal life--are never outmoded.  They are always the issues that affect us most profoundly.  They must be the permanent center of preaching and therefore of theological reflection" (p.115). However, an 8-10 minute homily doesn't seem to me to afford the opportunity to get into the deeper reflection that these doctrines demand.  That is why catechesis in a classroom setting or by way of parish missions and retreats needs to be offered to parishioners as well.  There the faith can be studied in more detail, perhaps carefully considering in some detail the Catechism of the Catholic Church.