LAY DOMINICANS Central Province USA

In the Dominican Daily of 12/6/11 Fr. Basil Cole OP discussed what makes a bad homily.  He then came up with an Examination of Conscience for a Preacher. Here it is with some adaptations in the form of 10 Commandments:

An Examination of Conscience for the Preacher:

1. Does my preaching material lack unity?

2. Is my homily coherent, that is, harmonious?

3. Am I being myself, that is, natural, when I preach or do I put on a persona?

4. Do I too often fill my homily with platitudes or trite sayings such as “God cares for you,” “Jesus loves you?”

5. Do I have a good introduction and a conclusion?

6. Do I simply repeat the gospel as if no one paid any attention?

7.Do I have too many conclusions and take off again each time?

6. Concerning variation of my voice: Do I keep it too high or too low?

7. Am I too fast or too slow?

8. Is my homily completely intense or do I ever modulate emotionally?

9. Do I make eye contact not only with the first few rows but all the rows in my audience?

10. Will my audience remember my main idea or did I leave them confused on what is my main point, my pearl?