OCR Text |
Show : - FATHER PHELAN'S SEBMOirfS. Rev. D. S. Phelan.jfor more than forty years the editor of the Western Watchman of St. Louis, has just published through B. Herder, St. Louis, "The Gospel Applied to Our Times," which includes a sermon for every Sunday in the year. Father Phclan in his preface says that he has-been a parish par-ish priest for over forty years and has averaged more than one sermon every Sunday. He believes that a parish priest is well fitted to know the secret of preaching effectively. The parish priest has his ear close to the throbbing heart of the people. Most of. our sermon books, which are written by monks and "bishops, do not, Father Phelan thinks, contain the food for which the people hunger." We believe that there is considerable in this observation. observa-tion. Many sermons are so spiritual in their con-, ception, so theologic in their argument that they go over the heads of the people. Father Phelan further fur-ther says that in addition to being a parish priest he has edited a Catholic paper for over forty years, which has given him a facility which makes his sermons ser-mons not only preachable, but printable. So much for what Father Phelan says of himself. him-self. Upon glancing at the contents of the work the reader lnust reflect that if all sermons were like these, his wits would not go wandering as he sat in his pew on Sunday. Father Phelan's sermons ser-mons should be studied as models in our seminaries. No doubt these institutions arc richly provided with the sermons of the saints. It is well to have, a volume vol-ume of sermons from one who is not a saint but who is, nevertheless, a good parish priest despite the fact that he is also a very able Catholic .editor. Catholic Citizen, Milwaukee. -l. : : |