Carl J. Peter Lecture

A Focus on Christ

TYLER UNDERHILL ’24, DIOCESE OF EVANSVILLE

This year was the twentieth anniversary of the College’s Carl J. Peter Lecture, and this being my first year at the

College, I was excited to see what this event would bring. Titled “St. John

Henry Newman on Preaching the Word of God,” Rev. Nicolas Steeves, S.J., of the Pontifical Gregorian University, gave a particularly inspiring talk on the importance of preaching in the thought of St. John Henry Newman.

Not being too familiar with Newman’s sermons, I was thrilled to learn what

Fr. Steeves had to share with us.

What set the overall tone for me during the evening was a passage from 1 Cor 9:26, where St. Paul writes, “Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadow-boxing.” Cardinal

Newman’s message on preaching makes sense with this passage. The object of his race was to bring about the spiritual good of his hearers. He understood that he was to deliver the Good News of Jesus Christ to the congregation before him.

Knowing that next year I will begin my own formation in preaching by delivering practice homilies, I took this lecture to prayer; I asked myself what preaching means to me and how I will serve as a preacher. At first, I began to grow a little weary thinking about it all, especially when comparing myself to a great preacher like Cardinal Newman. Then, I recalled a couple of things.

Earlier in the year while I was on silent retreat in Assisi, Italy, I remember our retreat director, Msgr. James McNamara, telling us a story about a time he had to preach a funeral

Seminarians and priests gather for the Carl. J. Peter lecture. Rev. Nicholas Steeves, S.J., speaks to the seminarians about Newman's theology of preaching.

homily as a young priest. Being a very sensitive and difficult situation, he expressed some nervousness, but all of that went away when he heard his dad clearing his throat. Knowing that his father was there, Msgr. McNamara was able to preach the homily with a sense of comfort.

Using that story, I was able to connect the lecture to my own prayer life and gain insight into what it means to preach to the people of God. Just as the Scriptures inspire, we also draw inspiration from those we are meant to engage spiritually. Acknowledging the people before us and drawing them to Christ is an essential element in preaching, in order to bring about the spiritual good of those who hear.

St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, pray for us! n