A two-part refresher course for preachers was held at the Sacred Convent of Assisi. Part I took place on December 14-16, 2022. Part II was held February 8-9, 2023.

The title of the course was: “The Homily: Knowing How to Speak Words which Set Hearts on Fire (EG 142).” It was taken from Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which guided the course. The course was attended by the friars of the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis in Italy (Assisi). It examined the homily as a specific way of proclaiming the Word of God.
Part one was headed by the Most Reverend Rino FISICHELLA, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization of the Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World. Archbishop FISICHELLA lectured on, “The Statute of the Homily in Evangelii Gaudium.” Next, the Secretary General, Friar Tomasz SZYMCZAK, a biblical scholar, lectured on: “The Biblical Example of Preaching. How to Weave a Homily.” As his sources of inspiration and provocation he used texts taken from Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul, the parables, and more. The final lecture was by Friar Alessandro RATTI, on “Communication and Its Principles in the Homily.”
The first day of Part II was headed by Father Pietro Angelo MURONI, Dean of Theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University and a professor at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute. His lecture was entitled: “The Homily and Its Liturgical Context.” The second day featured a lecture by the Most Reverend Felice ACCROCCA, Metropolitan Archbishop of Benevento, entitled: “Francis of Assisi and Preaching.”
This course, organized by the Basilica’s Commission for Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry, was aimed at helping the friars become more attentive to this form of preaching, taking into account the place where the meeting is held.

Friar Francesco SCIALPI