“…Sacred Preaching. A sermon is a sacred public address, given by one duly empowered by the Church, in order to instruct the hearers in the Christian Faith and move them to practice it”
“… In addition to the duty of explaining the catechism to the people on Sundays and holydays of obligation…it is the duty of every pastor to preach the customary homily to the people… Strictly speaking, a homily means a familiar explanation of the Scriptures: ending with a moral exhortation; but here the term is used generally, so that any form of development will do, provided it carry a supernatural message in language which the people can understand…”
“…It is recommended that at the Masses which are attended by the faithful on feast days of obligation, a short explanation of the gospel, or of some part of Christian doctrine be given…”
ARCHER JAMES DD. He was born in 1751 and in his youth was employed in a public house called the Ship in Lincolns Inn Fields. His devout behaviour coming under the notice of Dr. Challoner he was sent to Douay College in 1769. He was ordained Priest and returned to commence his labours in the very public house in which he had served. It was related that when Father Archer commenced his preaching in the club room of the Ship pots of beer were placed on the table as a “blind”. He was a most eloquent pulpit orator and an indefatigable missionary. His whole career for half a century was earnestly devoted to preaching the Gospel on each returning Sunday, and it is thought he never missed one through that extended period. He is described as very short in stature, perhaps not more than five feet one or two. But he had a magnificent head, his brow was wonderfully ample and intellectual, and his deep grey eyes shone with a flashing brilliancy until his seventieth year and upwards. His voice was silvery in tone, musical and wonderfully distinct in the pulpit. He was justly considered the most eloquent preacher in England.
Charles Butler referring to his style of preaching says “It has been his aim to satisfy Reason while he pleased, charmed and instructed her; to impress upon the mind just notions of the mysteries and truths of the Gospel; and to show that ways of virtue are the ways of pleasantness, and her paths the paths of peace. No one has returned from any of his sermons without impressions favourable to virtue, or without some practical lessons which, through life, probably in a few days, perhaps even in a few hours, it would be useful for him to remember”.
Rev. Edward Price was to add “ shortly after my conversion, in the year 1822, I saw the venerable little man for the first time out of the pulpit. He was busily employed in looking over some books in front of an old shop in Holborn. I stood behind him for more than five minutes gazing with reverence upon him whose eloquent sermons had been so mainly instrumental in promoting my conversion. His dress was certainly rather slovenly. A long brown greatcoat, much the worse for wear, nearly down to his heels; an old broad brimmed hat, and thick soled shoes a world too wide for his feet, and which had evidently been soled a score of times. Though I took in these discrepancies at a glance, I though not of them but of the mind and the heart they concealed”.
This description is typical of many of those fine old priests who lived in the days of religious intolerance. They generally wore brown. For many years Dr. Archer was Vicar-General of the London District. The Pope in recognition of his talents as a preacher, and his published works, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor in Divinity at the same date with Lingard, Fletcher and Gradwell. He found a peaceful end in the family of Mr Booker, the publisher, in whose house he resided for more than twenty five years. He died August 22 1834 aged 82.
