Sermon

Any exhortation with moral or religious intent publicly delivered and following one of several traditional froms, including quotation from sacred writings or revered authority. Luther once claimed the sermon to be more important or central than the Eucharist to church life. (He included within the sermon the use of the Holy Bible as the lesson book). Thus in Protestantism the Word, from Bible and preacher, is more fundamental than the worship. Recent Catholic thinking arising from Vatican II has given a higher and more integral place to the sermon in the liturgy or mass although not a place equal to Communion offering of bread and wine.