Phenomenology as a Source of the Liturgical Preaching? Some Homiletic Tips Based on “Triduum Philosophique” of Emmanuel Falque

Abstract

The article shows, based on the work of the French philosopher Emmanuel Falque, that phenomenological considerations can serve as a source of the liturgical preaching. The first introductory passage presents his view of the relation between philosophy and theology. Both disciplines enrich one another without crossing the borders. Whereas the horizon of the finiteness is the starting point of the philosophy and it records human experiences, the theology confronts these experiences with the Christian message and refers to the infinity as the completion of the human life. Falque put these theoretical thoughts in the practice, while he considers phenomenologically the events of the Good Friday, the Easter Sunday and the Maundy Thursday in the three-part work “Triduum philosophique.” Whereas the second passage summarises the comprehensive idea of this work, the other parts present selected motives which can serve as aid to the homily preparation: the mutual relation of word and body in the Eucharistic act and in the conjugal love (Maundy Thursday), the last shout of Jesus on the cross as a prelinguistic expression of the suffering of the body (Good Friday) and the remained stigmas as a sign of the renewed body of the Risen Christ (Easter Sunday).