The Catholic Church has been blessed with fine preachers throughout her two thousand year history. Their words continue to inspire those who read them. I am pleased to recommend Masters of Preaching. This book provides the reader a history of preaching from the perspective of those who have [actually] preached. I hope that readers will learn much from the Church's best homilists. -- Most Reverend Jerome Hanus, O.S.B., Archbishop of Dubuque Here is a lucid, comprehensive book on preaching from a Catholic perspective. Father Atwood reaches deep into the Church's long tradition of great homilists and makes their wisdom and gifts readily available to today's seminarians, priests, and especially lay ministers eager for inspiration and guidance. The book describes preaching styles and themes from a wide variety of ancient and contemporary sources, always with an eye to helping homilists deepen their own spiritual awareness and hence increase the impact of their words. The book includes a sample homily from each homilist discussed and invites readers to see for themselves these . . . wonderful examples of preaching in practice. -- Allen J. Frantzen, professor and faculty scholar, Loyola University, Chicago A priest of Dubuque has written a most useful guide for anyone who wishes to consider more seriously the fact that preaching is, in the clear teaching of the Council of Trent, the Primum Officium of the priesthood.Ray E. Atwood provides the historical schema for the development of various schools and styles of preaching, from the Hebrew prophets to the twentieth century, with typical sermons and homilies in accessible translation. * The Catholic Historical Review *