Homilies and Lectures

This is a list of legally free ebooks of homilies or sermons, lectures, and addresses or speeches by Catholics.

  1. “Allocution to the Italian Association of Large Families”, Venerable Pope Pius XII, January 20, 1958. Under the title “The Large Family”, from The Pope Speaks (Spring 1958), it may be read online on this page of Catholic Culture. Excerpts of the address may be found in “Family”, a collection of statements of the authentic magisterium, on this page of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
  2. The Apostles and the First Disciples, by Pope Benedict XVI (General Audiences 2006-2007). May be read online through Catechesis of the Popes. This provides a collection of the teaching addresses of Pope Benedict on the Origins of the Church; the Apostles; and the First Disciples. [N.B., According to Catechesis of the Popes: “This catechesis is available in book form from Our Sunday Visitor and Ignatius Press. Our Sunday Visitor has also published a corresponding Study Guide which is available for purchase and as a free downloadable.pdf file. OSV has also published an Illustrated Edition of The Apostles.”]
  3. The Beauty and Truth of the Catholic Church: Sermons from the German, adapted and edited, Volume II, by the Rev. Edward Jones, with an Introduction by the Most Rev. John Ireland (St. Louis, London: B. Herder, 1913). With Imprimatur. Available at Internet Archive [N.B., This volume collects discourses on the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist.]
  4. The Beauty and Truth of the Catholic Church: Sermons from the German, adapted and edited, Volume III, by the Rev. Edward Jones, with an Introduction by the Most Rev. John Ireland (Freiburg (Baden); St. Louis, Mo.; London: B. Herder, 1913). With Imprimatur. Available at Internet Archive and Open Library  [N.B., This volume collects discourses on the sacraments of penance, matrimony, orders, and unction, and on education. The OL index age incorrectly provides the image of Volume II.]
  5. The Beauty and Truth of the Catholic Church: Sermons from the German, adapted and edited, Volume IV, by the Rev. Edward Jones, with an Introduction by the Most Rev. John Ireland (St. Louis, Mo.; London: B. Herder, 1916). With Imprimatur. Available at Internet Archive [N.B., This volume collects discourses on God, Christ, and grace.]
  6. The Beauty and Truth of the Catholic Church: Sermons from the German, adapted and edited, Volume V, by the Rev. Edward Jones, with an Introduction by the Most Rev. John Ireland (St. Louis, Mo.; London: B. Herder, 1916). With Imprimatur. Available at Internet Archive [N.B. This volume includes discourses on the moral law and the last things.]
  7. The Blessed Sacrament the Centre of Immutable Truth: a sermon preached at the opening of the Pro-Cathedral of S. Wilfrid’s, York, by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning (London: Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts & Green, 1864). Available at Open Library and Internet Archive.
  8. Cardinal Mercier, Pastorals, Letters, Allocutions 1914-1917, edited and translated by Joseph Stillemans (New York: P.J. Kenedy & Sons 1917). May be read online at PSM-Data.
  9. The Catechism of Rodez Explained in Form of Sermons; a work equally useful to the clergy, religious communities, and faithful, by Abbé Luche, curé of Montbazens, John Thein (St Louis, Mo.: B. Herder, 1898). With the episcopal recommendation of Bishop of Cleveland and the approbation of the Bishop of Rodez. Available on Open Library and  Internet Archive.
  10. Catholic Oratory: A Compilation of Sacred and Sublime Orations, selected from the Sermons and Discourses of Cardinal Gibbons, Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Manning, The Lenten Lectures and Sermons of Cardinal Wiseman, Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia; Bishop Keane, Catholic University, Washington; Bishop Conroy, Father Buckley, Father Merrick, SJ.; Father Brandi, SJ.; Father O’Keeffe, Father Lambing, and Rev. Dr. Brann. Also Father Maguire’s “Refutation of Heresies, and Defence of Catholic Dogma”; besides Sermons and Essays of other Eminent Ecclesiastics. Embellished with portraits of the American and English cardinals and numerous beautiful engravings (New York: Duggan Publishing Company, 1891). With Imprimatur. Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  11. The Certainty of Divine Faith: a sermon preached on the feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, 1853, in the Church of St. Gregory the Great, in Rome; at the solemn benediction of the Right Reverend Father M. Bernard Burder, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns and Lambert, 1854). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  12. Christ is passing by, by St. Josemaria Escriva. May be read online at Josemaria Escriva (copyright Studium Foundation, rights reserved).
  13. Christ and Antichrist: a sermon at the mass of Requiem for those who fell in defence of Rome, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Longmans, Green, 1867). Available at Open Library and Internet Archive .
  14. Christ, the One Master of All, Sermon by St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. Translated from the Quaracchi Edition of the Opera Omnia S. Bonaventurae, Vol. V, 1891, pp. 567-574, with original notes. Latin-English text available at Franciscan Archive.
  15. Christ; the Preacher: Sermons for Every Sunday of the Ecclesiastical Year, by Rev. David S. Phelan (St. Louis, Mo., B. Herder, 1905). With Imprimatur. Available at Open Library and Internet Archive. (Digitizing sponsor: MSN, Book contributor: St. Michael’s College – University of Toronto).
  16. “Christian Martyrdom in the Thought of the Servant of God, Father John A. Hardon, S.J.” (lecture), by Raymond Cardinal Burke. Delivered 13 March 2012, at the 15th Annual Lenten Symposium on “The Christian Vocation: A Call to Martyrdom” of the Holy Trinity Apostolate. (A) A video of the lecture, entitled, Cardinal Burke on Fr John Hardon’s ‘Call to Martydom’, published on 12 March 2013, may be viewed on this page of the Youtube channel of Sensus Fidelium. (B) Another copy of the video, entitled Call to Martyrdom talk by Cardinal Burke, published on 22 February 2013, may be viewed on this page of the wwwtldmorg Youtube channel. (C) The audio is reproduced in a video entitled Cardinal Raymond Burke 2017 – Call to Martyrdom talk by Cardinal Burke, published 21 July 2017, which may be viewed on this page of the Catholic Channel. [According to the article “Cardinal Burke’s address from HTA symposium to air on EWTN this Sunday”, posted 22 March 2012, CD’s and DVD’s on all talks may be purchased at the Holy Trinity Apostolate.]
  17. Christian Patience: The Strength & Discipline of the Soul: A Course of Lectures, by Archbishop William Bernard Ullathorne (London: Burns and Oates; New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1886). The ebook is available in pdf, mobi, epub, and other formats at Internet Archive and Open Library, while the 7th edition (London: Burns and Oates; New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers) is available at Internet Archive and Open Library. The audiobook (in mp3, m3u, etc. formats) is available at Internet Archive.
  18. The Divinity of Christ, by Joseph Rickaby, S.J.  (London, Edinburgh: Sands & Company; St. Louis, Mo.: B. Herder, 1906). With Imprimatur. Part of the Westminster Lectures (Second Series), edited by the Rev. Francis Aveling. Available in various formats at Open Library and Internet Archive.
  19. The Fourfold Sovereignty of God, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns, Oates, 1871). Available at Internet Archive. [N.B., According to Cardinal Manning foreword, this is intended to complete the subject of the lectures on the Four Great Evils of the Day.]
  20. Four Great Evils of the Day, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns, Oates, and Co., 1871). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library. [N.B. Lectures on “The Revolt of the Intellect against God”, “The Revolt of the Will against God”, “The Revolt of Society from God”, and “Spirit of Antichrist”]
  21. Four-Square; or, The Cardinal Virtues: Addresses to Young Men, by Joseph Rickaby, S.J. (New York: Joseph F. Wagner, 1908). With Imprimatur. Available in various formats at Internet Archive and Open Library, with a second copy at Internet Archive  and Open Library.
  22. The Grounds of Faith: Four Lectures delivered in St. George’s Church, Southwark [or, Manning’s Lectures on the Grounds of Faith], by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns and Lambert, 1852). Available at Open Library and Internet Archive. [Listed on the Table of Contents are: Revealed truth definite and certain; The church a historical witness; The church a divine witness; Rationalism the legitimate consequence of private judgment].
  23. Help Nearest when Need Greatest: a sermon preached in the Synod of Oscott on Sunday, July 11, 1852, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns and Lambert, 1852). Available at Open Library and Internet Archive.
  24. In love with the Church, by St. Josemaria Escriva. May be read online at Josemaria Escriva.(copyright Studium Foundation, rights reserved)
  25. The Independence of the Holy See: with an Appendix containing the Papal Allocution of March, 1877, and an English translation, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Henry S. King and Co., 1877). Available at Internet Archiveand Open Library. With a second copy at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  26. Lectures, by Henry Edward Manning (Baltimore: J.B. Piet). Includes: The Four Great Evils of the Day, The Sovereignty of God, and The Grounds Of Faith. Available at Internet Archive and Open Library. 
  27. [Lectures on the Indians, and on the Law of War, of Franciscus de Victoria] Francisci De Victoria De Indis et De Ivre Belli Relectiones, by Francisco de Vitoria, edited by Ernest Nys (reprinted 1964), of the multi-volume series The Classics of International Law, edited by James Brown Scott. Based on notes of lectures delivered 1532. May be read online at Constitution Society and at the webpage of Professor Ken Pennington. [NB: This is one of the leading early texts of international law and human rights theory, and has led some jurists to declare that Vitoria was the true founder of international law. Vitoria was among the first representatives of Spanish Scholasticism, which used Christian Faith and Thomist analysis to analyze emerging problems and thus laid the bases for modern jurisprudence, economics, political theory, and philosophy.]
  28. Lectures: The Four Great Evils of the Day, The Sovereignty of God, The Grounds Of Faith, by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning (New York: P. J. Kenedy & Sons). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  29. Lenten Sermons, by Augustine Wirth, O.S.B. (Elizabeth, NJ, 1891). Available on Open Library and Internet Archive (Digitizing sponsor: MSN; Book contributor: Kelly Library, University of Toronto).
  30. The Lives of the Saints: Catechesis on the Great Christian Writers of Both East and West, by Pope Benedict XVI (General Audiences 2007-2011). May be read online through Catechesis of the Popes. Includes: “St. Thomas Aquinas”  (June 2, 2010); “St. Thomas Aquinas: The Inter-Relation of Philosophy and Theology” (June 16, 2010); “St. Thomas Aquinas: The ‘Summa Theologica’” (June 23, 2010).
  31. Miscellanies, Volume 1, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns and Oates, 1877). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  32. Miscellanies, Volume 2, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns and Oates, 1877). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  33. Miscellanies, Volume 3, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns and Oates, 1877). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  34. Notes of Spiritual Retreats and Instructions, given by Rev. John Morris. S.J. (New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers; London : Art and Book Co., 1894). Available in various formats at Open Library and Internet Archive.
  35. On Holy Images (Followed by Three Sermons on the Assumption), by St. John of Damascus (7th-8th century AD), translated from the original Greek by Mary W. Allies (London: Thomas baker, 1898). With Imprimatur. Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  36. Orations of Henry Austin Adams, with an introduction by James Cardinal Gibbons (St. Paul, Minn.: Adams-Cannon, 1903). With orations on Pope Leo XIII, Saint Thomas More, Blessed John Henry Newman, and Ludwig Windthorst, and on the destiny of Ireland. Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  37. “Providing Shepherds for Soldiers: A History of Catholic Military Chaplaincy in the U.S.”, by Reverend Mark Francis O’Malley (April 21, 2010). Archbishop Peter L. Gerety Lecture Series, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, Seton Hall University. Available in PDF format at Seton Hall University.
  38. “Resistance and Fidelity to the Church in Times of Crisis”, by Professor Roberto de Mattei. From a conference given in Florence, October 2, 2016. May be read online on this page of Rorate Coeli (linked to by The Parish of Blessed John henry Newman) and at The Poor Knights of Christ in Ireland and the UK.
  39. A Retreat for Women in Business: in fourteen conferences, by the Rev.  J. A. McMullan, C.SS.R. (New York : J.F. Wagner, 1916). With Imprimatur. Available in various formats at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  40. Revelation and Creeds, by J. M’Intyre, D.D (London, Edinburgh: Sands; St. Louis, Mo.: B. Herder 1907). With Imprimi Potest. Part of the Westminster Lectures (Third Series), edited by the Rev. Francis Aveling. Available in various formats at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  41. Rome and the Revolution: a Sermon, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Longmans, Green, 1867). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  42. Sacred eloquence, or, The theory and practice of preaching, by Thomas Joseph Potter (New York: Pustet, 1920?). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library (Digitizing sponsor: MSN, Book contributor: Kelly Library, University of Toronto).
  43. Science and Religion: Lectures on the Reasonableness of Christianity and the Shallowness of Unbelief, by Most Rev. Roger Bede Vaughan (Baltimore: J.B. Piet, 1879). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  44. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – Our Lord, the Blessed Mother and the Saints, Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  45. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – Our Lord, the Blessed Mother and the Saints II, by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  46. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – Penance, by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  47. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Christian Virtues by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  48. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Christian Virtues – II by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  49. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Different States in Life by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  50. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Different States in Life – II by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  51. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Four Last Things by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  52. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Four Last Things – II by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  53. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Seven Deadly Sins by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  54. Sermons – Adapted to All Sundays – The Seven Deadly Sins – II by Fr. Francis Hunolt. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  55. Sermons and Lectures on the Missions: A Collection of Sermons, Lectures, and Sketches on the Catholic Missions, Volume 1, edited by Anton Huonder, adapted from the German by Cornelius Pekari (Techny, IL: Mission Press, 1918). With Imprimatur. Available in various formats at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  56. Sermons by Fathers of the Society of Jesus, Volume 1 (London: Burns, Oates, and Company, 1870) is available in various formats (pdf, epub, mobi/kindle, etc.) at Internet Archive. [It includes sermons on the latter days by the Rev. W. J. Coleridge, on the Temptations of Our Lord by the Rev. F. Hathaway, and Mysteries of the Holy Infancy by the Rev. T. B. Parkinson, the Rev. H. J. Coleridge, and the Rev. Thomas Harper; and lectures on the Remedies against Desolation by the Rev. Peter Gallivey.]
  57. Sermons by Fathers of the Society of Jesus, Volume 2 (London: Burns, Oates, and Company, 1872) is available in various formats at Internet Archive [It contains homilies by the Rev. Thomas Harper on God the true, the good, the beautiful, and on modern principles]
  58. Sermons by Fathers of the Society of Jesus, Volume 3 (London: Burns and Oates, 1875) is available in various formats at Internet Archive [It includes sermons by Rev. George R. Kingdon, the Rev. Edward I. Purbrick, the Rev. Henry J. Coleridge, the Rev. Alfred Weld, and the Rev. William H. Anderdon.]
  59. Sermons for Christmas and Epiphany, by St. Augustine, translated and annotated by Thomas Comerford Lawler (Westminster, Maryland: Newman Press; London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1952). Ancient Christian Writers: Works of the Fathers in Translation (edited by Johannes Quasten and Joseph C. Plumpe), No. 15. Available at Internet Archive.
  60. The Sermons of St. Anthony of Padua. May be downloaded in PDF format through the Saints’ Books index,
  61. Sermons of St. Bernard on Advent and Christmas; including the Famous Treatise on the Incarnation called “Missus Est”, by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, compiled and translated from the 1508 edition of his Sermons and Letters, with Introduction by the Right Rev. J.V. Hedley, OSB, Bishop of Newport (London, Manchester, Glasgow: R.T. Washbourne; New York, Chicago, Cincinnati: Benziger Bros., 1909). With Imprimatur. May be read online, and available in pdf, epub, djvu, txt, Daisy, and kindle/mobi formats at Open Library and Internet Archive.
  62. Sermons on Ecclesiastical Subjects, Volume 1, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns, Oates, 1870). Available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  63. Sermons on Ecclesiastical Subjects, Volume 2, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns, Oates, 1870). Available at Internet Archive.
  64. Sermons on Ecclesiastical Subjects, Volume 3, by Henry Edward Manning (London: Burns, Oates, 1870). Available at Internet Archive.
  65. Sermons on the Passion of Jesus Christ, by Right Rev. John McQuirk (New York, St. Paul’s Library, 1916). With Imprimatur. May be read online, and available in pdf, epub, mobi and other formats, at Internet Archive.
  66. Spiritual Retreats: Notes of Meditations and Considerations given in the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Roehampton, by Most Rev. George Porter, S.J. (London: Burns & Oates; New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1888). With Imprimatur. Available in various formats at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  67. A Tale of Two Wonderworkers: St. Nicholas of Myra in the Writings and Life of St. Thomas Aquinas, by Peter A. Kwasniewski, International Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family, Gaming, Austria [Footnote 1 states: “This article was developed from a lecture given at the International Theological Institute on December 6, 2002.”]. Available in PDF format at DeSales University.
  68. Theology of the Body, by Pope John Paul II. Weekly Audiences on the subject of the Redemption of the Body and the Sacramentality of Marriage, September 5, 1979 – November 28, 1984. May be downloaded in PDF format from this webpage of Catholic Primer. May be read on Catechetics Online and on EWTN.
  69. Vegliare Con Sollecitudine: Address to the Italian Association of Catholic Midwives, by Venerable Pope Pius XII, 29 October 1951. Variously referred to as “Address [or ‘Allocution’] to Midwives [or ‘Italian Midwives’ or ‘Catholic Midwives’]”, sometimes adding “on the Nature of Their Profession”.
  70. The Year of St. Paul, by Pope Benedict XVI (General Audiences 2008-2009). May be read online through Catechesis of the Popes. This provides a collection of the teaching addresses of Pope Benedict on the life, teaching, and legacy of the Apostle Paul. [N.B., According to Catechesis of the Popes: “These audiences are available in book form from Ignatius Press.”]

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