A Different Type of Homily?

[Always_Hopeful]

During Mass today, the deacon giving the homily allowed his wife to take the podium and deliver the message. He wanted to talk about how he answered the call, and thought that it was best if his wife tells of how she reacted when the deacon answered Jesus’ call.

The priest celebrating the Mass sat in his chair behind the alter while the deacon’s wife spoke.

A whole lot of people looked at each other while the deacon’s wife finished delivering the homily.

In the past, there has been occasions when the priest celebrating the Mass would read from the Gospel, and just take his seat while this deacon would deliver the homily. But, this is the first time that the deacon began the homily, introduce his wife, and allow her to continue with the homily.

Would this be a liturgical abuse?

 

[Pax]

Only the priest or deacon can deliver the homily. Sadly, this is a serious abuse.

 

[Podo2004]

Always Hopeful:

During Mass today, the deacon giving the homily allowed his wife to take the podium and deliver the message. He wanted to talk about how he answered the call, and thought that it was best if his wife tells of how she reacted when the deacon answered Jesus’ call.

The priest celebrating the Mass sat in his chair behind the alter while the deacon’s wife spoke.

A whole lot of people looked at each other while the deacon’s wife finished delivering the homily.

In the past, there has been occasions when the priest celebrating the Mass would read from the Gospel, and just take his seat while this deacon would deliver the homily. But, this is the first time that the deacon began the homily, introduce his wife, and allow her to continue with the homily.

Would this be a liturgical abuse?

No

 

[msproule]

Always Hopeful:

But, this is the first time that the deacon began the homily, introduce his wife, and allow her to continue with the homily…Would this be a liturgical abuse?

Podo2004:

No

Really? On what do you base this reply? Certainly not the 2002 GIRM, which clearly states (with my emphasis added):

1. The Homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself. He
   may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to
   circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person.65 In particular cases
   and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a priest
   who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate.

But, just in case this was somehow misunderstood, in 2004 the Holy See published Redemptionis Sacramentum. This exact topic was of such great importance that it received direct mention in three distinct paragraphs:

64. The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass
and is a part of the Liturgy itself,142 “should ordinarily be given by the Priest
celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally,
according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.143 In
particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a
Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot
concelebrate.”144

65. It should be borne in mind that any previous norm that may have admitted
non-ordained faithful to give the homily during the eucharistic celebration is
to be considered abrogated by the norm of canon 767 §1.145 This practice is
reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of custom.

161. As was already noted above, the homily on account of its importance and
its nature is reserved to the Priest or Deacon during Mass.260 As regards other
forms of preaching, if necessity demands it in particular circumstances, or if
usefulness suggests it in special cases, lay members of Christ’s faithful may be
allowed to preach in a church or in an oratory outside Mass in accordance with
the norm of law.261

Podo2004, would you care to revise your statement?

Or do you know something that we do not?

 

[Dr.Colossus]

This is a liturgical abuse, but I would say it’s only a serious one if the wife or children actually spoke on matters of the faith, rather than their experiences having a husband/father who was a deacon. A more proper place for this would have been at the end of Mass, or even more appropriately, outside the Mass entirely.

 

[mommy]

It would have been more proper perhaps for her to write down her reflections, and have the Deacon quote selected parts of it, as part of his homily.

 

[marty1818]

The deacon’s wife could have given a reflection after communion but only deacons,priests, and bishops may give homilies. I believe the reflection is not to be about the Gospel.

matt