A quiet word to the priest who officiated at Mass today

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Thank you Edward … I have had many priests, brothers and nuns for friends during my life …
 
It was rude of you to do that. He has been consecrated to God, and can turn bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Our Lord.

You should also be thankful you even have Mass. Here we must go without.
 
You’re the one who was rude to a priest in public, and who then went onto a Catholic forum and bragged about it. What did you expect? Did you want to be affirmed in what you did? Even if we agree that the priest was somehow wrong, your way of handling it was uncharitable.
 
I wouldn’t worry much about it, especially if this wasn’t part of a pattern of behavior. Starting off a homily with a joke is normal, but laughing at numerous points in it probably isn’t. He’s probably more worried about you than hurt or offended. You may have even done him a favor, so to speak, by walking away - he may not have wished to get in a conversation with someone who was simply ticked off at an issue of style.

Don’t make a habit of it but don’t dwell on it.
 
It’s the log and splinter argument. Do you know the priest’s style and relationship with his parishioners?

Was the mass valid? The words of consecration proper? Wheat bread and grape wine used?

Did you receive our Lord?

Then have some mercy on the overworked, overloaded priest.

To hit and run is not the most charitable response I can think of.
 
pete_bowes said:
During his homily he cracked at least half a dozen jokes before getting to his message, which was far too late for me, particularly when the two women sitting either side were laughing so loud …
After Mass, and before he had time to meet and greet his parishioners I walked over and got his attention. I looked him in the eye and said I didn’t come to Mass to be entertained. Then walked away, angry, before he had a chance to respond.
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Why so uncharitable
 
I can see why a priest would think a little humor could do good in these times.

As other have pointed out, many of your brothers and sisters in Christ around the world will not have the privilege of going to Mass today. Why not be thankful for what you have, and offer up what rubs you the wrong way ?
 
I know a priest whose homilies are drier than some deserts - the extent to which he labours over their preparation is actually quite touching but sadly all that effort really doesn’t help make them any more interesting. For all of that, his congregation loves him and for one simple reason - he loved them first.

Preparing and delivering a homily every Sundays (nevermind weekday masses, weddings, funerals and other thing in between) is a lot harder than it looks. Anyone who thinks otherwise really ought to try it sometime. As a priest, I hope that my homilies might be somewhat effective, I hope that I might be able to reach at least some people and make some sort of difference in their spiritual lives. What I know for certain though, is that I could preach the best homily ever -chock a block full of sombre reflection and spiritual empathy - and it wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference if I don’t first have a love for the people. “If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.” 1 Cor 13:1
 
pete_bowes said:
Jokes are for stage shows … Mass is for sober reflection and spiritual empathy.
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No … Mass ie Eucharist is a ‘thanksgiving’ celebration! That is the Greek translation of Eucharist. You should leave the Church feeling uplifted and happy. You could reserve your somber reflection for Good Friday though. That is the appropriate day for sadness and dirges.
 
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Praying for that priest today, that he be filled with encouragement as he tries to lead his flock during a lent full of uncertainty, changes and cancellations.
 
pete_bowes said:
No judgment was involved …
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No, you didn’t “judge” anyone. The modern world is horrified by the possibility of “being judged” (because they refuse to hear the Gospel and the Church, and don’t want to be called out on it because maybe it convicts them, eh?) and if they only glom onto one single verse of Scripture, it is the one about not judging lest one be judged themselves.

Sadly, this even infects Catholic circles. If you call attention to something that someone else is doing, or criticize someone for their behavior, you have not “judged” them, you’ve just called attention or criticized, nothing more. “Judging” is when you say that a person is personally culpable for a sin. Saying “you have committed act X, and act X is wrong” or “you shouldn’t have done act X” is merely describing behavior. The culpability aspect is between the agent and Almighty God, where it belongs.
Peeps said:
To me, the OP sounds like someone who has a mild form of autism, which makes it difficult for him to empathize with others and “get” jokes or understand that their purpose is to help people relax and feel comfortable with something serious that the speaker is going to say later (in this case, offering the Lord’s Blood and Body) on the altar of sacrifice.
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Could that be just a little harsh? Many people are plain-spoken and get straight to the point without niceties — there are entire regions of the US where people are noted for being “straight talkers”, and it’s just accepted as a cultural norm. Besides, autism is a medical diagnosis.

I’m not saying you did this, but I detect in contemporary culture a kind of “witch hunt” mentality surrounding autism spectrum characteristics (I won’t say “disorders”). Someone who can’t even interact with society, yes, that’s a condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated, but people throughout history have exhibited behavior that is now called “Asperger Syndrome”, and nobody thought anything about it. It was just accepted as the difference between people, or as being a tad eccentric or absent-minded. It has gotten so anymore, that anyone who is a “subject matter expert”, or who does not bother to “detect cues” when the other guy is so sheepish that he can’t just come out and say what’s on this mind, is tagged as an “Aspie” or as “being autistic”. Many, many people have accomplished great things in the world while being “focused” or “narrow” in a way that society now calls out as “not normal” — think Einstein, Edison, Beethoven, Mozart, and many more.
 
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The homily is not technically part of the mass so they really aren’t any rubrics however it is recommended that the priest talk about the Gospel. Its not a big deal I once heard a priest say during his homily that priests should be married and gave the example of a married priest say mass publicly on a cruise ship that is something you should confront a priest about but remember never assume the priest has bad intentions. Just ask him in a polite way why he said it tell him the church’s teachings and if he doesn’t like it walk away.
 
Irishmom2 said:
Why are you telling us this? You already told the priest in a very strange and awkward way. Why did you feel the need to start a thread about it as well?

Oh wait, you made a comment like this on a thread in 2014 too.
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That makes it even worse.
 
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