A quiet word to the priest who officiated at Mass today

  • Thread starter Thread starter pete_bowes
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Actually the homily is part of the liturgy of the word. Yes, it is. The mass doesn’t come to a pause at the homily. It is indeed a part of the mass 🙂
 
Our priest is about to retire, and often makes atleast a couple clever jokes before mass or during the homily. He is a well seasoned priest, with a gentle style and is very respected. I’ve met priests who are very sober sounding and never crack a smile. Perhaps the priest is not your style and you could move parishes. It seems the other parishioners don’t have an issue with him. I find it rude that you confronted the priest over such a tedious matter.
 
pete_bowes said:
Do not judge each other. Are we not taught that, StudentM1 ?
Click to expand...
pete_bowes said:
No judgment was involved …
Click to expand...
So… it was ‘judgment’ for @StudentMI to call you out for bad behavior, but it’s not ‘judgment’ for you to to do the same to your priest? 🤔
LouLouTyson said:
So your priest is trying to lighten the mood in a time of crisis, and you decide to quietly embarrass him.
Click to expand...
That’s what I was thinking, too – at this particular moment, we all need to lighten up and take a deep breath… and maybe smile a little for someone who needs it.
HomeschoolDad said:
“Judging” is when you say that a person is personally culpable for a sin. The culpability aspect is between the agent and Almighty God, where it belongs.

Saying “you have committed act X, and act X is wrong” or “you shouldn’t have done act X” is merely describing behavior.
Click to expand...
This! 👍
 
Swiftdove said:
Actually the homily is part of the liturgy of the word. Yes, it is. The mass doesn’t come to a pause at the homily. It is indeed a part of the mass
Click to expand...
The traditional understanding has been that the homily is, indeed, an interruption of the Mass. It is possible that the post-Vatican II changes and the promulgation of the Novus Ordo Missae changed this. I’d have to look it up.
 
HomeschoolDad said:
40.png
HomeschoolDad:
“Judging” is when you say that a person is personally culpable for a sin. The culpability aspect is between the agent and Almighty God, where it belongs.
Saying “you have committed act X, and act X is wrong” or “you shouldn’t have done act X” is merely describing behavior.
Click to expand...
This!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the vote of confidence. People in the modern world throw a hissy fit anytime they are called out for bad behavior. For the most part, that’s probably just human nature, when uninformed by Divine grace.

In the Catholic world, that usually pertains to issues of marriage, sexuality, and reproduction. Look at it this way — remove those issues from the plate, then ask yourself what it is, precisely, besides these issues, that separates many modern Catholics from total fidelity to the magisterium? Hard to come up with? You tell me.

People don’t distance themselves from the Church, or leave her entirely, because they have issues with the Trinity, transubstantiation, or the Church’s moral teachings on stealing, lying, and hurting other people.
Click to expand...
 
A little something here or there in a homily can be helpful, but there is a time and a place for everything. St. Thomas more commented on this in his time:
For could anyone with the least spark of Christian devotion in his heart not lament how the majesty of the sacrosanct office of preaching, which won the world over to Christ, is now being violated by the very men who are officially responsible for upholding the authority of that function? Could anyone imagine a more blatant affront to the office of preaching than a person who styles himself a preacher to step forth in the holiest season of the year and before a large audience of Christians, in the very temple of God, in the loftiest pulpit–in Christ’s very throne as it were–and in sight of Christ’s venerable body, to turn his Lenten sermon into a bacchanalian travesty? How do you think those who stood listening received it when they saw their preacher, from whom they had come to hear lessons of spiritual wisdom, cavorting, guffawing, and monkeying around in the pulpit, and when those who had gathered there piously expecting to hear the words of life went away not recalling that they had head anything but slurs against literature and impertinent preaching which had dishonored the office of preacher?
Click to expand...
Although, one joke from usually very serious priest has stuck with me–when mentioning that the Sadducees denied the resurrection, he said “That is why they were so sad, you see.”
 
Last edited:
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.
Click to expand...
This is rude.
 
Last edited:
Cool thanks for that info, but Yes Benedict XV and Pius XII formally declared otherwise. I learned so from Bishop Barron’s the Mass. I used to instinctually think of it as in interruption, but not so. When learning this, I try to consiously remain open to the Spirit during the homily, and prayerful.
 
40.png
Time and eternity Sacred Scripture
The Bishop came to Mass this morning, dignified as always. After Mass I asked Fr. David if I could doorstop the old fellow (about five years older than me, maybe) he said ‘Be mindful.’ He’s the rock climber, David, and has a firm hand on matters religious. I asked the Bishop if he wore a watch and that took him back a little. Then I asked him if Eternity was at the end of Time. He said he was happy I was thinking about it. I replied by saying that I’ve always thought about it. Then he answer…
Click to expand...
 
The priest has a sense of humor. Be glad of it! Would you prefer a grumpy sourpuss? He eventually got to the message of his homily. Sounds like you didn’t listen much to that – you were too busy focusing on how to criticize him to his face.

Our priest would quite often inject a little humor into his homily, and it was a great way to get his congregation to pay attention.

Even God has a sense of humor. He created US, didn’t he?
 
A history of “knowing better” than the priest or bishop is not something to be flaunting, is it?
 
I think we’ve said enough about all of this. Lest we fall into uncharity, let’s just let this one die.

@camoderator
 
Seems like a uncharitable comment you made there. It’s fine that you found disfavor with it but you could have found a much better way to voice this…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top