Any memory tricks for good homilies?

[DisorientingSneeze]

My functioning short term memory seems to have eroded considerably as of late. I’m blessed to have amazing homilists at my parish, but even with my full attention (on a good day when the kids are behaving in a donutworthy manner) the best parts of it escape my grasp even as they are said.

Do any of you take notes? I don’t see this done, but I don’t stare at other people much. I’m sure I could not bust out a pen and paper without incurring the jealousy of my small children.

Sometimes I start a post in a facebook group of other parish moms asking what their takeaways from the homily were. This helps synthesize a little bit what I do remember.

I would say talking to my husband about it on the drive home might help as then I’d have his account of it, but one of the kids is in this phase where she never lets us talk to eachother and interrupts us at all costs until we give up.

Does anyone have any memory tricks they use? I feel like I’m trying to catch smoke in a net. It seeps out all the spaces between. Or like I’m trying to catch and keep a whole flock of finches with only my two hands.

I should probably pray specifically for help remembering before mass, or pray to accept that this is my lot right now.

 

[MikeInVA]

Do any of you take notes?

Matthew Kelly produces a small notebook just for that. He recommends writing down the one word that resonates with you. I have a small notebook where I write down the key points of the homily at daily Mass.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Beat me to it. It’s sort of like lectio divina with a homily rather than Scripture.

You don’t even need a purpose-built notebook. Any small memo pad will do. Mine measures 70x110mm (about 2¾"x4¼"). Other than its color*, it’s quite discreet.

*bright yellow. Didn’t really think that one through

 

[Lee1]

The other thing to do is to ask for a copy of the notes your priest used himself, I once did this and it was met with a resounding silence, ha ha.

Or you might ask for permission to record the homily discreetly on a digital recorder.

Or you might involve your family. If you asked them to help you to remember the main salient points in the process they would remember them more than usual? Ie ask them prior to the homily, then afterwards ask them to recall them for you when you’re home again.

There are specific techniques that you could use but you need to practise those techniques first so that you could use them in a live situation. You would improve your natural short term memory in the process however as a side effect so it may be something which might be of great benefit. New skill for the new year?

 

[Roguish]

Does anyone have any memory tricks they use? I feel like I’m trying to catch smoke in a net. It seeps out all the spaces between. Or like I’m trying to catch and keep a whole flock of finches with only my two hands.

Have you considered the possibility that God wants you to rely on the spoken and written word less, and on His Immediate Presence more? And that perhaps that’s the reason He is lessening your powers of memory retention a little bit?

I’m not saying this to be contrary or smart. I really recommend you consider it. A wise man once told me that in the end we must sacrifice everything, and that knowledge (including memories and anything gained from books, videos, talks, homilies, etc.) is one of the hardest sacrifices we have to make.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Have you considered the possibility that God wants you to rely on the spoken and written word less, and on His Immediate Presence more? And that perhaps that’s the reason He is lessening your powers of memory retention a little bit?

I’ve been thinking about this too. I go back and forth between embracing some lessons here and thinking I should be taking some kind of steps if my brain is suddenly doing this to me in my 30s.

I definitely took retaining information for granted when it came easily. Even at my sharpest, even at any of our sharpest, we are not equipped to really understand the mystery and majesty of God. So it could be I’m meant to really feel simple-minded to humble me.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Or you might ask for permission to record the homily discreetly on a digital recorder.

Yes! I always forget this is available on the website sometimes. Thank you. It hasn’t been lately because we have lots of visiting priests while our priest recovers from surgery, but it is somewhere on the website sometimes.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I just figure if God wants me to remember something, I will.

It’s interesting because when I was much younger, our pastor, who was also the only priest at our parish and thus did all the homilies, used to pretty much preach the same 2 or 3 points each Sunday. One was about not lying and how even little white lies were bad because they would lead to big ones. I got so sick of hearing that repeated over and over. But 25 years later, I remember it.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Take notes.

Ask the Pastor for a copy of his homily.

Record the homily on a digital device (your phone even).

 

[GospelOfMatthew]

While listening to the homily, have a little notebook with you and write notes on the homily.

Also, consider using your phone or something to record the homilies, that’s what I do. Then afterwards in my free time I take notes on the Gospel reading the recording

 

[Zach]

I don’t remember much anymore either. I have a booklet to write down homily notes for each Sunday of the year. I might use it starting Sunday, if I remember and can find it.

It reminds me of the person who asked what use is it if he or she doesn’t remember many homilies they have heard throughout their lives. The response was asking how many meals he or she remembered. Just like meals we don’t remember nourished our bodies, we might not remember homilies but they still nourish us spiritually.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

It reminds me of the person who asked what use is it if he or she doesn’t remember many homilies they have heard throughout their lives. The response was asking how many meals he or she remembered. Just like meals we don’t remember nourished our bodies, we might not remember homilies but they still nourish us spiritually.

That’s beautiful!