Can a layperson give a catechesis during Mass that replaces the priest's homily?

[usaf208]

Thanks for your comments, puzzleannie.

These Masses where our DRE speaks to the children are attended by, at most, 20 children. There could be anywhere from 150-200 adults.

 

[bluehen]

there is a provision, only for Masses with Children, where most of those participating are children (young, not teens) and the Children’s lectionary is used, for someone other than the priest to give a teaching if he is unable to adapt his remarks for children. I can’t think of a situation where a priest could not do this, except perhaps in case of illness, language barrier etc., but theoretically it could be done. I would guess there are a lot of DREs who would use this loophole to drive a truck through.

Why do you assume that it’s DRE driving this? We have no indication of this!

Why is it so hard to think of a situation for a priest to want to have someone more comfortable speaking at a child’s level?

Where does it say that “most” but be children? A Mass for Children may still have children be a minority… if parents have 1-2 young children, and nonparents choose to attend, children may only be 10-20% of those in attendance… that doesn’t mean it’s not still a Mass for Children?

Why must we look for reasons why the priest is wrong, instead of looking for reasons why the priest might actually be right? Where is the charity for and trust of the priest?

 

[Walking_Home]

I think the answer is “No, Directory for Masses with Children n. 24 no longer applies”. But I am not certain and think confusion that people have about this issue is understandable.

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Just to add to what John Lilburne has provided. The document —On Certain Questions on Collaboration–states the following. It does seem that previous norms for Masses with Children which allowed the non-ordained to give the homily are abrogated.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

The Homily

§ 1. The homily, being an eminent form of preaching, qua per anni liturgici cursum ex textu sacro fidei mysteria et normae vitae christianae exponuntia,(68) also forms part of the liturgy.

The homily, therefore, during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, must be reserved to the sacred minister, Priest or Deacon(69) to the exclusion of the non-ordained faithful, even if these should have responsibilities as “pastoral assistants” or catechists in whatever type of community or group. This exclusion is not based on the preaching ability of sacred ministers nor their theological preparation, but on that function which is reserved to them in virtue of having received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. For the same reason the diocesan Bishop cannot validly dispense from the canonical norm(70) since this is not merely a disciplinary law but one which touches upon the closely connected functions of teaching and sanctifying.

For the same reason, the practice, on some occasions, of entrusting the preaching of the homily to seminarians or theology students who are not clerics(71) is not permitted. Indeed, the homily should not be regarded as a training for some future ministry.

All previous norms which may have admitted the non-ordained faithful to preaching the homily during the Holy Eucharist are to be considered abrogated by canon 767, § 1.(72)

All particular laws, customs and faculties conceded by the Holy See ad experimentum or other ecclesiastical authorities which are contrary to the foregoing norms are hereby revoked.

 

[John_Lilburne]

It has in the Directory of Masses with Children, n. 17: “Sometimes, moreover, if the place itself and the nature of the individuals permit, it possibly will be appropriate to celebrate the liturgy of the word, including a homily, with the children in a separate, not not too distant location. Then, before the eucharistic liturgy begins, the children are led to the place where the adults have meanwhile celebrated their own liturgy of the word.”

Is this homily, at the children’s liturgy of the word, only to be given by a priest or deacon?

The Instruction on Certain Questions (Ecclesiae de mysterio) has “The homily, therefore, during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, must be reserved to the sacred minister, Priest or Deacon …”.

Is the Children’s Liturgy of the Word part of the “celebration of the Holy Eucharist”?

Arguments that it is not could be:

The Eucharist takes place at the altar, this is clearly in a different place.

The Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum has:
"[60.] In the celebration of Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are intimately connected to one another, and form one single act of worship. For this reason it is not licit to separate one of these parts from the other and celebrate them at different times or places.[footnote 135: Cf. S. Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction, Liturgicae instaurationes, n. 2b: AAS 62 (1970) p. 696.]

The footnote has “b. The liturgy of the word prepares and leads up to the liturgy of the eucharist, forming with it the one act of worship. [foonote 11: See Sacramentum Concilium, article 56] To separate the two, therefore, or to celebrate them at different times or places is not permitted. As for intergrating some liturgical service or part of the divine office before Mass with the liturgy of the word, the guidelines are the norms laid down in the liturgical books for the case in question.” (Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4, page 161).

Having said this is 1970, it was decided in 1973 that the children’s liturgy of the word could be in a different place. So perhaps the Children’s liturgy of the Word was not considered part of the Eucharistic Celebration.

The Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum seems to consider it a separate rite, by including a footnote to the Directory for Masses with Children as part of this passage:

“4. On the Joining of Various Rites with the Celebration of Mass
[75.] On account of the theological significance inherent in a particular rite and the Eucharistic Celebration, the liturgical books sometimes prescribe or permit the celebration of Holy Mass to be joined with another rite, especially one of those pertaining to the Sacraments.[footnote 157: Cf. especially the General Instruction of the Liturgy of the Hours, nn. 93-98; Roman Ritual, revised by decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and published by authority of Pope John Paul II: Book of Blessings, editio typica, 31 May 1984, General Introduction, n. 28; Order of Crowning an Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, editio typica, 25 March 1981, nn. 10 and 14; S. Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction, on Masses with Particular Groups, Actio pastoralis, 15 May 1969: AAS 61 (1969) pp. 806-811; Directory for Masses with Children, Pueros baptizatos, 1 November 1973:AAS 66 (1974) pp. 30-46; Missale Romanum, Institutio Generalis, n. 21.] The Church does not permit such a conjoining in other cases, however, especially when it is a question of trivial matters.”

By including the Directory for Masses with Children in the footnote it seems to be saying that it has a separate ceremony. But there is nothing like a special stand-alone blessing in the Directory for Masses with Children. So perhaps it is the Children’s Liturgy of the Word that is regarded as a separate ceremony, that may or may not, be joined with the Mass.

Alternatively, if the Children’s liturgy of the Word is regarded as part of the Eucharist, then the 2004 Instruction Redemptionis Sacramentum seems to ban it taking place ina separate location as well as banning a homily by a lay person at it. This effectively bans a Children’s Liturgy of the Word. If this is the intention, it has not been spelt out.