Does Sunday Mass count without a homily?

[bmonk]

So this explains why a service on Good Friday is not a Mass but rather a liturgy. Since there is no consecration on that day. Being a relatively new Catholic I was wondering about that!

It used to be called the “Liturgy of the Presanctified.” Actually, it can be argued, since Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper has no dismissal, Good Friday Services has neither greeting nor dismissal, and the Easter Vigil has no greeting rite, that the Three Days are one long Liturgy, a Mass that we break into smaller parts so that it doesn’t completely overwhelm us.

 

[superamazingman]

It used to be called the “Liturgy of the Presanctified.” Actually, it can be argued, since Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper has no dismissal, Good Friday Services has neither greeting nor dismissal, and the Easter Vigil has no greeting rite, that the Three Days are one long Liturgy, a Mass that we break into smaller parts so that it doesn’t completely overwhelm us.

Yes, indeed. They are one one liturgy. The triduum is one fabric, so to speak.

 

[Daniel1Catholic]

After doing a quick overview of the last few weeks of homilies, Our priest said that he thought next week was this week so he prepped the homily for the wrong week. He said he wasn’t comfortable speaking off the cuff and that we’re strong enough so we can go without his words for a week, and that was that. Does Mass count without a homily? I tried to warn some other people who will be going to Mass later that he didn’t have a homily this week and they all said it was OK.

Couldnt he just talk about the readings?

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Thanks bmonk et al. I had never heard nor thought of the triduum as one continual liturgy (or maybe I forgot or was not listening) - very beautiful. Isn’t the Church wonderful.

 

[hilde_the_dog]

About seven years ago one of our priests was not feeling well during the Mass he was celebrating - thus the homily was four short sentances. After hundred of homilies that is the one I remember.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Couldnt he just talk about the readings?

Its not as easy as all that. A homily needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. Many a priest/deacon has tried to wing it and ended up talking in circles and losing track of where he was going with what he was saying.
Its especially difficult if you don’t realize it until the readings have begun. You get confused as to what’s going on, then once you realize you prepared the wrong readings you panic, and by then you’ve probably missed what the readings actually are.

In seminary we were told to never base our homily on the first 2 readings because if the lector reads the wrong ones we’re up the creek. I ignored that advice to my own peril one week when that’s exactly what happened. I tried to adjust the homily to fit the Gospel but it was a bit awkward.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Its not as easy as all that. A homily needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. Many a priest/deacon has tried to wing it and ended up talking in circles and losing track of where he was going with what he was saying.
Its especially difficult if you don’t realize it until the readings have begun. You get confused as to what’s going on, then once you realize you prepared the wrong readings you panic, and by then you’ve probably missed what the readings actually are.

In seminary we were told to never base our homily on the first 2 readings because if the lector reads the wrong ones we’re up the creek. I ignored that advice to my own peril one week when that’s exactly what happened. I tried to adjust the homily to fit the Gospel but it was a bit awkward.

Indeed! Our pastor NEVER speaks a word about the first two readings and so in my opinion it doesn’t do much for the whole “expanded readings” argument. But that’s another story…

 

[bmonk]

Indeed! Our pastor NEVER speaks a word about the first two readings and so in my opinion it doesn’t do much for the whole “expanded readings” argument. But that’s another story…

Which is why, if I am using one of the first readings or the psalm, I listen and watch to make sure the right reading is used. If not, I have no qualms about going over to help them find it.

I find it can make the homily richer to at least refer to images or lines from the first readings.

 

[Newbie2]

Its not as easy as all that. A homily needs a beginning, a middle, and an end. Many a priest/deacon has tried to wing it and ended up talking in circles and losing track of where he was going with what he was saying.
Its especially difficult if you don’t realize it until the readings have begun. You get confused as to what’s going on, then once you realize you prepared the wrong readings you panic, and by then you’ve probably missed what the readings actually are.

In seminary we were told to never base our homily on the first 2 readings because if the lector reads the wrong ones we’re up the creek. I ignored that advice to my own peril one week when that’s exactly what happened. I tried to adjust the homily to fit the Gospel but it was a bit awkward.

Sometimes they don’t seem to fit no matter what.