Female Homily

[Kanda]

Today, after the gospel reading, the priest asked the church to be seated and a female parishioner walked up to the ambo. She said that Father thought it would be nice to have a female perspective this time of year (and then joked that perhaps he didn’t feel like writing a homily this year).

She spoke about what it must have been like to have been Mary and how Joseph must have reacted. Then she spoke about hope. She said that hope is seen everyday - such as the ability of a blind man to process the gospel (at my parish, a regular parishioner is chosen each week to process the gospel, and today a blind man did it). She said hope is displayed by people who live ‘different’ lifestyles who are fighting persecution from within our own church and standing up to old church documents. She said that hope is witnessed by the ability of a woman to deliver a homily from a Catholic pulpit.

At the end of mass, the priest thanked this woman for her homily and said that she is studying theology at a nearby university and then he had the congregation clap for her.

I was astounded. I am not typing this hear to rant… I am looking for advice please. How does this affect the validity of the mass and the communion? Also, how do you suggest I bring this up?

 

[childofmary1143]

Today, after the gospel reading, the priest asked the church to be seated and a female parishioner walked up to the ambo. She said that Father thought it would be nice to have a female perspective this time of year (and then joked that perhaps he didn’t feel like writing a homily this year).

She spoke about what it must have been like to have been Mary and how Joseph must have reacted. Then she spoke about hope. She said that hope is seen everyday - such as the ability of a blind man to process the gospel (at my parish, a regular parishioner is chosen each week to process the gospel, and today a blind man did it). She said hope is displayed by people who live ‘different’ lifestyles who are fighting persecution from within our own church and standing up to old church documents. She said that hope is witnessed by the ability of a woman to deliver a homily from a Catholic pulpit.

At the end of mass, the priest thanked this woman for her homily and said that she is studying theology at a nearby university and then he had the congregation clap for her.

I was astounded. I am not typing this hear to rant… I am looking for advice please. How does this affect the validity of the mass and the communion? Also, how do you suggest I bring this up?

It’s an abuse but that doesn’t affect the validity of the mass. The only people who can give a sermon is a Deacon, Priest, Bishop, Cardinal…

As for how to proceed depends on many factors. Is the Priest known for liturgical abuses? I remember one Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve and the Priest let the Youth group give a skit for the Sermon and the skit was about how certain people in a parish might feel unwelcomed in the Parish.

Sorry I can’t help more.

 

[Kanda]

It’s an abuse but that doesn’t affect the validity of the mass. The only people who can give a sermon is a Deacon, Priest, Bishop, Cardinal…

As for how to proceed depends on many factors. Is the Priest known for liturgical abuses? I remember one Christmas Mass on Christmas Eve and the Priest let the Youth group give a skit for the Sermon and the skit was about how certain people in a parish might feel unwelcomed in the Parish.

Sorry I can’t help more.

There have been/are things that are not proper, but I think that this has been the worst. Here are some other things that go on, and maybe you can all help me decide if/how/when to bring it up and what should be left alone, and what should definitly be brought up:

-gospel is always processed by a lay person
-blue instead of purple for Advent
-the entire parish sings with the priest the prayer “Through Him, with Him, in Him, …”
-glass chalices and patens
-Precious Blood is poured into wine glasses (chalices) from a pitcher after the communion prayer
-people are invited forward for “blessingettes” for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
-the pastoral associate and another female lay person kiss the altar with the priest after he processes in at the beginning
-On Good Friday, instead of a homily, the youth group does a Passion Play
-There is no kneeling, ever, (except on Good Friday) by the priest or anyone else

Please, I am not trying to nitpick and this is not what I am focusing on during mass. These are just things I have noticed over the years I have been attending at this parish and have always thought were normal. Just since I’ve joined this forum have I learned that it is not.

 

[rjcode6]

I found it rather refreshing and a sign of our time. I’m surprised that you as a woman are having such a difficult time with this. There should be women behind the pulpit and you should feel blessed that this is happening in your church.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Today, after the gospel reading, the priest asked the church to be seated and a female parishioner walked up to the ambo. She said that Father thought it would be nice to have a female perspective this time of year (and then joked that perhaps he didn’t feel like writing a homily this year).

She spoke about what it must have been like to have been Mary and how Joseph must have reacted. Then she spoke about hope. She said that hope is seen everyday - such as the ability of a blind man to process the gospel (at my parish, a regular parishioner is chosen each week to process the gospel, and today a blind man did it). She said hope is displayed by people who live ‘different’ lifestyles who are fighting persecution from within our own church and standing up to old church documents. She said that hope is witnessed by the ability of a woman to deliver a homily from a Catholic pulpit.

At the end of mass, the priest thanked this woman for her homily and said that she is studying theology at a nearby university and then he had the congregation clap for her.

I was astounded. I am not typing this hear to rant… I am looking for advice please. How does this affect the validity of the mass and the communion? Also, how do you suggest I bring this up?

No, it would not effect the validity of the Mass or Holy Communion. However I would hope that not many applauded this clear act of disobedience.

 

[Kanda]

I found it rather refreshing and a sign of our time. I’m surprised that you as a woman are having such a difficult time with this. There should be women behind the pulpit and you should feel blessed that this is happening in your church.

Well, I feel that things are the way that they are for a reason and that the people who estabished the church and the people currently in charge know a lot more about it than I do. I wouldn’t expect my children to disobey me without retribution just because what they are doing is popular - no more than I would expect the Church’s children to disobey her.

And for clarification, I would have been just as astounded if it had been anyone - male or female - that had given the homily if they were not a designated person to do so (priest, bishop, deacon, etc.)

 

[Kanda]

No, it would not effect the validity of the Mass or Holy Communion. However I would hope that not many applauded this clear act of disobedience.

Thank you for clarifying the validity. Unfortuantly, many people applauded.

 

[WanderAimlessly]

The only time that happened at a Mass I attended, I walked out as soon as the lady was introduced and went to attend a Mass elsewhere. That was the second strike against that parish and I soon left the parish permanently.

 

[Phemie]

I found it rather refreshing and a sign of our time. I’m surprised that you as a woman are having such a difficult time with this. There should be women behind the pulpit and you should feel blessed that this is happening in your church.

Are you kidding?? It’s an abuse, plain and simple. And from the tone of it, this was a woman with an agenda a mile wide.

 

[wifeandmomoftwo]

Kanda,

I think it may be time to find a new parish, or if that is not an option a letter needs to be written to your Bishop

 

[dessert]

If I am right and the priest did not read a gospel and then she give the homily then she was just talking about her life and opinions,
sort of like a teaching.
Isn’t it right that there has to be an alleluhia and then gospel reading and then homily?

 

[childofmary1143]

There have been/are things that are not proper, but I think that this has been the worst. Here are some other things that go on, and maybe you can all help me decide if/how/when to bring it up and what should be left alone, and what should definitly be brought up:

-gospel is always processed by a lay person
-blue instead of purple for Advent
-the entire parish sings with the priest the prayer “Through Him, with Him, in Him, …”
-glass chalices and patens
-Precious Blood is poured into wine glasses (chalices) from a pitcher after the communion prayer
-people are invited forward for “blessingettes” for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
-the pastoral associate and another female lay person kiss the altar with the priest after he processes in at the beginning
-On Good Friday, instead of a homily, the youth group does a Passion Play
-There is no kneeling, ever, (except on Good Friday) by the priest or anyone else

Please, I am not trying to nitpick and this is not what I am focusing on during mass. These are just things I have noticed over the years I have been attending at this parish and have always thought were normal. Just since I’ve joined this forum have I learned that it is not.

Sounds like you got a very liberal and disobedient parish. Is there a better parish nearby you could go to or is it a diocese thing?

I did a search over at Latin Liturgy and found the following parishes that offer TLM as parishes like those usually are very obedient in terms of rubrics.

Diocese of San Jose
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
Waverly at Homer
Palo Alto CA 94306
Sun at 12 Noon
(sung: classical polyphony by the St. Ann Chior)
Also Holy Days (time varies)
Latin Vespers (chanted) Sun at 6:15 PM
Hybrid

Diocese of San Jose
Our Lady of Peace Church
2800 Mission College Boulevard
Santa Clara CA 95054
Sat at 7:30 PM (anticipated Sun Mass)
1962;1970
On eve of 1st Sun, 1962 Rite is used;
otherwise 1970 Rite

Hopefully these are near you

 

[Mousey]

I found it rather refreshing and a sign of our time. I’m surprised that you as a woman are having such a difficult time with this. There should be women behind the pulpit and you should feel blessed that this is happening in your church.

A better reply.

Your Priest is guilty of insubordination and if he was in the military and in a time of war he would be shot. Also if he was working for a private company he would be fired. You should find another Parish!

Link

 

[water]

Don’t just walk away from the parish without letting the Bishop know.

 

[benedictgal]

I found it rather refreshing and a sign of our time. I’m surprised that you as a woman are having such a difficult time with this. There should be women behind the pulpit and you should feel blessed that this is happening in your church.

First of all, I don’t know if you are Catholic or not, but your post runs contrary to the Church’s rubrics and norms regarding laity “preaching the homily.” Furthermore, this occasion is not a blessing, rather, it is a blatant sign of disobedience on the part of the priest and the woman participating in this abuse. It is far from refreshing; it is rather disheartening and most troubling.

Please read what Redemptionis Sacramentum says regarding the subject:

[64.] The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself,142 “should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.143 In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate”.144

[65.] It should be borne in mind that any previous norm that may have admitted non-ordained faithful to give the homily during the Eucharistic celebration is to be considered abrogated by the norm of canon 767 §1.145 This practice is reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of custom.

[66.] The prohibition of the admission of laypersons to preach within the Mass applies also to seminarians, students of theological disciplines, and those who have assumed the function of those known as “pastoral assistants”; nor is there to be any exception for any other kind of layperson, or group, or community, or association.146

RJCODE, I hope that you you do not mean what you posted, for I fear that, perhaps, you are treading on dangerous waters by stating things that go against the Church’s norms and rubrics. The Church safeguards the integrity of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Who are we to challenge the Church’s wisdom, prudence and knowledge? RS is very clear that only the deacon, priest and bishop may preach the homily. No one else is allowed to do this.

To the OP, according to Redemptionis Sacramentum:

it is the right of all of Christ’s faithful that the Liturgy, and in particular the celebration of Holy Mass, should truly be as the Church wishes, according to her stipulations as prescribed in the liturgical books and in the other laws and norms. Likewise, the Catholic people have the right that the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass should be celebrated for them in an integral manner, according to the entire doctrine of the Church’s Magisterium. Finally, it is the Catholic community’s right that the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharist should be carried out for it in such a manner that it truly stands out as a sacrament of unity, to the exclusion of all blemishes and actions that might engender divisions and factions in the Church.32

RS offers you a remedy for the situation you described. What you need to do is document the abuses (along with the appropriate citation from RS) in a letter and send it to the pastor. If he chooses to ignore you, then, you have the right to inform the bishop (using the same documentation and citations). If the bishop does not listen to your concerns, then, you have the right to appeal directly to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Please read RS carefully. Here is the link: adoremus.org/RedemptionisSacramentum.html#anchor1186479

I hope this helps.

 

[Kanda]

To the OP, according to Redemptionis Sacramentum:

RS offers you a remedy for the situation you described. What you need to do is document the abuses (along with the appropriate citation from RS) in a letter and send it to the pastor. If he chooses to ignore you, then, you have the right to inform the bishop (using the same documentation and citations). If the bishop does not listen to your concerns, then, you have the right to appeal directly to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Please read RS carefully. Here is the link: adoremus.org/RedemptionisSacramentum.html#anchor1186479

I hope this helps.

This does help, a lot. Thank you.

 

[Kanda]

Kanda,

I think it may be time to find a new parish, or if that is not an option a letter needs to be written to your Bishop

I don’t want to have to leave my parish. I am a catechist and teach 2nd/3rd grade students who are new to the faith.

 

[Kanda]

Sounds like you got a very liberal and disobedient parish. Is there a better parish nearby you could go to or is it a diocese thing?

I did a search over at Latin Liturgy and found the following parishes that offer TLM as parishes like those usually are very obedient in terms of rubrics.

Diocese of San Jose
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
Waverly at Homer
Palo Alto CA 94306
Sun at 12 Noon
(sung: classical polyphony by the St. Ann Chior)
Also Holy Days (time varies)
Latin Vespers (chanted) Sun at 6:15 PM
Hybrid

Diocese of San Jose
Our Lady of Peace Church
2800 Mission College Boulevard
Santa Clara CA 95054
Sat at 7:30 PM (anticipated Sun Mass)
1962;1970
On eve of 1st Sun, 1962 Rite is used;
otherwise 1970 Rite

Hopefully these are near you

The second one is near-ish and has been recommeded before by another on this forum who attends there. I would like to check it out, but it is difficult with the kids and my work schedule.

Yes, my parish is very liberal, or as the mission statment puts it, “A contemporary Catholic community”

 

[turtle18]

Awful…just awful. Since she is getting a degree in theology, you should have cornered her after Mass and asked her to explain where her believes are located in the Catcheism. What a pinnacle of human arrogance to preach such thinks from the pulpit a.) when you are not even supposed to be up there & b.) think you know better than the Church fathers. I guess she is somehow so smart that she is clued into some spiritual insight that our church leaders haven’t stumbled upon?
And what’s the deal with the implications that gays aren’t accepted in the Church? Seems to me they are quite prevalent, especially in the clergy.

 

[Kanda]

If I am right and the priest did not read a gospel and then she give the homily then she was just talking about her life and opinions,
sort of like a teaching.
Isn’t it right that there has to be an alleluhia and then gospel reading and then homily?

Everything went right up until this homily. We had first reading, psalm, second reading, alleluhia, gospel reading by the priest. After he finished reading, he put the gospel on the stand and went to his chair. Then he invited the church to please be seated. When everyone sat, the woman walked up to the ambo and began her homily.

After she finished, the mass went on as normal. Then at the end, the priest thanked her and there was applause.