Freedoms Of the Priest and his Sermon

[benyjets23]

I am aware that the Roman Catholic Faith is more structural than a typical evangelical denomination, but I was wondering does this greater structure and the “calendar” effect the freedom of the priest to flavor his sermons the way he sees fit?

 For example, can a priest toss in Resurrection apologetics at around easter time as a part of his sermon?  Or can he say "for the next month we will be exploring other faiths in order to find a Catholic response?"

 So my question is, how much freedom does the priest have in these matters?

Ben

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

benyjets23:

I am aware that the Roman Catholic Faith is more structural than a typical evangelical denomination, but I was wondering does this greater structure and the “calendar” effect the freedom of the priest to flavor his sermons the way he sees fit?

For example, can a priest toss in Resurrection apologetics at around easter time as a part of his sermon? Or can he say “for the next month we will be exploring other faiths in order to find a Catholic response?”

So my question is, how much freedom does the priest have in these matters?

Ben

He has little freedom when it comes to his homily. The purpose and focus of the homily is spelled out in the Liturgucal documents. The Homily is used to teach and explain and apply the Scripture readings just read.

 

[geezerbob]

Unfortunately, some priests can really stretch the readings into some not-so-good homilies. Our former priest, RIP, had a knack for relating about a quarter of the readings to justifying the magisterium. Once a year, maybe, but the rest of the time it seemed like he was preaching to the choir. I haven’t heard our new priest preach yet but the two new deacons are doing a wonderful job with their homilies.

 

[puzzleannie]

what the Catholic preacher cannot do is choose his text, as some Evangelical preachers do. The readings that must form the basis of the homily are in the 3-year lectionary cycle used by the universal Church. Some mainline Protestant denominations also follow this revised lectionary, but what their rules are in preaching from the readings are I have no idea, I suspect it varies. Formation of candidates and catechumens in the RCIA process is also intended to draw from the readings, although systematic catechisis based on the organization of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is also part of the process.

 

[FrRobSST]

It is the privilige and responsibility of the homilist at Mass to preach on the texts provided by the Lectionary of their rite.

The appropriate place for a sermon (i.e., topical preaching) might well be at Vespers and Benediction, or - for those parishes where the Liturgy of the Hours is celebrated publically, at whatever hour is best attended. This is also the place where it is most appropriate to, and easiest to get a dispensation for, reading the scriptures in course (especially on ferial weekdays) which tends to help those who are planning to ‘preach-in-course’ as it is called.

The only time that a series of homilies could easily be preached would be on those Sundays where each week’s Sunday lectionary provides an in-course reading of an epistle…

Rob+