Homilies given by newly ordained priests

[otjm]

So do I. Preach on the Gospel (and the Epistle), not on the hierarchy of the Church.

Your concern is too narrow to respond to, as you do not expand on what the history lesson (or bureaucratic lesson) was about.

If it was simply pedantic and totally structurally oriented, then I would agree with you. I do not see it as wrong in any way to get some history or structure, as that can often be tied to what is currently happening (e.g. who was at the first round of the synod on family, and why) as it reflects on what is currently happening in the Church; but I would want it to be tied to “where the Church is going and why”.

Having known a number of “new” priests, I find that no two are alike; and some are better than others at homiletic; a few are excellent, and a few might find that they will never be able to deliver from the pulpit.

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Sounds like the value of wonderful young Orthodox priests is lost on you. That’s a shame. Christ came to found a Church, with authority, with structure; and He has given you a gift of young priests full of zeal for the gospel.

If you don’t believe in that, and if you think the mass is just an assembly line for you to get in, get your wafer, and get out again… well then perhaps just save yourself the time altogether. Clearly you’d rather be somewhere else, hearing something besides the eternal truth of the gospel. (hint: sarcasm - no one actually wants you to go)

For every lazy cafeteria Catholic we lose, the likelihood of two of our separated protestant brethren returning to us, refreshing us and strengthening us, goes up immeasurably.

I wish all my priests had the zeal and fire you are complaining about. 10 minutes is entirely too short. And yes I have two screaming children. I want to hear the gospel. I want THEM to hear the gospel. If the sermon is 2 hours… so much the better. We are in the real presence of the Most High. We are hearing Him speak wisdom and prophecy through the mouth of His priest. I cannot get enough.

I pray that your eyes would be opened to this great beauty to which you are presently blind. It sounds like it’s just what the great Physician ordered.

I don’t think I’d characterize as “zeal” homilies that focus on Church documents, Church history, and authority issues. Newly-ordained priests likely lack a degree of life experience that makes it difficult to apply Gospel lessons to real life. And 2 hours isn’t a homily, it’s a lecture, and most certainly doesn’t belong at Mass. The place for that is parish programs, not the Liturgy. And were I the poster to whom you responded, I would be quite upset at being called “blind” for expressing an opinion on the homilies I had experienced.

 

[Estevao]

Yea Catholics are already very well catechized these days, these young priests should just stick to spiritual advice.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I don’t think I’d characterize as “zeal” homilies that focus on Church documents, Church history, and authority issues. Newly-ordained priests likely lack a degree of life experience that makes it difficult to apply Gospel lessons to real life. And 2 hours isn’t a homily, it’s a lecture, and most certainly doesn’t belong at Mass. The place for that is parish programs, not the Liturgy. And were I the poster to whom you responded, I would be quite upset at being called “blind” for expressing an opinion on the homilies I had experienced.

Well I think they have had life experience. Some don’t decide to become a priest until later. I have met some priests in their 30’s who seem very wise and give very good gospel based homilies. I suppose after you have given several homilies on the same reading you look for a different approach to present it. But I feel the homily should be as important as the rest of the Mass.

 

[felsguy]

Reminds me of the story about the priest who was asked “Father, how long does it take you to prepare a 10 minute homily?’” and he replied “2-3 days.” The he was asked “how long for a 20 minute homily?’” and he replied “at least a day.” Finally he was asked “and for a 30 minute homily?” and he said “I’m ready now.”

 

[Halligator]

are frequently too long and way too focused on the hierarchy of the Catholic Church…

That hasn’t been my experience. In the parish I most frequently attend, for the past ten years or so, we have been blessed by new priests or transitional deacons who stay a year or two, and then move on.

The recent seminary grads we get preach short, pithy homilies. They get to the point, testify of Jesus, and encourage holy behavior.

We are blessed. I hope you’re soon blessed with this sort of homilies

 

[Duane1966]

Yea Catholics are already very well catechized these days, these young priests should just stick to spiritual advice.

Agree, I would welcome a homily on communion without confession. I have heard too many homilies that I heard the year before, and the year before.

By the way, they say St. Paul preached for hours and hours.

I am there to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, not clock watch. I can surely listen to a priest of our Lord for 10 or 15 minutes longer, than the usual “10 minutes.”

 

[Duane1966]

Reminds me of the story about the priest who was asked “Father, how long does it take you to prepare a 10 minute homily?’” and he replied “2-3 days.” The he was asked “how long for a 20 minute homily?’” and he replied “at least a day.” Finally he was asked “and for a 30 minute homily?” and he said “I’m ready now.”

 

[Tigg]

Yea Catholics are already very well catechized these days, these young priests should just stick to spiritual advice.

HA! We’ve been complaining for years about the hopeless ignorance that has enveloped two lost generations of Catholics. Cover your ears……actual knowledge may be a bit of a shock.
(My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. ~Hosea 4~)

As we still await the new springtime promised to us back in the 90’s our numbers shrink, parishes are closed globally and apostasy dominates. Our morality further unravels as we exist in a cloud of confusion and the hopeful pioneering ones eagerly await the day when the Church will actually no longer teach that SS marriage and adultery are damnable. (All in the name of mercy, of course!)

Perhaps teaching a belief in objective truth and traditional morality can be accomplished in 10 minutes and those young ones who dare pursue personal holiness in their vocations or promote those dusty old devotional practices; those who encourage the practice of virtue, obedience and fidelity to the Church need to be reminded that this is a new age and although compassion and tolerance are given lip service, there will be precious little coming their way especially if their homilies exceed the allotted time. Those “virtues” have been reserved for a world where radical individualism reigns and we, the “church”, want what we want.

 

[on_the_hill]

I frequently listen to The Catholic Channel (XM radio) broadcast of the weekday morning mass from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

Cardinal Dolan’s homilies are about a minute and a half long. If that. Sometimes he’ll only say one or two sentences.

And they’re always good.

 

[HelenRose]

are frequently too long and way too focused on the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.

Stick to the lessons, fellas, and keep the homilies to ten minutes or less.

Pick Pick Pick Pick:

Discourage and denigrate:

And we wonder why young men find it hard to be priests.

Of course they are learning and of course they are full of the Holy Spirit and long to fill our hearts with their new found love. Of course they have a lot to learn. The hardest lesson of all is the constant griping picking and discouragement they receive from those in the congregation who have nothing better to do that to sit back and pick, pick, pick and pick.

I have no use what-so-ever with your attitude.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I frequently listen to The Catholic Channel (XM radio) broadcast of the weekday morning mass from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC.

Cardinal Dolan’s homilies are about a minute and a half long. If that. Sometimes he’ll only say one or two sentences.

And they’re always good.

Wow a minute and a half! That is shameful! Is it because there are so many people receiving the eucharist? That almost makes the Mass seem like a job we have to get through and the clock is ticking so I will cut the homily short.

 

[FrDavid96]

To those who complain about short homilies:

Pick up the Gospels.

Go to Luke chapter 6.
Look at your watch.
Read the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49) aloud.
Look at your watch again.

How long did that take?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

To those who complain about short homilies:

Pick up the Gospels.

Go to Luke chapter 6.
Look at your watch.
Read the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49) aloud.
Look at your watch again.

How long did that take?

:clapping::clapping::tiphat:

 

[7_Sorrows]

To those who complain about short homilies:

Pick up the Gospels.

Go to Luke chapter 6.
Look at your watch.
Read the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:20-49) aloud.
Look at your watch again.

How long did that take?

Maybe those were just the highlights. Not being sarcastic, but if I were to relate a sermon I heard I am sure I would leave something out and just give what I thought was the most important to communicate the theme of the homily. Jesus had people coming from all over to hear him and be healed.

 

[FrDavid96]

Maybe those were just the highlights. Not being sarcastic, but if I were to relate a sermon I heard I am sure I would leave something out and just give what I thought was the most important to communicate the theme of the homily. Jesus had people coming from all over to hear him and be healed.

Right.

So, if I am delivering a homily what’s wrong with speaking only the important parts to communicate the theme and leave out all the unimportant, extraneous, and superfluous parts?

If no one thinks those parts are worth remembering, why should they be worth saying in the first place?

If my parishioners leave Sunday Mass and remember almost everything I said in the homily, I think that means I did a pretty good job of it.

I once delivered a 3-word homily. 5 years later parishioners were still quoting it: word-for-word. I put that one in the “success” column.

 

[on_the_hill]

Right.

So, if I am delivering a homily what’s wrong with speaking only the important parts to communicate the theme and leave out all the unimportant, extraneous, and superfluous parts?

Except, the extras can make it more inviting, or more fun…if they’re well done.

My “complaints,” (which is almost too strong of a word) is when the homilist repeats the same concept over and over and over and over again, and never develops it beyond the initial statement, or when he clearly hadn’t thought it through. And so I sit there thinking, “Yes, we get it. Please move on.” These tend to be younger priests, although I’ve heard some older ones like that.

 

[FrDavid96]

I would rather…

Deliver a 2-minute homily…

then stop talking.

instead of…

Deliver a 2-minute homily…

surrounded by 18 minutes of meandering ramblings.

 

[SAVINGRACE]

Try attending a Catholic Church in Africa. Their homily can go for an hour or longer. Patience is a virtue. I was there for 6 months and nobody complained about the length. Okay maybe inwardly or at home but everyone looked forward to Sunday Mass, it was the HIGHLIGHT of the week.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Right.

So, if I am delivering a homily what’s wrong with speaking only the important parts to communicate the theme and leave out all the unimportant, extraneous, and superfluous parts?

If no one thinks those parts are worth remembering, why should they be worth saying in the first place?

If my parishioners leave Sunday Mass and remember almost everything I said in the homily, I think that means I did a pretty good job of it.

I once delivered a 3-word homily. 5 years later parishioners were still quoting it: word-for-word. I put that one in the “success” column.

Let me guess - “love thy neighbor”?
It must have hit home if they still remember it.
Well considering the mess our country and the world have been in the last 8 years and feeling like the world has turned upside down especially here in the u.s. would like substance and shepherding during the homily. A teaching of truth. I am not saying just because some homilies are long it means they are good, but the Mass is the one day a week when a majority of the parishoners will be present and I rhink they should use that time during the homily for shepherding the flock and if you are rushing through it and not devoting enough time the flock might feel neglected and wander off.
I know priests are busy people and I mean no disrespect, but the homily is the one time parishoners might be wanting some inspiration to strengthen their faith and help them get through another week.