Homilies too weak?

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11101 said:
According to a Pew Poll done on why Catholics attend Mass, Catholics by and large don’t think the quality of the preaching matters, so the preachers do not really prepare.
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Wait – that’s one heck of a conclusion! It isn’t based on the data, even! Taking the existing data, Pew is making a claim about priests’ motives?!? That doesn’t follow directly from the data!
 
Sorry I should be clear.

I am saying, quality of preaching is a low priority for Catholics according to the polls.

So, if congregants don’t care, my guess is that priests don’t care because congregants don’t care.

Of course, that is speculation. But lack of preparation is painfully obvious when it is so.
 
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11101 said:
Of course, that is speculation.
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Yes, it is. It presumes a lack of certain disingenuousness on the part of priests.
But lack of preparation is painfully obvious when it is so.
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Are you certain it’s “lack of preparation”, and not just a reflection of “ability to deliver a speech”? Developing a talk, and successfully delivering it, are two distinct skill sets.
 
No, it doesn’t imply disengenuousness.

It implies that they are frugal with their time and don’t waste it on something their congregation doesn’t really seem to care about. Of course, I am of the impression that it (quality of preaching) does matter, but if most people disagree, then the priest, who is a product of the laity, will disagree as well.
 
And yeah, it is lack of preparation. I’ve actually met priests who admit it. They either say they don’t have time, or they think winging it is somehow better.

PS I didn’t ask for that info. In both cases it was volunteered.
 
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11101 said:
I’m being hyperbolic, obviously. But come on. You gotta admit there is a serious problem with the quality of preaching today.
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Unless you have visited all Catholic churches and heard all priests preach a homily, you are painting with a very wide brush. My pastor is getting older and knows that lately that homilies is not his strong point. When presiding, he allows a deacon to preach or he schedules some well respected priests from the seminary or retired that are excellent. The best is taking each reading one by one and explaining it fully and applying it with today.
 
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11101 said:
It implies that they are frugal with their time and don’t waste it on something their congregation doesn’t really seem to care about. Of course, I am of the impression that it (quality of preaching) does matter
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The funny thing is that your take on it – that the homily is a critically important part of the Mass – is what I’ve read that most Catholics assert, and not that “congregations don’t really seem to care.”
11101 said:
the priest, who is a product of the laity,
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I’m not sure what that means.
11101 said:
They either say they don’t have time
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So, I’m not sure what your suggestion is, then. If they don’t feel like they have enough time… then what are you suggesting they do?
 
What it sounds like you are saying is that if there are good homilists anywhere in the church, no one can give any credence to the reputation Catholic homilies have for being bad on average.

Help me understand if that is what you are not saying.
 
11101 said:
What it sounds like you are saying is that if there are good homilists anywhere in the church, no one can give any credence to the reputation Catholic homilies have for being bad on average.
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I took him to mean that, if you’ve experienced only a rather small percentage of Catholic priests and their homilies, you can’t really speak about the ‘average’ Catholic experience.
 
What I am saying is I’ve been Catholic a long time and been to a lot of parishes, and they seem to have earned their widespread reputation.

Do you really disagree?
 
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11101 said:
What I am saying is I’ve been Catholic a long time and been to a lot of parishes, and they seem to have earned their widespread reputation.

Do you really disagree?
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If I’ve been eating hamburgers for a long time and have been to a lot of hamburger joints, can I speak authoritatively on all hamburger joints… or just the ones in my area? 😉
 
I’ve lived in several states, been member of dozens of parishes (22, I think). During the almost 70 years I’ve been cognizant at Mass, that’s likely to be well over 100 priests. I can recall 2, maybe 3 sermons that I thought were blah. Most were at least thought provoking. Most I’ve taken something positive away from them. Some were spectacular. Some that I heard maybe 60 years ago still stick in my mind.

Admittedly that is one ladies view, but that data does not fit a “bad on average” rating. Far from it.
 
The main driving force in homilies seems to be to make them short. Our deacon preached last Sunday and he was prepared with a written sermon. It was somewhat technical and stiff.

The homilies are one thing, but I think the bulletins are underutilized for teaching and evangelization.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
If you want to hear about sin, find a traditional parish.
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'Tis a generalization if there ever was one. More like if you want to find people who actually know what States of Sanctifying Grace are and who are likely in them.
 
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I’m confused. Are you saying people at traditional Masses are more likely to be in states of sanctifying grace? If that’s the case, then I wouldn’t expect so many of them to be staying in the pew when it’s time to receive HolY Communion. However, as this is a digression from the “Homilies” topic, I think I will just skip this discussion, thanks.
 
Maybe, but I just don’t see that.

Our current Pastor delivers a short but VERY powerful sermon. Like getting hit with a Pyle driver. One of the Associates delivers a very detailed and thorough sermon. IF you pay attention for all 20 to 30 minutes of it, it very thoroughly covers the chosen topic. Our previous Pastor typically had a multi stage sermon… the first section covered the readings, the second was anecdotal, often humorous story, and a third section was an “application” section, often tying the story to the readings section; sometimes just describing how to apply the readings to everyday life. Typically 20 or 25 minutes. A previous associate was a fast talker. Very, very on topic and diamond sharp in getting to the heart of the message. Maybe 10 to 15 minutes.

The point is that every one of those fine priests deliver a marvelous inspiring and worthwhile message, every week. Each one does it in their own special way.

Are homilies too weak? Perhaps you’re getting out what you put in. I would offer that if you want it stronger, try putting more in to it. Sit on the edge of your seat. Hang on to every word. Challenge yourself. Why did Father use that word? If I were delivering that speech, how would I do it even better.

Then, maybe, just maybe the homolies won’t be so weak.
 
joeybaggz said:
Don’t disagree with you. My response to the OP was merely to indicate that we are both in our 70’s and have much the same feelings about homilies that are redundant and a rehash of what we have heard over and over again.
That said, I also recognize that I am not the only one in the congregation. There may be some teen or person considering converting, or new to the faith that, for them, it is the first time they may have heard the idea the celebrant is presenting. So, I sit patiently and, to be honest, most likely let my mind wander, possibly pray about something, or just tune out. I would imagine both of us (myself and the OP) recognize that others probably need to hear what we have already heard many times.
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This reminds me of a conversation that I once had with our cantor, who is about 70.

I was downstairs, in the Parish Hall, with a noisy toddler. I found him down there, putting up the Christmas tree. I commented to him that he was missing the homily. He said, “Oh, I already read the book.”
 
Do you have to accept what they say?

I walked away from a message a few months ago where the priest said men who aren’t Catholic won’t respect you (to the women), and that the Catholic men will, and basically said that Catholic girls should only date Catholic boys for this fact.

As a mixed marriage family it was really awkward and only inspired us to not come back.
 
One thing that all of us have to learn is that priests are men. They are human. Their are not infallible. They make mistakes. Sometimes they do not say or do the right thing.
We all are humans. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we all say or do something that is wrong.
What we must do is to try not to be too judgmental and we must forgive. First and foremost, we must pray.
I love the Catholic Church, but he Church has a history of some of its people not always saying or doing the right thing.
We confess or sins to God, ask for forgiveness, we are absolved, we do penance, and we receive the sacrament. Hallelujah. Amen.
 
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