Homily by a nun

[PRohr]

I’m confused about who can do a homily. I read it needed to be by the Priest of Deacon. We have a nun who runs our Parish and visiting priests saying Mass. She gives the homily about once a month. Lately, the Priest has been giving a short (3-4 minute) opening. I’m unconfortable with her, but everyone else loves her homily.

 

[DJJG]

The only ones who can give the homily, which is the preaching on the readings ***at mass ***is a priest or deacon. AND the deacon, is only to give it occationaly with a good reason. No LAY person may give the homily for any reason. This is emphasized in Redemptoris Sactramentum. It used to be sketchy as to wether a lay person could read the ho,ily, if the priest wrote it and was unable to give it himself (sore throat, throat cancer, etc.) but the R. S. states NO!:nope:

 

[Bruised_Reed]

No one should be confused about this after that.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

PRohr:

I’m confused about who can do a homily. I read it needed to be by the Priest of Deacon. We have a nun who runs our Parish and visiting priests saying Mass. She gives the homily about once a month. Lately, the Priest has been giving a short (3-4 minute) opening. I’m unconfortable with her, but everyone else loves her homily.

What you are up against is that they are following the rule to the letter and using a technicality. The GIRM does state that only a Priest or Deacon may give the homily at Mass. The visiting priest does in fact give the “offical” 3-4 minute homily. The Nun then gives a personal reflection which is allowed in certain circumstances. Until the Bishop steps in, or a visiting priest says “no you won’t” you will be powerless to stop this .

 

[mercygate]

Br. Rich SFO:

What you are up against is that they are following the rule to the letter and using a technicality. The GIRM does state that only a Priest or Deacon may give the homily at Mass. The visiting priest does in fact give the “offical” 3-4 minute homily. The Nun then gives a personal reflection which is allowed in certain circumstances. Until the Bishop steps in, or a visiting priest says “no you won’t” you will be powerless to stop this .

Even if the bishop says to stop, must they since they are technically following the rule? How would the bishop stop this, even if he wanted to? How would he even know it is continuing? Chances are pretty good that nobody in the parish would be willing to be known as the one who “ratted out” the pastor . . .

 

[rfk]

Just so you know the relevant sections to quote in your letter to your Bishop:

From THE LITURGY OF THE WORD chapter in the latest General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):

1. The Homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person.65 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.

There is to be a homily on Sundays and holy days of obligation at all Masses that are celebrated with the participation of a congregation; it may not be omitted without a serious reason. It is recommended on other days, especially on the weekdays of Advent, Lent, and the Easter Season, as well as on other festive days and occasions when the people come to church in greater numbers.66

After the homily a brief period of silence is appropriately observed.

Also, from Redemptionis Sacramentum

[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.

In other words, it is forbidden.
Br. Rich SFO Quote:

The GIRM does state that only a Priest or Deacon may give the homily at Mass. The visiting priest does in fact give the “offical” 3-4 minute homily. The Nun then gives a personal reflection which is allowed in certain circumstances. Until the Bishop steps in, or a visiting priest says “no you won’t” you will be powerless to stop this .

However, Redemptionis Sacramentum makes it clear that the “technicality” is no longer allowed. Layperson remarks must be (rarely) made after communion:

[74.] If the need arises for the gathered faithful to be given instruction or testimony by a layperson in a Church concerning the Christian life, it is altogether preferable that this be done outside Mass. Nevertheless, for serious reasons it is permissible that this type of instruction or testimony be given after the Priest has proclaimed the Prayer after Communion. This should not become a regular practice, however. Furthermore, these instructions and testimony should not be of such a nature that they could be confused with the homily,[156] nor is it permissible to dispense with the homily on their account.

Bottom line, write to your Bishop. Use these quotes if you want to, although he knows it is not allowed. I live in a diocese with a liberal Bishop who tolterates a lot of liturgical abuse, yet he put a stop to women homilies when enough complaints were heard.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

It’s very sad that you only have visiting priests. As much as quoting the law, I feel that this situation requires prayer for vocations. In parishes that have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for vocations, some very good results have been seen.

God bless,
Deacon Tony SFO

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

mercygate:

Even if the bishop says to stop, must they since they are technically following the rule? How would the bishop stop this, even if he wanted to? How would he even know it is continuing? Chances are pretty good that nobody in the parish would be willing to be known as the one who “ratted out” the pastor . . .

The Bishop won’t know unless you tell him. As rfk pointed out the loophole is closed with RS. To control this the Bishop could (as one did) make it a rule no one speaks in parishes any parish in his diocese without his approval being received first. Who and what they are going to say must be submitted and reviewed before he will approve. He can then say they can only speak in the gathering space during the fellowship time after the Mass.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

We recently had a tragedy at the Cathedral. During a mass celebrating her order’s anniversary a sister fell in the sanctuary, struck her head on the stone floor and died.

It was interesting that the news story noted that she was just stepping down from the Ambo after giving the homily.

Don’t count on the bishop to step in.

 

[rfk]

Deacon Tony560:

It’s very sad that you only have visiting priests. As much as quoting the law, I feel that this situation requires prayer for vocations. In parishes that have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for vocations, some very good results have been seen.

I agree that it is very sad. In fact, while discussing the general subject of extraordinary ministers assisting in the celebration of the Liturgy, Redemptionis Sacramentum makes the very same point:

[151.] Only out of true necessity is there to be recourse to the assistance of extraordinary ministers in the celebration of the Liturgy. Such recourse is not intended for the sake of a fuller participation of the laity but rather, by its very nature, is supplementary and provisional.[252] Furthermore, when recourse is had out of necessity to the functions of extraordinary ministers, special urgent prayers of intercession should be multiplied that the Lord may soon send a Priest for the service of the community and raise up an abundance of vocations to sacred Orders.[253]

Regarding Eucharistic Adoration and vocations, I am also reminded that priest shortages are most common in less-orthodox or even heterodox Dioceses. I believe there is a direct linkage between the diocese allowing the non-ordained to give homilies, and the priest shortage that requires them to rely upon visiting priests.

 

[hermit]

Who cares who gives the homily as long as it is interesting and has spiritual value. I have had to suffer through homilies that were best taped and sold to insomniacs.

 

[Brendan]

Here in Detroit, Cardinal Maida has made it abundantly clear that if a parish is to have a ‘Parish Administrator’ that person must be a Deacon.

Something like that would solve the situation nicely.

 

[KennySe]

hermit:

Who cares who gives the homily as long as it is interesting and has spiritual value.

The Catholic Church and Her teaching authority, and Her faithful members care who gives the homily.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Well put, Kenny.

I guess it would be all right for some people to hear anyone from a Catholic nun to a Buddhist monk “do the homily”, provided it interested them and gave them a “spiritual” feeling.

But we’re all different. What “interests” me and makes me “feel spiritual” might not be the same as what “interests” you. . .or another poster. Who gets to “choose?” Are things all “relative”?

As for “spiritual value”. . .oh, please. Values, yet. How about a good solid thwacking dose of ORTHODOXY as our “spiritual value” for a change???

Again, good post from you, Kenny. Bottom line, we have a church which teaches us. Learning isn’t always FUN, exciting, interesting, or even perceived to be “valued” at the time one is learning. . .and real learning requires a point where the one being taught has to stop the questions and process the information s/he already has, IMO.