Homily confusion

  • Thread starter Thread starter brgregmack
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

brgregmack

Guest
At the end of his homily at Mass this evening, the deacon put his hands up in the air and exclaimed, “Receive the Holy Spirit!”

What’s this about and should he have even done it???:confused:

It felt very awkward and out of place. Don’t get me wrong, I love his zeal, which makes up for plenty of confusing homilies.
 
Sounds like he was encouraging you to receive the Holy Spirit. Where’s the problem?
 
MarkThompson said:
Sounds like he was encouraging you to receive the Holy Spirit. Where’s the problem?
Click to expand...
Just the way he did made it feel so out of place. I don’t think he’ll ever be a good homilist, but it’s obvious that he loves Christ. That makes up for a lot.:whacky:
 
Seems a little Pentecostal to me. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it does seem kind of “out of place”. What was the context of his saying that?
 
I really dont think this worth a thread. Give the poor guy a break.
 
The first reading for this weekend describes how the Holy Spirit “fell on” a group of people. If the deacon preached on that reading, what he said seems like a perfectly reasonable way to end a homily. Hardly awkward or out of place. Perhaps paying more attention to the readings would make it easier to understand what’s going on in the homily…
 
He sounds a little too fundamentalist for my likings, but as long as he didn’t change the words to the Eucharistic Prayer, its still a valid Mass. Maybe just out of place and strange, but still valid.
 
CatholicZ09 said:
Seems a little Pentecostal to me. There’s nothing wrong with it, but it does seem kind of “out of place”. What was the context of his saying that?
Click to expand...
He was talking about how he’s learned more from his marriage than his ministry as a deacon, then went on about the birth of his kids and trying to understand the bond of mother and child… it had nothing to do with the readings.
 
NickVA said:
I really dont think this worth a thread. Give the poor guy a break.
Click to expand...
I am giving him a break. I recognize the sincerity in his efforts, even if his homilies are more confusing than helpful. I think his sincerity and zeal is the way God is using him to build up His Church.

I was just wondering if in ending the way he did would merit gentle and charitable correction.
 
bendettoxvi said:
He sounds a little too fundamentalist for my likings, but as long as he didn’t change the words to the Eucharistic Prayer, its still a valid Mass. Maybe just out of place and strange, but still valid.
Click to expand...
If the deacon isn’t changing he words to the EP, it’s still a valid Mass, eh? 😉
 
brgregmack said:
I am giving him a break. I recognize the sincerity in his efforts, even if his homilies are more confusing than helpful. I think his sincerity and zeal is the way God is using him to build up His Church.

I was just wondering if in ending the way he did would merit gentle and charitable correction.
Click to expand...
I’d be curious to know what kind of “correction” you feel appropriate for the “error” of mentioning the Holy Spirit at the end of a homily. You must perforce think it IS an error, else why should a " correction" be considered? And the “error” would be …?
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
I’d be curious to know what kind of “correction” you feel appropriate for the “error” of mentioning the Holy Spirit at the end of a homily. You must perforce think it IS an error, else why should a " correction" be considered? And the “error” would be …?
Click to expand...
Giving a blessing at an inappropriate time perhaps… in any case, it wouldn’t be my place to bring it up. Our pastor would probably have said something to him afterwards.

I just wanted to check the accuracy/inaccuracy of my perspective.
 
That priest has succeeded then hasn’t he. He has made you listen, even if you did only sit up at the end and took notice of his ending.

the things we get worried about 😛
 
  1. There is no reason a deacon or priest cannot include a blessing in his homily.
  2. “Receive the Holy Spirit” may have been more of an admonition than a “blessing” per se.
  3. I do not think the deacon needs “correcting” in this matter, and if he does, it should probably come from the pastor (or bishop, at whose pleasure the deacon serves). I do not know the deacon, but he might interpret a “correction” from you as a sign that, well, you just haven’t received the Holy Spirit. 😉
  4. It would be far better to have asked the deacon in person what he meant by it, and why he did it, rather than to ask a bunch of internet strangers for their opinions about an event you’re reporting.
And to the poster who said this deacon seems “fundamentalist”… receiving the Holy Spirit is pretty fundamental!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top