Homily for Good Friday

[Vox_Borealis]

Our parish sent out a flyer for the mass schedule for Holy Week. The mass for Good Friday, we are told, will be celebrated by one of the parish priests, but the homily will be given by an Anglican priest.The Anglican priest is pastor of a nearby Anglican church with which our parish does a good bit of interfaith charitable work, so I suspect this is a gesture of goodwill and ecumenism.

But normally our pastor is very strict with liturgical norms, so I was surprised to see this (since, I thought, only ordained are allowed to give the homily). Is this allowed?

If so, is it because Anglican priests count as “ordained” for the purposes of homilies (but not, of course, consecration of the Eucharist)?

Or would it be allowed because Good Friday is not technically a mass?

Or is this an abuse?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Vox Borealis:

Our parish sent out a flyer for the mass schedule for Holy Week. The mass for Good Friday, we are told, will be celebrated by one of the parish priests, but the homily will be given by an Anglican priest.The Anglican priest is pastor of a nearby Anglican church with which our parish does a good bit of interfaith charitable work, so I suspect this is a gesture of goodwill and ecumenism.

But normally our pastor is very strict with liturgical norms, so I was surprised to see this (since, I thought, only ordained are allowed to give the homily). Is this allowed?

If so, is it because Anglican priests count as “ordained” for the purposes of homilies (but not, of course, consecration of the Eucharist)?

Or would it be allowed because Good Friday is not technically a mass?

Or is this an abuse?

There is no Mass celebrated on Good Friday!!

This could be allowed with the Bishops permission since no Mass will be celebrated so it’s not a Homily. However usually an Ecumenical service would not include Holy Communion because non-Catholics would not be able to receive. Anglican priests are NOT ordained period, they are lay ministers and nothing more.

 

[Vox_Borealis]

Br. Rich SFO:

There is no Mass celebrated on good Friday!!

Yes, as I noted.

So, then, is it ok for non-(Catholic) priests or deacons to deliver the homily.

 

[puzzleannie]

if it is not during Mass it is by definition not a homily, so since it seems this is an ecumenical service there is no problem with this minister giving an address. Presumably the priest has a good idea of the contents of his remarks and they are on topics Christians can agree upon.

 

[jbuck919]

I’m going to leave this up to the expert who will ultimately quote us the latest official rubric on this, but though Good Friday service is not a Mass, it as an official and solemn ceremony of the church at which communion is distributed if not consecrated. It is hard for me to see how a minister from another denomination has a place preaching there.

Actually, though I know it is allowed and customary, I don’t know why there is a sermon/homily on Good Friday at all. If I remember correctly, it is optional, and to my mind it blurs the distinction between this day and all others to have preaching.

 

[Vox_Borealis]

Annie and Br. Rich, thanks!

Oh yes–sorry Br. Rich, I did not see the second half of your response for some reason, so I missed your explanation.

This is an interesting question, at least to me. While Good Friday service is not a mass (and so, technically, no ‘homily’), I assume there are rubrics for its celebration. I mean, it certainly can’t be right for there to be, say, liturgical dancers (shrouded in purple!) during a Good Friday service.

Also, if I am correct, this is not strictly an ecumenical sevice–that is, it does not seem to be the case that non-Catholics are expected to be in attendance. And there will be the distribution of Communion, I think.

Hmmm, learn something every day…

 

[m134e5]

Vox Borealis:

Our parish sent out a flyer for the mass schedule for Holy Week. The mass for Good Friday, we are told, will be celebrated by one of the parish priests,

Mass is not to be celebrated on Good Friday at all. It is to be a communion service, using Hosts that were consecrated at the Holy Thursday Mass (extra hosts should be consecrated at this Mass)
Vox Borealis:

but the homily will be given by an Anglican priest.The Anglican priest is pastor of a nearby Anglican church with which our parish does a good bit of interfaith charitable work, so I suspect this is a gesture of goodwill and ecumenism.

It is not a good gesture of goodwill or ecumenism to pretend that a unity exists which does not.
Vox Borealis:

But normally our pastor is very strict with liturgical norms

Not this time.
Vox Borealis:

Is this allowed?

No
Vox Borealis:

If so, is it because Anglican priests count as “ordained” for the purposes of homilies (but not, of course, consecration of the Eucharist)?

They are not “ordained” at all. This is an abuse- plain and simple.
Vox Borealis:

Or would it be allowed because Good Friday is not technically a mass?

It is still a liturgy- and liturgical norms are to be followed for it.
Vox Borealis:

is this an abuse?

Yes