Homily

[David_Ereai]

I have heard from our parishioners that during sunday Mass Our bishop allowed an Anglican bishop who also attend the mass to say the homily. This Anglican Bishop is attending the mass as his farewell with the Catholic bishop. Is this permissible for bishops to do that?

 

[Aramis]

I have heard from our parishioners that during sunday Mass Our bishop allowed an Anglican bishop who also attend the mass to say the homily. This Anglican Bishop is attending the mass as his farewell with the Catholic bishop. Is this permissible for bishops to do that?

It’s irregular, and permitted under the ecumenical guidelines, but not as a normative practice.

 

[FrDavid96]

I have heard from our parishioners that during sunday Mass Our bishop allowed an Anglican bishop who also attend the mass to say the homily. This Anglican Bishop is attending the mass as his farewell with the Catholic bishop. Is this permissible for bishops to do that?

No. The homily is reserved to a priest (presbyter or bishop) or the deacon. It may never be given by anyone else.

It might be possible for a validly ordained priest or deacon of an Orthodox Church, but an Anglican “bishop” may never deliver the homily at any Mass.

 

[japhy]

It’s irregular, and permitted under the ecumenical guidelines, but not as a normative practice.

Which “ecumenical guidelines” permit it? In the Directory of Principles and Norms of Ecumenism (1993), I see two references to the homily. Article 67 does not seem relevant, but article 134 does:
67. The parish, as an ecclesial unity gathered around the Eucharist, should be, and proclaim itself to be the place of authentic ecumenical witness. Thus a great task for the parish is to educate its members in the ecumenical spirit. This calls for care with the content and form of preaching, especially of the homily, and with catechesis. It calls too for a pastoral programme which involves someone charged with promoting and planning ecumenical activity, working in close harmony with the parish priest; this will help in the various forms of collaboration with the corresponding parishes of other Christians. Finally it demands that the parish be not torn apart by internal polemics, ideological polarization or mutual recrimination between Christians, but that everyone, according to his or her own spirit and calling, serve the truth in love.

1. In the Catholic Eucharistic Liturgy, the homily which forms part of the liturgy itself is reserved to the priest or deacon, since it is the presentation of the mysteries of faith and the norms of Christian living in accordance with Catholic teaching and tradition.

 

[FrDavid96]

Also see 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.”

That makes it quite clear that no one other than an ordained priest or deacon may deliver the homily, even if there is a previous law or instruction permitting it, or even if there was a custom permitting it. Again, an Anglican “bishop” may never preach the homily at Mass.

 

[MusicMan]

As the OP’s information comes second hand, I would wonder about the accuracy of the concerns. It is entirely possible that the Catholic Bishop gave a brief homily and then allowed the Anglican Bishop to make a statement or a reflection. It is also possible that the Anglican Bishop gave his “homily” immediately prior to the post-Communion prayer, where such a thing would be allowed, and that the person who told the OP about this situation relayed the information wrong.