Interactive homilies?

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Is it okay for the Priest to encourage the laity to interact with him in the homily by asking questions and looking to the congregation for answers?

In a recent mass I attended the priest would says something and then say, “And what verse was that again?” The congregation would say, “John 3:5”! or whatever. And he’ll say something like, “and which Pope said that???” The congregation would yell out, “Pius XII!” or whatever…

is this okay?
 
Absolutely, it’s okay!

Homilies are there to impart the Faith as that Mass’s readings touch our lives in the here and now.

Homilies are sometimes to be educational. Father was using a tried-and-true method for transferring learning (as we instructional designers and catechists call it) such that the learner will remember the learning.

Thank the Lord that you have a priest who does this. There’s no reason at all for him not to do that.

👍 👍 👍
 
Although the giving of a homily by the non-ordained is reprobated (most recently in Redemptionis Sacramentum), I don’t believe I have ever seen a teaching which prohibits interaction with the congregation.
 
Back in the old days, when the homily was called a sermon, it was a common thing to have the priest interact with the community and ask questions. This happened especially at special “Childrens’ Mass.” Back when parishes had 2 or more priests, they had a special childrens’ mass each Sunday. When a priest does this now, eyebrows are raised. In the old days, the priest was often the most educated person in the parish. Now with many college grads in parishes, these educated people don’t appreciate being asked questions. (That they probably can’t answer.) Don’t throw things- just making a point.

May God bless you,
Deacon Tony SFO
 
Deacon Tony560:
Back in the old days, when the homily was called a sermon, it was a common thing to have the priest interact with the community and ask questions. This happened especially at special “Childrens’ Mass.” Back when parishes had 2 or more priests, they had a special childrens’ mass each Sunday. When a priest does this now, eyebrows are raised. In the old days, the priest was often the most educated person in the parish. Now with many college grads in parishes, these educated people don’t appreciate being asked questions. (That they probably can’t answer.) Don’t throw things- just making a point.

May God bless you,
Deacon Tony SFO
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When you say “old days” what time period are you speaking of?

thanks,
James_2:24
 
Deacon Tony560:
Back in the old days, when the homily was called a sermon, …

May God bless you,
Deacon Tony SFO
Click to expand...
I believe that there is a distinction between a homily and a sermon.

“Since Origen’s time homily has meant, and still means, a commentary, without formal introduction, division, or conclusion, on some part of Sacred Scripture, the aim being to explain the literal, and evolve the spiritual, meaning of the Sacred Text…” Catholic Encyclopaedia

A homily explains or comment on the scripture, usually the readings of the day.

Whereas a sermon could be a talk about dress codes at mass, abortion, sin, or other moral issues, etc
 
Veronica Anne:
Absolutely, it’s okay!
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Right. Turn the altar into a classroom.

Having the congregation yell out the answer to loaded dumb-as-dirt questions is a form of crowd manipulation and mind control, not education and certainly not the means of building faith.

I think you confuse what a sermon is supposed to be with a pep rally. – Albert Cipriani the Traditional Catholic
http://www.geocities.com/albert_cipriani/index.html

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReligiousPhilosophy/
 
I’m with Albert on this.

Seems to me another excuse for a priest to cover up the reality of having said no prayers all week.

The best homilies are surely the fruit of sometimes long prayerful reflection and it is is the Holy Spirit that leads the way in this not the mood in which priest or people fall out of bed each morning.

As for the example described above James…that doesn’t feel like a homily to me, more like quiz night down at the local pub.
 
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