Is this allowed at mass...

[MrsMeganMc]

My husband and I were traveling this weekend, so we went to a nearby parish instead of our usual.

The priest actually gave his homily before the first reading.

I was so confused as to why he kept talking that I felt very distracted.

So then there were the readings and the gospel - but went straight into the creed.

Just curious as to if this is against any rules or if it is just up to the priest’s discretion.

Thanks!

 

[benedictgal]

My husband and I were traveling this weekend, so we went to a nearby parish instead of our usual.

The priest actually gave his homily before the first reading.

I was so confused as to why he kept talking that I felt very distracted.

So then there were the readings and the gospel - but went straight into the creed.

Just curious as to if this is against any rules or if it is just up to the priest’s discretion.

Thanks!

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal notes that the there should be a sequential order:

Frist Reading
Respnsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Proclamation of the Gospel
Homily
Creed
General Intercession

One should not be deviating from the normal flow of things. In fact, Redemptionis Sacrament, although starting off with the matter of the Eucharistic bread and the Eucharistic Prayer, follows the general flow of the Mass as it outlines point-by-point what is supposed to happen.

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM):
“66. … 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 …”.

Was there a “serious reason”?

From the Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass:
“15. There may be concise introductions before the readings, especially the first. The style proper to such comments must be respected, that is, they must be simple, faithful to the text, brief, well prepared, and properly varied to suit the text they introduce.”

From the GIRM:
“31. … The presiding priest is also to direct the word of God and to impart the final blessing. In addition, he may give the faithful a very brief introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Act of Penitence), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings) …”

(To look up the GIRM, go to romanrite.com/girm.html .)

 

[MrsMeganMc]

It was not an introduction…is was a full blown homily. 10-15 mins in length.

 

[MrsMeganMc]

That also reminded me.

The priest did not say “do this in memory of me” during the consecration of the bread - but he did during the consecration of the wine.

Does that matter?

 

[PacoG]

That also reminded me.

The priest did not say “do this in memory of me” during the consecration of the bread - but he did during the consecration of the wine.

Does that matter?

The text doesn’t include “do this in memory of me” in the words of consecration of the bread, only the wine.

I quote from Eucharistic Prayer #1 (the Roman Canon); however, it is the same no matter which Eucharastic Prayer because Pope Paul VI dictated it that the words of Christ would be the same in all Eucharistic Prayers.

The day before he suffered he took break in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.

When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

 

[MrsMeganMc]

The text doesn’t include “do this in memory of me” in the words of consecration of the bread, only the wine.

I quote from Eucharistic Prayer #1 (the Roman Canon); however, it is the same no matter which Eucharastic Prayer because Pope Paul VI dictated it that the words of Christ would be the same in all Eucharistic Prayers.

The day before he suffered he took break in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.

When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

Ah! I stand corrected - thank you!

 

[Asillia]

I just had to comment because my husband’s parents and brother (along with his wife and young son) came to visit this week. There are a lot of Catholic churches where we live and the one we typically go to (which we are SO happy with) isn’t very child friendly (not a lot of good places to set and take a fussy child out discreetly).

We decided to try one of the others and we were also flummoxed when the priest’s “introduction” to the readings kept going on…and on…and on - and I realized he was giving a homily! Sure enough, we skipped right to the Creed after the Gospel.

We saw some other friends afterwards who typically attend that Church. I asked if the priest always does that, thinking it might just have been a mistake, and they said that particular priest always does.

I was wondering if it was allowed or not and I told my husband he should come to the Catholic Answers forum to look…and we did a search and sure enough here is the exact same question.

Although it doesn’t seem like it is expressly forbidden anywhere, it seems to me the rule should be that something needs to be specifically allowed, instead of the Church having to actually forbid it.

 

[passus]

That’s incredibly silly. It doesn’t really make sense to homilize on readings that haven’t been proclaimed yet.

 

[FrDavid96]

My husband and I were traveling this weekend, so we went to a nearby parish instead of our usual.

The priest actually gave his homily before the first reading.

I was so confused as to why he kept talking that I felt very distracted.

So then there were the readings and the gospel - but went straight into the creed.

Just curious as to if this is against any rules or if it is just up to the priest’s discretion.

Thanks!

The various parts of the Mass must be done in the order which the Church describes. They cannot be moved around.

 

[Joan_M]

Although it doesn’t seem like it is expressly forbidden anywhere, it seems to me the rule should be that something needs to be specifically allowed, instead of the Church having to actually forbid it.

You are quite right - it is not forbidden anywhere. Some people have the opinion that, if something is not stated to be forbidden, then it is ok to do. This is not so.

The General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and the rubrics in the Missal (instructions printed in red) are prescriptive - they tell us what to do. They are not proscriptive, telling us what not to do. So, we will not see anything spelled out as forbidden. Quite simply, if the GIRM or the rubrics do not tell us to do something, it should not be done.

 

[benedictgal]

You are quite right - it is not forbidden anywhere. Some people have the opinion that, if something is not stated to be forbidden, then it is ok to do. This is not so.

The General Instructions of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and the rubrics in the Missal (instructions printed in red) are prescriptive - they tell us what to do. They are not proscriptive, telling us what not to do. So, we will not see anything spelled out as forbidden. Quite simply, if the GIRM or the rubrics do not tell us to do something, it should not be done.

But, just because something is absent, that does not give us carte blanche to insert things as we please. Note what the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy has to say:

1. Therefore no other person, even if he be a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the Liturgy on his own authority.

1. That sound tradition may be retained, and yet the way remain open to legitimate progress, careful investigation is always to be made into each part of the Liturgy which is to be revised. This investigation should be theological, historical, and pastoral. Also the general laws governing the structure and meaning of the Liturgy must be studied in conjunction with the experience derived from recent liturgical reforms and from the indults conceded to various places. Finally, there must be no innovations unless the good of the Church genuinely and certainly requires them; and care must be taken that any new forms adopted should in some way grow organically from forms already existing.

Thus, there is already some line of demarkation established.

 

[JerrySeibert]

Have you spoken with the Pastor? If he does not follow the GIRM he needs to at least be warned. If he gives no response I would attempt to inform the Bishop.