Joke homilies

[Bran_Stark]

Honestly, the conclusion I’ve come to over the years is that our seminaries do a lousy job of teaching homiletics. Most priests get a slight bit of training in what is, after all, public speaking, but it’s nowhere near enough. That’s why you get priests reading their written homilies aloud, working off index cards, thinking you have to “open with a joke,” and generally stumbling through their homilies. God bless them, they have way too much on their plates, so I get where they’re coming from. I just wish they had better training in how to give homilies.

I don’t think there’s anything bad about reading from a written sermon, as long as it’s well-written and you deliver it in a lively manner.

 

[catholictiger]

I don’t think there’s anything bad about reading from a written sermon, as long as it’s well-written and you deliver it in a lively manner.

I don’t have an issue with written homilies as well there are some priests who just aren’t as good at public speaking as others, as long as he doesn’t stare at the paper and tries to engage the people he is fine.

 

[Patrick1540]

I’ve heard Michael Voris and a couple others mention homilies that are essentially nothing but a mini-standup routine but had never actually seen one until this past week. Before I get to that, though, I should mention that my regular priest will often throw in a joke or amusing anecdote into his homily. It’s generally somehow related to the gospel or readings, and always helps him make his point.

This past week, though, I went to a different parish. They had a visiting priest and at first he seemed really engaging. He had a strong, clear voice and sounded very enthusiastic. His delivery of the gospel was engaging and really got me geared up for a great homily. What we got, though, was a joke. Literally.

In all fairness, it was pretty amusing and gave me a chuckle. However, after getting his laugh, he basically told everyone to go out and enjoy their Sunday then went on with the Mass.

Now, this wasn’t my priest and not one I’ll likely see again so this isn’t something I’d try to address with him or go over his head or anything, but I was curious to know if anyone else had to deal with anything similar. I could see letting it slide once in a great while from my regular priest, but if every Sunday became his chance to dust off some old Henny Youngman routines, I don’t think I’d be able to hold my tongue.

I would rather have a priest that jokes, than a grouchy one that puts me to sleep. I’m pretty sure Jesus had a good sense of humor.An God the Father for some animals that he Created.This may not be popular, but we need to lighten up some times, specially in a world full of negatives. I joking gets the message across in the homily,than I say go for it.
God Bless

 

[Cathryn]

I too believe Jesus Christ had a sense of humor. Archbishop Fulton Sheen frequently used humor in his homilies and really connected with people in spreading the gospel.

 

[Patrick1540]

I too believe Jesus Christ had a sense of humor. Archbishop Fulton Sheen frequently used humor in his homilies and really connected with people in spreading the gospel.

Amen! He was one of the Greats and always made me laugh. Love Archbishop Sheen.
God Bless

 

[poche]

St Anthony was known for using humor when he preached. St did St Philip Neri. I don’t know what this priest said so I couldn’t comment on his homily.

 

[Gordon_Sims]

I’ll have to concede that he at least got through to my 10-year-old daughter. We were talking earlier today, more than two weeks after the actual Mass, and she said, “It’s just like father said with his joke in that homily, ‘you have to help yourself before God can help you.’” Now, he never used those words or summed up his joke in any way, but my daughter got a good message from it and it stuck with her, so I can’t really be as bothered by it as I was initially. Plus, I’m thrilled that she was paying attention and putting the right effort so that she took something away from Mass.

 

[thomasf]

Our parish priest/pastor’s homilies consist of a joke and about 3 minutes of discussion of the gospel. Every week, same thing. The jokes are usually not funny either. And the homilies are not very good. It’s a real bummer, our last pastor gave great homilies and I really liked them.

 

[MidnightSun12]

The Church I was confirmed in was quite liberal and often had homilies that had people in the pews laughing so loud that it was similar to what you would expect to hear at a comedy festival. Usually there was a general focus on Catholic teaching throughout the homily although it was forgettable and rarely gave instructions for becoming a better Catholic. The jokes actually had the opposite effect and drove the holiness completely away from the mass. by the end of the homily, it didn’t even feel like you were attending a mass anymore (which might have been the intention stemming from the misconception that the mass is somehow boring).

I’ll give credit where credit is due… the jokes were quite funny, this particular priest would have made a fantastic comedian that I could see people actually paying to go see. That said, it has absolutely no place inside the mass. The focus of the mass needs to be on Christ and Christ alone. If any of us could comprehend the significance of the holy sacrifice of the mass, we would be in utter awe for an entire day before witnessing our Lord transform Himself into bread and wine. Sitting before our Lord drunk with laughter mere minutes before His Holy sacrifice reminds me a lot of the soldiers who casted lots in front of Jesus as He was dying on the cross…