Lay people giving homilies

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I just have a question after reading in Karl Keating’s newsletter that no non ordained people are to give homilies at Sunday Mass. Does that also mean at daily Mass?
 
janet ross:
I just have a question after reading in Karl Keating’s newsletter that no non ordained people are to give homilies at Sunday Mass. Does that also mean at daily Mass?
Yup. Unless there’s no priest there in which case it’s not a Mass, but a communion service or a Liturgy of the Word. In that case a layperson is allowed to.
 
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tkdnick:
Yup. Unless there’s no priest there in which case it’s not a Mass, but a communion service or a Liturgy of the Word. In that case a layperson is allowed to.
Yes…tkdnick is right…
check here for more discussion on Karls e letter

forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=1050004&postcount=1
 
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tkdnick:
Yup. Unless there’s no priest there in which case it’s not a Mass, but a communion service or a Liturgy of the Word. In that case a layperson is allowed to.
IF it’s a Communion service the homily should be omitted in my opinion.
 
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tkdnick:
Yup. Unless there’s no priest there in which case it’s not a Mass, but a communion service or a Liturgy of the Word. In that case a layperson is allowed to.
Actually my understanding (having done it in a small community which only had a fortnightly mass) was that the lay person could read the homily (pre-prepared) but not give it. I used to read the homily provided by the parish priest.
 
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InnocentIII:
Actually my understanding (having done it in a small community which only had a fortnightly mass) was that the lay person could read the homily (pre-prepared) but not give it. I used to read the homily provided by the parish priest.
It’s up to the bishop. If the bishop’s instructions are to read a pre-prepared reflection on the readings (i.e., what would be the homily if this were a Mass), then that’s what should be done. If the bishop’s instructions are to designate a qualified lay person to actually give the reflection, then that’s what should be done.
 
Thank you for your responses. I have just been e-mailed
Redemptoris Sacramentum CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENT given on March 25, 2004. That does it for me.
INSTRUCTION

Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

[64.] The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself,[142] "should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.[143]

[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.

66.] The prohibition of the admission of laypersons to preach within the Mass applies also to seminarians, students of theological disciplines, and those who have assumed the function of those known as “pastoral assistants”; nor is there to be any exception for any other kind of layperson, or group, or community, or association.[146]
 
janet ross:
Thank you for your responses. I have just been e-mailed
Redemptoris Sacramentum CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENT given on March 25, 2004. That does it for me.
INSTRUCTION

Redemptionis Sacramentum

On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist

[64.] The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself,[142] "should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.[143]

[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.

66.] The prohibition of the admission of laypersons to preach within the Mass applies also to seminarians, students of theological disciplines, and those who have assumed the function of those known as “pastoral assistants”; nor is there to be any exception for any other kind of layperson, or group, or community, or association.[146]
I knew it wasn’t an optional “depends on the bishop” thing. Laypersons may read the reflection but not prepare it themselves or deliver their own reflections on the readings.
 
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InnocentIII:
I knew it wasn’t an optional “depends on the bishop” thing. Laypersons may read the reflection but not prepare it themselves or deliver their own reflections on the readings.
We’ve already discussed this here. The sections quoted from Redemptionis Sacramentum are specific to Mass, and do not apply to communion services.
 
janet ross:
I just have a question after reading in Karl Keating’s newsletter that no non ordained people are to give homilies at Sunday Mass. Does that also mean at daily Mass?
I’ve never heard of anyone other than a Priest or Deacon doing the Homily. I’m pretty sure that is the Churches stand on this issue.
 
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Michael038:
I’ve never heard of anyone other than a Priest or Deacon doing the Homily. I’m pretty sure that is the Churches stand on this issue.
I heard of it recently at a local parish here in San Diego County. A friend of mine has been deeply troubled listening to a layperson each weekday say the homily, which they call a ‘reflection’.
A rose by any other name…She has voiced her objection to the layperson and was told he has to be obedient to the pastor.
 
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