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twf
Guest
Is there a provision for skipping a homily on Palm Sunday- presumably due to the length of the passion narrative? This is what I witnessed today.
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Gorgias
Guest
Yes. The rubrics in the Missal state only that, after the Gospel, a homily “may be given”, and after the Passion, “a brief homily should” be given.
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Hoosier_Daddy
Guest
We had no homily as well. I guess lots of places don’t do what we “should”
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7_Sorrows
Guest
We didn’t either…
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dshix
Guest
Definitely not uncommon to skip the homily on Palm Sunday because of the long liturgy. This is even necessary at many churches where, if there were a homily, the next mass would have to be delayed.
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Kurisu35712
Guest
Our priest today gave a very short homily after opening it saying that a homily isn’t often given on Palm Sunday, and a short one if there is, due to the fact that the gospel reading of the Passion is already quite long and is very clear, so little explanation and elaboration is needed.
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Isca
Guest
I attended a different church for Vigil Mass as we’re on holiday, and the priest did the same thing. Instead, we had a couple of minutes’ silence after the Gospel for reflection.
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7_Sorrows
Guest
we also had a few moments of silence while reading the Passion narrative when Jesus dies.
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pnewton
Guest
“Should” is not “shall”. It has the connotation of “optional, but preferred.” The reading is rather powerful on its own. On a practical note, Palm Sunday, being a Sunday and using the standard Mass times, make lengthening any Mass impossible in some time slots because of the sheer logistics of getting everyone out of Church, out of the parking lot at the same time arriving parishioners are parking, and then back into Church for the next Mass. At our last Mass in English, I am waiting at the door for the exit and have to slip in at the beginning of the procession. I am literally then setting up while the others are breaking down.
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CatholicZ09
Guest
I had a priest a few years back that just maintained a few minutes of silence after the Passion on Palm Sunday and Good Friday. I thought it was appropriate; let the Passion speak for itself.
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Gorgias
Guest
If memory serves, doesn’t the Ordo mention the possibility of a short period of silence in lieu of a homily on Palm Sunday?
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John_Lilburne
Guest
From post #1: “Is there a provision for skipping a homily on Palm Sunday…”.
Yes, there is a provision for skipping the homily.
The rubric in the Roman Missal is:
“22. After the narrative of the Passion, a brief homily should take place, if appropriate. A period of silence may also be observed.”
There is also provision for skipping all the readings before the Gospel. From the Lectionary, the rubric is:
“It is strongly recommended that, unless there is some overriding pastoral reason to the contrary, all three readings given for the Sunday be used.
In view of the importance of the reading of the Passion of the Lord, the priest may, taking into account the particular character of his congregation, read only one of the readings which precede the Gospel. Or he may, if necessary, read only the story of the Passion, even in its shorter form. But this may be done only at Masses celebrated with a congregation.”
And there is provision for Mass on Palm Sunday to have no blessing of Palm branches and no reading of the Gospel of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem. One Mass is called “the principal Mass” and has the blessing of Palm branches and reading of this Gospel at the beginning. But there can be “the Simple Entrance before other Masses.” (Palm Sunday, rubric n. 1). The Simple Entrance does not have these.
Yes, there is a provision for skipping the homily.
The rubric in the Roman Missal is:
“22. After the narrative of the Passion, a brief homily should take place, if appropriate. A period of silence may also be observed.”
There is also provision for skipping all the readings before the Gospel. From the Lectionary, the rubric is:
“It is strongly recommended that, unless there is some overriding pastoral reason to the contrary, all three readings given for the Sunday be used.
In view of the importance of the reading of the Passion of the Lord, the priest may, taking into account the particular character of his congregation, read only one of the readings which precede the Gospel. Or he may, if necessary, read only the story of the Passion, even in its shorter form. But this may be done only at Masses celebrated with a congregation.”
And there is provision for Mass on Palm Sunday to have no blessing of Palm branches and no reading of the Gospel of the Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem. One Mass is called “the principal Mass” and has the blessing of Palm branches and reading of this Gospel at the beginning. But there can be “the Simple Entrance before other Masses.” (Palm Sunday, rubric n. 1). The Simple Entrance does not have these.
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