Priests tell jokes in homilies, incite laughter, clapping, vs. reverence

[CB_Catholic]

People here act as if God is jealous or something if someone is shown some appreciation for their hard work and using the gifts the Almighty Himself bestowed on them. And God help us if the priest says something humorous in a homily. He ought to be strung up by his toes. We must always remember that when we set foot in Church to wipe the smiles off our faces, pretend others don’t exist, or only give a stiff nod to acknowledge their existence. Any friendly interaction with each other is strictly forbidden once inside the church walls. We must always be mindful of the fact that we can cause people to have an excessive amount of pride, if we compliment them, which not only is sinful on their part, but on ours for causing them to sin. Mea culpa.

Things are beginning to sound ridiculous. Is this what being a Christian is really all about?

Do people think God is so small that He can’t handle our humanness?

 

[Baelor]

However, let’s suppose that, when you wrote ‘concert’, you meant ‘Catholic activity outside of Liturgy’. In that context, then laughter wouldn’t necessarily be out of context. However, by defining it in that way, you’ve already gone outside of the context of the OP’s question, which specifically had to deal with jokes within the context of liturgy.

A careful reading of the OP will demonstrate that that is not the case – her question was not restricted merely to liturgy, but rather being in a church. Your dismissal is consequently invalid. Such are the dangers of sophistry!

 

[yellowbird]

To the parishes I’ve been to that do this, it’s usually after the dismissal.

I posted about the marine on Mother’s Day. It was after the announcements but before our final sign of the cross, go in peace, thanks be to God … Is that the dismissal? I don’t understand how that would take away from the sacrifice of the mass. Our parish is huge - we always have lots of announcements and invitations to attend upcoming bible studies, retreats, KoC dinners or whatever. This past week after announcements, after every mass one of our school kids read his speech about why he loved his Catholic school in honor of Catholic Schools week. We clapped for them too. I think it helps foster a sense of community in our parish and I totally disagree that it takes away from the reverence of mass. During the consecration you could hear a pin drop. Even the babies seem to settle down.

My parish is blessed with wonderful holy Priests - I trust their judgement and feel that if it were wrong, they wouldn’t allow it.

 

[Reuben_J]

I posted about the marine on Mother’s Day. It was after the announcements but before our final sign of the cross, go in peace, thanks be to God … Is that the dismissal? I don’t understand how that would take away from the sacrifice of the mass. Our parish is huge - we always have lots of announcements and invitations to attend upcoming bible studies, retreats, KoC dinners or whatever. This past week after announcements, after every mass one of our school kids read his speech about why he loved his Catholic school in honor of Catholic Schools week. We clapped for them too. I think it helps foster a sense of community in our parish and I totally disagree that it takes away from the reverence of mass. During the consecration you could hear a pin drop. Even the babies seem to settle down.

My parish is blessed with wonderful holy Priests - I trust their judgement and feel that if it were wrong, they wouldn’t allow it.

It is therefore done during the announcement. The priest sometimes chips in what he wants to say at this time so it is very appropriate. Probably the objection here to some people who disagree is on whether he should pick up an individual and ask him to stand up. Does that constitute over enthusiasm on the part of the priest or that he is merely doing what is right? I cannot for the life of me fault this and thought it was such an edifying gesture for everyone.

It may not be appropriate to hold another activity that is not part of the mass which could be done after the dismissal. Some activity is clearcut, say signing of statute or installation of a parish working committee. A strict priest would rather do this after the mass (after the dismissal but before the recessional hymn). But then again we often see this after the homilies and priest permission/agreement has to be required. Anyway, in all this they do not interfere with the Liturgy of the Word or Liturgy of the Eucharist.

So in the case of wishing Mothers Day to the mothers is very mild by this standard and the priest should be commended for being human and for his warmth.

 

[Gorgias]

Gorgias:

However, let’s suppose that, when you wrote ‘concert’, you meant ‘Catholic activity outside of Liturgy’. In that context, then laughter wouldn’t necessarily be out of context. However, by defining it in that way, you’ve already gone outside of the context of the OP’s question, which specifically had to deal with jokes within the context of liturgy.

A careful reading of the OP will demonstrate that that is not the case – her question was not restricted merely to liturgy, but rather being in a church. Your dismissal is consequently invalid. Such are the dangers of sophistry!

Your charity overwhelms me!

If you don’t like my ‘dismissal’, then, let me meet your question head-on: the text of the document to which I referred can be found here; it’s a declaration from the CDW regarding concerts in churches. Although it doesn’t address events other than “musical performances outside of the celebration of the Liturgy” (#4), its norms would seem to apply to other events. In addition to discussing what events should and shouldn’t take place in a church, it asserts plainly – and ostensibly for any concert that would take place in a church – that “[t]he Blessed Sacrament should be, as far as possible, reserved in a side chapel or in another safe and suitably adorned place” (#10f). Here, it references canon 938§4, which reads, “[f]or a grave cause, it is permitted to reserve the Most Holy Eucharist in some other fitting and more secure place, especially at night.”

So, in response to your question, let’s give it a solid ‘yes’ – for concerts and other “non-Mass activities”, the Eucharist should not be reserved in the Tabernacle, and therefore, in response to your and the OP’s questions, there seems that there should not be a problem with respect to the Blessed Sacrament.

‘Sophistry’…? Puh-leeze… :dts:

 

[Baelor]

If you don’t like my ‘dismissal’, then, let me meet your question head-on…

That was not the issue. The issue was your claim that the OP restricted the issue to liturgy, which it did not. Everything else was fine by me.

‘Sophistry’…? Puh-leeze…

I thought you would get the joke.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

People here act as if God is jealous or something if someone is shown some appreciation for their hard work and using the gifts the Almighty Himself bestowed on them. And God help us if the priest says something humorous in a homily. He ought to be strung up by his toes. We must always remember that when we set foot in Church to wipe the smiles off our faces, pretend others don’t exist, or only give a stiff nod to acknowledge their existence. Any friendly interaction with each other is strictly forbidden once inside the church walls. We must always be mindful of the fact that we can cause people to have an excessive amount of pride, if we compliment them, which not only is sinful on their part, but on ours for causing them to sin. Mea culpa.

Things are beginning to sound ridiculous. Is this what being a Christian is really all about?

Do people think God is so small that He can’t handle our humanness?

Jesus is not harmed by desecration of the Eucharist, either. Does that mean it’s okay to be irreverent and sacrilegious with the Eucharist?

 

[Gorgias]

I thought you would get the joke.

Bleh… time to step away from the keyboard, then…

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

It is therefore done during the announcement. The priest sometimes chips in what he wants to say at this time so it is very appropriate. Probably the objection here to some people who disagree is on whether he should pick up an individual and ask him to stand up. Does that constitute over enthusiasm on the part of the priest or that he is merely doing what is right? I cannot for the life of me fault this and thought it was such an edifying gesture for everyone.

It may not be appropriate to hold another activity that is not part of the mass which could be done after the dismissal. Some activity is clearcut, say signing of statute or installation of a parish working committee. A strict priest would rather do this after the mass (after the dismissal but before the recessional hymn). But then again we often see this after the homilies and priest permission/agreement has to be required. Anyway, in all this they do not interfere with the Liturgy of the Word or Liturgy of the Eucharist.

So in the case of wishing Mothers Day to the mothers is very mild by this standard and the priest should be commended for being human and for his warmth.

But it is still during the Mass. There is no need for these things to be connected to the Mass in any way. The understanding of the Mass is poorly understood by most people, which is why we see common abuses like irreverent Masses, talking after Mass, and the like. People have no idea of the divine presence. Things like this are only exacerbate the problem because they connect the Mass to the temporal.

 

[Reuben_J]

But it is still during the Mass. There is no need for these things to be connected to the Mass in any way. The understanding of the Mass is poorly understood by most people, which is why we see common abuses like irreverent Masses, talking after Mass, and the like. People have no idea of the divine presence. Things like this are only exacerbate the problem because they connect the Mass to the temporal.

You certainly have a point there. I think with the GIRM, things are clearer and I observe that the mass is more standardized and straight forwards without those extra frills. But as for the announcement, it is part of the mass. Perhaps guidline should be compiled on how to do it properly, the don’ts and the dos.

 

[Razanir]

To the parishes I’ve been to that do this, it’s usually after the dismissal.

Huh. All three I go to with any sort of regularity have announcements before the dismissal. The three being my home parish, the one in my mom’s hometown, and the Newman Center

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

You certainly have a point there. I think with the GIRM, things are clearer and I observe that the mass is more standardized and straight forwards without those extra frills. But as for the announcement, it is part of the mass. Perhaps guidline should be compiled on how to do it properly, the don’ts and the dos.

That would be nice. Personally I think announcements during Mass are overused. My mind wanders easily, and losing 5 minutes to announcements that mostly don’t apply to me tend to put me in the wrong state of mind for the final blessing.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

Huh. All three I go to with any sort of regularity have announcements before the dismissal. The three being my home parish, the one in my mom’s hometown, and the Newman Center

That’s the only way I’ve ever seen it as well. People tend to rush out after the dismissal, so I can’t envision anyone actually having them after Mass.

 

[superamazingman]

Things are beginning to sound ridiculous. Is this what being a Christian is really all about?

Time and a place for everything.

As you should know well, we should act like Christians when we are outside the church walls as well. That’s a great time to socialize, greet people, and have all the “friendly interactions” you want.

When you’re in church, that is the time to put 100% of your focus on your creator.

 

[Reuben_J]

Huh. All three I go to with any sort of regularity have announcements before the dismissal. The three being my home parish, the one in my mom’s hometown, and the Newman Center

In the order of the mass, the announcement if any, is to be made at the beginning of the concluding rite, before the blessing and the dismissal. Certianly not after the dismissal.

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

In the order of the mass, the announcement if any, is to be made at the beginning of the concluding rite, before the blessing and the dismissal. Certianly not after the dismissal.

And that would be during the Mass.

 

[zab]

Time and a place for everything.

As you should know well, we should act like Christians when we are outside the church walls as well. That’s a great time to socialize, greet people, and have all the “friendly interactions” you want.

When you’re in church, that is the time to put 100% of your focus on your creator.

Who’s minding the kids?

 

[Reuben_J]

And that would be during the Mass.

Yes, it is. That is why I said it is part of the mass. The missal that we used says that the announcement, if there is any, to be said during that moment. It says, ‘if there is any brief announcements, they are made at this time’ in small print. Then only after that the priest proceed with the blessing and then the dismissal (usually done by the deacon if there is one). That seems to be legit and I don’t have problem with that. I agree only it shouldn’t be if that moment is being abused to do something else other than the announcement. Thus more importantly, what constitutes announcement?

 

[smndtupidisaftr]

Yes, it is. That is why I said it is part of the mass. The missal that we used says that the announcement, if there is any, to be said during that moment. It says, ‘if there is any brief announcements, they are made at this time’ in small print. Then only after that the priest proceed with the blessing and then the dismissal (usually done by the deacon if there is one). That seems to be legit and I don’t have problem with that. I agree only it shouldn’t be if that moment is being abused to do something else other than the announcement. Thus more importantly, what constitutes announcement?

It’s subjective, but I would think that it’s not an opportunity to read the bulletin.

 

[Reuben_J]

It’s subjective, but I would think that it’s not an opportunity to read the bulletin.

You are right and I used to think about that. The bulletin are distributed at the entrance of the church and more often than not the content of the announcement are from the church bulletin. And to make matter glaringly abvious/redundant the announcer would say, ‘for the rest of the announcement please read the church bulletin’. We are more selective now and would not announce everything. Mainly those would be new announcement that have not found their ways to the bulletin.

So do you agree with the missal about the timing of the announcement?