Scolding during homily

[whatevergirl]

Scolding from the pulpit…I have a short story about that. Two of my sons attended the same University & both were on the Wrestling team. Since it’s a secular state University, I was really surprised that almost half of the team were Catholics. A wonderful priest who ran the Newman Center there, Father Dan, made a real difference in their lives.

It seems the Caholics on the team, especially when they had to travel to a meet on Saturday…began straggling into Church late the next morning. One Sunday they entered the Church & noticed that the Mass hadn’t started & Father Dan was just standing in the Sanctuary. They made their way to the back row. After they were settled & kneeling in their pew, Father announced. “Well, the wrestling team has arrived & we can now start the Mass”. They weren’t late again. So…yes, I think that some scolding can be very effective.

*I think that’s a cool story, actually…much of society takes other’s people’s time for granted…kids late for school, college kids walking in late for class, people late for work…it’s like, no one has respect for another’s time…I think there are some occasions when people have reasons they are late, not saying that. But, I’ve noticed a problem with people being late all of the time, in general…as if everyone should just be waiting on them. (I used to be habitually tardy, and was scolded many a time by friends and family, so I speak from experience)

I am looking forward to hearing from the OP as to what he/she meant by ‘non activities’ at mass. *

 

[pnewton]

My priest does not scold, except in the children’s liturgy. I would not mind in the least if he did, but it is simply not his way. Now those who play sports on Sunday and miss Mass are a frequent target.

A friend of mine is going through diaconate training. I saw him one get up from the choir (before Mass) and go across the Church to where some of his high school confirmation students were to have their hats remove. He has no problem scolding anyone, and one always knows it is done in love. I think he will be a good balance to our priest.

 

[Silverburg]

I haven’t heard a Good fire and brimstone priest since the late 1970’s
Father Angus MacDonald. God love him. Your missed Father.
I think anyone who calls themselves a true Catholic needs a good damned scolding sometimes to shock them out of their childish complacency and liberal behaviors to warn them their treading a fine path directly into hell fire.

???

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

My priest does not scold, except in the children’s liturgy.

LOL, a children’s liturgy would be the last place I would “scold.”

 

[redrosetea]

In the past months, our parish priest have been scolding the parishioners for various non activities during the homily period. I wish to know whether this is an allowed practice especially during Mass.
Thank you and God bless.

I suspect they needed it

 

[pnewton]

LOL, a children’s liturgy would be the last place I would “scold.”

Let me clarify. I was referring to CCE liturgies. Children here reach critical “Mass” and need correction.

 

[petronius111]

I haven’t heard a Good fire and brimstone priest since the late 1970’s
Father Angus MacDonald. God love him. Your missed Father.
I think anyone who calls themselves a true Catholic needs a good damned scolding sometimes to shock them out of their childish complacency and liberal behaviors to warn them their treading a fine path directly into hell fire.

I agree. We really need priests to teach faith rather than give us social justice or namby-pamby homilies

 

[choy]

our parish priest does that

but not scold for the entire homily. but somewhere towards the end he brings some issues as part of the homily

 

[Lennox]

I get very tired of all the negativity and scolding that comes from the ambo in one parish I attend. I don’t expect everything to be always upbeat and positive but it wouldn’t hurt if some homilies contained more teaching and less admonishing.

As one fellow parishioner said “we keep hearing the litany of what we do wrong but we are never taught how to improve.” Amen.

 

[Reuben_J]

… One Sunday they entered the Church & noticed that the Mass hadn’t started & Father Dan was just standing in the Sanctuary. They made their way to the back row. After they were settled & kneeling in their pew, Father announced. “Well, the wrestling team has arrived & we can now start the Mass”. They weren’t late again. So…yes, I think that some scolding can be very effective.

Thanks God for that. There are others who encounter the same experience would never come back again. …

It depends on how the scolding is and on what it is for.

The flock will always be thankful for a constructive reprimand if it is made in love. When that happens the entire parish will be blessed and the people love the priest, well, as it should be.

On the other hand, there are always priests who take things on the personal level and out of personal conflict with certain parishioners, who use the pulpit for criticizing. The personal anger and discontent can be reflected in how he preaches it. Then that would not be upbuilding.

So it depends. As in all correction, it has to be made in love. The ‘wrestling team’ definitely felt the love and genuine concern of the priest and so realized that they should be more serious with the mass to come on time. On the other hand if they felt they were being humiliated with malice and without love, there are chances that they could be driven away from the church, especially if they were not ardent believers themselves.

God bless.

 

[CradleCath]

Thanks God for that. There are others who encounter the same experience would never come back again. …

You’re right & I think that sometimes it has to do with the people more than the priest. Father Dan, however, had earned the right to say what he did & I’m told he made his remark with a wry look on his face. You see, he was always there for those boys. The oldest son, had his knee torn just as he was about to head off for the National Wrestling Tournament & make his dream of being an All-American come true. My other son called Father Dan & he was at the hospital immediately. He stayed all night & was with him when the surgeon told him that he’d never wrestle again. (It was, of course , a horrible winter night & it took us 7 hrs. to get there.)

That “boy” is now 45 yrs. old & is a wrestling coach. He was chosen “High School Coach of the Year” for his state this year & some of the credit for that goes to a dedicated young priest called Father Dan,.

It depends on how the scolding is and on what it is for.

 

[Reuben_J]

You’re right & I think that sometimes it has to do with the people more than the priest. Father Dan, however, had earned the right to say what he did & I’m told he made his remark with a wry look on his face. You see, he was always there for those boys. The oldest son, had his knee torn just as he was about to head off for the National Wrestling Tournament & make his dream of being an All-American come true. My other son called Father Dan & he was at the hospital immediately. He stayed all night & was with him when the surgeon told him that he’d never wrestle again. (It was, of course , a horrible winter night & it took us 7 hrs. to get there.)

That “boy” is now 45 yrs. old & is a wrestling coach. He was chosen “High School Coach of the Year” for his state this year & some of the credit for that goes to a dedicated young priest called Father Dan,.

I’m sure there are priests like that, though I’ve not seen that myself…I’ve heard of it.

Yes, they knew that he cared. Sometimes, when I get depressed about the sexual abuse crisis & the liberal priests that condone abuses in the Liturgy, etc., I think about Father Dan & I know that there are a whole lot of good priests out there. It gives me renewed hope.

It is encouraging to hear people having good relationship with their priest and how that can develop their spiritual life especially in their adult lives. This is what the priests should be and even if they seem grumpy sometimes we should give them allowance in that they have to face all kinds of problem in the parish and not everything goes right and accordingly.

Ultimately it boils down to love. Priests more than anyone else are consecrated and trained for this job. There are errand priests of course and these are specks in the entire Catholic priesthood. Media dramatization of them does not help either.

However as we all know priests are all too human and at times they can be overwhelmed with human emotion and weaknesses. Our prayer for them is that they will persevere and not fallen prey to the weakness that would eat into their good behavior from their training days.

God bless

 

[japhy]

As one fellow parishioner said “we keep hearing the litany of what we do wrong but we are never taught how to improve.” Amen.

You (or the other parishioner) should consider telling the priest(s) that. How do expect things to change if you don’t?

 

[holy_moly]

Scolding from the pulpit “Well, the wrestling team has arrived & we can now start the Mass”. They weren’t late again. So…yes, I think that some scolding can be very effective.

Reminds me of the time my buddy & I were late for Mass at a Spanish parish, when the Puerto Rican SJ (our spiritual director) loudly announced (as we were in the middle of the aisle), “ahhhh, the Pagan brothers are here”!

 

[PJM]

=ginnlime;5829465]In the past months, our parish priest have been scolding the parishioners for various non activities during the homily period. I wish to know whether this is an allowed practice especially during Mass.
Thank you and God bless.

So long as it is not directed at a specific individual: Mary Smith did this, Sam Peters didn’t do that, kind of thing,** it is not only permisible, it may well be a mandate.**

Each and every Catholic and Christian is to contribute according to ones talents and abilities in building up Christ Church as a part of “good and proper Stuartship,” which extends well beyond the need to supply finanical aid.

All talent and gifts are from God, and in part should be used for God’s greator glory. That is the right use of our God given gifts.

A husband or wife can’t well raise a family by themselves, nor can a priest run his parish by himself.

Love and prayers,

Pat

 

[CradleCath]

So long as it is not directed at a specific individual: Mary Smith did this, Sam Peters didn’t do that, kind of thing,** it is not only permisible, it may well be a mandate.**

Each and every Catholic and Christian is to contribute according to ones talents and abilities in building up Christ Church as a part of “good and proper Stuartship,” which extends well beyond the need to supply finanical aid.

All talent and gifts are from God, and in part should be used for God’s greator glory. That is the right use of our God given gifts.

A husband or wife can’t well raise a family by themselves,** nor can a priest run his parish by himself.**
Love and prayers,

Pat

So true. That’s why we must pray EXTRA HARD for vocations to the priesthood.

 

[jim1130]

In the past months, our parish priest have been scolding the parishioners for various non activities during the homily period. I wish to know whether this is an allowed practice especially during Mass.
Thank you and God bless.

Considering some of the Homilies I have heard over the years, I sometimes wonder if the Parishoners should not scold the priest.