Speaking at Mass

[Like]

Weird poll; Can only be answered NO & NO!

How about a announcement by the priest at the beginning of Mass for a visitor after communion singing a song, and all clap very loud after the song?(I kept waiting for a standing ovation). And then said singer, just prior to the final blessing, goes to the ambo to announce he will be selling the CD containing that song & with others for $20.

Believe me, he was not that good!

 

[ProVobis]

I’ve heard a few lay speakers before and after Mass. Never during the sermon time.

 

[OraLabora]

Preaching a homily is a lot more than just telling a story. It is a teaching on the readings of the day, and thus must be theologically sound.

That’s why only ordained priests or deacons are allowed to preach a homily: they have received the necessary theological training. There are other appropriate times at the end of the Mass for a layperson to speak about things like a mission experience or fundraising for a cause.

 

[MarkThompson]

i know what Richard is talking about. i’ve been to some masses where i felt i could give a better homily that the priest. but alas, its not my place to do so.

Yeah, no kidding. (Frankly, there have been times when I though I could do the Liturgy of the Eucharist more accurately and reverently than the priest, too.) Recognizing one’s proper place is important.

 

[oldsinnner]

Please bear with me. Lay people are permitted o speak in our church about charitable volunteer work the do in foreign lands and appeal for financial assistance for their work. I do not wish to deny them that privilege. The priest will give a sermon on that day’s gospel and I have no objection to that either. Sometimes, the priest will give a sermon and incorporate current affairs topics and I have no objection to that. What I would like to see is lay people (male and female) being allowed to speak at mass. Ministers of the word should, I believe, if they wish, be allowed to speak the homily part of the mass. They could, if required, discuss what they are going to talk about, with the priest, prior to mass. I know I would love to deliver a homily on many parables and bible stories. The Road to Amass always springs to mind and i would love to deliver a homily on that event and speak about the disciples walking from (here) to (there), and I would insert the names of two local places about 8 kms apart. I would describe the disciples actions as their traveling companion wanted to leave them. One would say - sure it’s getting dark - let’s go in here, have a sandwich and a cup of tea (coffee) a coke, or whatever. Then later when Christ reveals himself to them - one disciple gets up and wants to run back and tell everyone and the second disciple asks him to wait until the morning - let’s have a good night’s sleep and we’'l go tomorrow and the first disciple gets excited and says 'Oh No - we can’t wait until tomorrow - we have to go tonight we have to tell everyone - He is Risen - He is with Us - Come on let’s go now. I feel so enthusiastic about this I really do - my faith inside me burns to be exposed to others - I want to let them see that there is a power within all of us and a love within all of us that we must share that love, that power that compassion with each other. Am I daft or what???

Sometimes we have people speak before the Mass but I’ve never seen people giving their own testimony. Hmmm…at least I don’t think I have. Mainly it’s to inform the members of upcoming events or charities. Perhaps you could go to the RCIA class and give your testimony to the catechhumans and candidates.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Lay persons must speak when reading the assigned readings from the Lectionary. Thay are also permitted to speak on other matters AFTER the final blessing, before the recessional. Announcements should not be made before Mass begins as it disrupts the mental preparations for Mass.

 

[jrs88]

I would be very upset if this were put into practice. How would I know the lay “minister of the word” was giving me good theology? I can trust that the priest has been through seminary and learned the Church’s teaching. Why do we have to take these functions away from the priest? The priests are the apostles of today; theirs is the teaching office, and we do not need the laity to take that duty away from them.

As a 20 year old female (a member of the youth at whom much of the “progressivism” is targeted, and a woman who is sup;osed to feel slighted, apparently), I am sick of this type of liberality. Such a thing would be a very very bad step. I didn’t vote because there were no options for "trust that the Church is already doing the right thing.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I would be very upset if this were put into practice. How would I know the lay “minister of the word” was giving me good theology? I can trust that the priest has been through seminary and learned the Church’s teaching. Why do we have to take these functions away from the priest? The priests are the apostles of today; theirs is the teaching office, and we do not need the laity to take that duty away from them.

As a 20 year old female (a member of the youth at whom much of the “progressivism” is targeted, and a woman who is sup;osed to feel slighted, apparently), I am sick of this type of liberality. Such a thing would be a very very bad step. I didn’t vote because there were no options for "trust that the Church is already doing the right thing.

The Bishops are the successors of the Apostles. The Bishop is the chief teacher in his diocese. The Priests and Deacons are granted the facility to preach from the local Bishop.
Laity under the title Catechist are granted permission to teach in the Church by the local Bishop.

 

[Elizium23]

In point of fact, the office of preaching used to belong soley to bishops; priests were able to preach only when commissioned by their bishops.

The arrival of the Dominicans on the scene began to change this. Their order, the Order of Preachers, received special permission to preach for the conversion of Albigensians. After some time, priests were being allowed to preach as an everyday occurrence.

 

[thomas_jd]

The laity are never permitted to deliver the homily.
The laity are permitted to speak after the homily, after communion and at the end of mass.

 

[Joannm]

I would be very upset if this were put into practice. How would I know the lay “minister of the word” was giving me good theology? I can trust that the priest has been through seminary and learned the Church’s teaching. Why do we have to take these functions away from the priest? The priests are the apostles of today; theirs is the teaching office, and we do not need the laity to take that duty away from them.

As a 20 year old female (a member of the youth at whom much of the “progressivism” is targeted, and a woman who is sup;osed to feel slighted, apparently), I am sick of this type of liberality. Such a thing would be a very very bad step. I didn’t vote because there were no options for "trust that the Church is already doing the right thing.

You can’t always trust that the priest is preaching what the Church teaches. Just read some of the threads on this board to see how often some priests are preaching their own interpretation of doctrine. There are many lay people who have had as much theological training as priests and could probably give a better more orthodox homily than some preists. However, the homily is a liturgical act that only the priest or deacon can perform.

There are many, many opportunities for lay people to preach. I am preaching at three seperate locations this weekend, none are at a Mass.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

There are many other options for teaching/speaking. As everyone has said so far the laity are not permitted to preach the homily. However, a lay person can ‘preach’ in CCD, RCIA, or other religious education programs. They can lead Bible studies or book groups. The Knights, Legion of Mary, confraternities, and other similar groups have a place for teaching/speaking also. Lay people can even participate in parish missions depending on how they are set up (i.e, not if it is a Sunday mission with the speaking happening in the context of the homily).

Men (married or unmarried) also have the option of discerning a vocation to the permanent diaconate. In this role you serve the Church, but preaching is still done at the discretion of the Bishop. So a deacon does not have the ‘right’ to preach, but is given permission by the Bishop. The Pastor of the parish will then determine at which Masses the Deacon does preach.

 

[Diaconia]

Men (married or unmarried) also have the option of discerning a vocation to the permanent diaconate. In this role you serve the Church, but preaching is still done at the discretion of the Bishop. So a deacon does not have the ‘right’ to preach, but is given permission by the Bishop. The Pastor of the parish will then determine at which Masses the Deacon does preach.

Not quite true, Mrs. Sally:

• Canon 764 Without prejudice to the provisions of Canon 765, priests and deacons, with the at least presumed consent of the rector of a church, have the faculty to preach everywhere, unless this faculty has been restricted or removed by the competent Ordinary, or unless particular law requires express permission.
• (Canon 765 To preach to religious in their churches or oratories, permission is required of the Superior who is competent according to their constitutions.)

The law itself gives the faculty to priests and deacons, unless restricted by particular law (of a diocese), or unless a bishop has restricted the (already-present) faculty in some case.

By the way, the confusion regarding this canon stems from the fact that the 1917 Code DID require a specific faculty granted by their bishop.

Thus:

• 1917 Code - Faculty to preach required from local Ordinary
• 1984 Code - Faculty given by law, can be restricted by local Ordinary (rarely is)

To the original poster’s point – I, too, have met a number of priests and deacons that aren’t very good preachers. Seminaries are working harder than ever regarding this, and things will improve over time. But, in the final analysis, delivering a homily isn’t about forensic talent; but rather an exercise of sacred ministry that presupposes the laying on of hands.

God bless,

 

[Mrs_Sally]

Thank you Deacon Chris. Apparently I haven’t moved beyond 1917.

 

[joandarc2008]

To the original poster’s point – I, too, have met a number of priests and deacons that aren’t very good preachers. Seminaries are working harder than ever regarding this, and things will improve over time. But, in the final analysis, delivering a homily isn’t about forensic talent; but rather an exercise of sacred ministry that presupposes the laying on of hands.

I used to be guilty of thinking that it was a message that was bad or wrong or could have been delivered better. I realize now through my own spiritual growth when I have an issue with way something was delivered by an priest or deacon 9 times out of ten (leaving out the exceptions of heresy or the priest that kept saying “BS” at the altar- and not the initials) it is me. The reason that we pray before mass and make the sign of the cross at our eyes, mouth, and heart is to prepare ourselves for the message. If I am ill-prepared the message will fall on deaf ears.

 

[jrs88]

The Bishops are the successors of the Apostles. The Bishop is the chief teacher in his diocese. The Priests and Deacons are granted the facility to preach from the local Bishop.
Laity under the title Catechist are granted permission to teach in the Church by the local Bishop.

But laity are not permitted to give the homily, which the OP would like to change. I think that would be silly and completely uneccessary.

 

[jrs88]

You can’t always trust that the priest is preaching what the Church teaches. Just read some of the threads on this board to see how often some priests are preaching their own interpretation of doctrine. There are many lay people who have had as much theological training as priests and could probably give a better more orthodox homily than some preists. However, the homily is a liturgical act that only the priest or deacon can perform.

There are many, many opportunities for lay people to preach. I am preaching at three seperate locations this weekend, none are at a Mass.

This is true - but the homily is for the priest to give, not the laity, which the OP would like to change. So, while some laity may indeed be able to give a good speech, the homily is not our thing and I think it is wrong to speak about changing it, I think we’ve had quite enough of this change that is supposed to make the laity more involved and it’s really messing things up.