Suggesting priest change (improve!) homily style?

[EricF]

Your opinion of this matter is just that, an opinion. When a man makes the choice to become a priest he isn’t doing as one may choose a car or furniture, he is answers the call of God. He is accepting the will of God in his submission and he is doing what God made him to be. They go through years of formation and generally are placed with an more experienced priest as their first assignment.

You have claimed we are apathetic regarding the OP question. There is no apathy here, only helpful suggestions to the OP.

I find your comments rude and as well as displaying your ignorance of the Catholic Church.

. Agreed.

 

[Solomonson]

You have to learn not to take things so personally. If people misinterpret our posts, so what? The more you try to defend your comment the worse it gets and it seems like your resentment grows. While I can empathize with you and the OP having to listen to a homilist whose delivery can put you to sleep or at least cause your mind to drift, I cannot keep defending your reaction to comments on this thread. All of us from time to time are misinterpreted. I’m guessing that many did not get my post either when I replied to the question, “How do I tell them that I want to play the organ?” I replied, “Just do it.” I wondered how many thought that I was saying, “just go ahead and play the organ.” But in my mind, I was saying, “Just tell them.”

Let it go.

I’m not even addressing the original issue. I’m responding to the responses. We live in this world today where “everyone gets a trophy” and that has a terribly corrosive effect on society.

What is that priest was approached in private and with great love and asked if there was anything that could be done to help him improve his delivery? He might very well jump at the offer if it was done in the right manner. But to discount any attempt is simply wrong and it does provide insight into why some things are often so difficult in the Church.

 

[Solomonson]

These aren’t excuses. I believe having an educational homily is important. What is not as important is the delivery and/or telling the priest that his delivery of his homilies is not as good as it should be. It isn’t very charitable to tell someone, especially a priest, that their homilies aren’t as good as the priest may think they are.

I agree with Tomyris that praying about it is the best way to handle it.

YET, the delivery still remains important! Seminaries are spending more and more time on just this matter due to its great importance.

While the content of the homily is arguably just as important or possibly even more important, **that’s no excuse to turn one’s back to the importance of the delivery.
**
It could be VERY charitable to offer the priest personal help on improving their speaking ability. It would be VERY charitable to offer a DVD set from another reputable Catholic cleric on how to preach better. There are many ways that one could offer help without offending.

The hard truth is that most men aren’t born with afflictions that cause them to speak in a monotone when they are delivering a homily. Many probably don’t have any idea there is anything deficient with their delivery. Those that do may have no way to go about improving. Others might be aware but just aren’t willing to make the investment to improve.

 

[Don_Ruggero]

Point being the issues were being identified IN SEMINARY - ie in an appropriate venue, where priests-in-training go for the express purpose and point of developing those skills such as public speaking that they need, and where appropriate advice and assistance can easily be given by experienced professionals.

Again, I am a lawyer, well used to feedback. There is a world of difference between being in, say, a training seminar with experts and colleagues and receiving feedback there, and having randoms in a courtroom stop me and give “helpful” comments (which are usually anything but) about my speaking style.

Very well said.

 

[Horton]

YET, the delivery still remains important! Seminaries are spending more and more time on just this matter due to its great importance.

While the content of the homily is arguably just as important or possibly even more important, **that’s no excuse to turn one’s back to the importance of the delivery.
**
It could be VERY charitable to offer the priest personal help on improving their speaking ability. It would be VERY charitable to offer a DVD set from another reputable Catholic cleric on how to preach better. There are many ways that one could offer help without offending.

The hard truth is that most men aren’t born with afflictions that cause them to speak in a monotone when they are delivering a homily. Many probably don’t have any idea there is anything deficient with their delivery. Those that do may have no way to go about improving. Others might be aware but just aren’t willing to make the investment to improve.

Why are you being so disagreeable on this issue? Many posters have explained why approaching a priest with “suggestions” is not proper. There are no excuses or apathy. You seem unwilling to accept another’s opinion on this matter and continue to press your opinion as absolute truth.

I would suggest you learn something about the Catholic faith and the Church before coming here to criticize Catholics.