Taking Notes on the Homily

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There is a woman in my parish who, after going through the RCIA process, became really interested and involved in the Church. She always has a notebook (steno-type) in which she makes notes during the homily. I know because she has frequently shown me passages from my own homilies that were particularly valueable for her.

I’m sure she’s not the only one.

However, the question suggests something to me. Generally the exposition in a Protestant church is a type of bible teaching. Thus, notes are an important aspect of being present for the “class.” This differs from a homily in a Catholic Church which, if it is a class at all, should be a class on living the Scriptures. I try to put my homilies in historical context and show how the Scriptures still apply to our lives today – and that does include examples that can be taken and put into practice, not abstract concepts but real, substantial steps that we can all take. And, of course, I begin my homily with what I need to hear! I figure that if I need it there may be one or two others who also need it. As a result, I get a lot of comments on how down-to-earth my homilies are and how easy they are to understand and put into practice.

Yep, notes may help…

Deacon Ed
 
The sixth grade CCD classes in my parish will be taking notes this year! Heh, heh, heh.
 
Deacon_Ed said:
There is a woman in my parish who, after going through the RCIA process, became really interested and involved in the Church. She always has a notebook (steno-type) in which she makes notes during the homily. I know because she has frequently shown me passages from my own homilies that were particularly valueable for her.

I’m sure she’s not the only one.

However, the question suggests something to me. Generally the exposition in a Protestant church is a type of bible teaching. Thus, notes are an important aspect of being present for the “class.” This differs from a homily in a Catholic Church which, if it is a class at all, should be a class on living the Scriptures. I try to put my homilies in historical context and show how the Scriptures still apply to our lives today – and that does include examples that can be taken and put into practice, not abstract concepts but real, substantial steps that we can all take. And, of course, I begin my homily with what I need to hear! I figure that if I need it there may be one or two others who also need it. As a result, I get a lot of comments on how down-to-earth my homilies are and how easy they are to understand and put into practice.

Yep, notes may help…

Deacon Ed
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What I find disturbing are two things that seem prevelant whan Protestant services are brought up:
  1. This strange Catholic Idea that Sermons in Protestant churches are more important than the worship. This is not the case. While the sermons tend to last the same time as the worship (45 minutes of each at my church) I would definately say we go there to Worship, not to hear the sermon. There are times (maybe 3 or 4 times a year) Where we have the entire time worship and no sermon. No one feels anything is wrong with this and last time it was done I heard a few people say they wish it was done more often.
  2. The common comment that Homilies(sp?) are about how to apply Scripture and Sermons are not. I find this VERY odd. (Looking at my notes LOL from last Sunday) the sermon was all about how to apply scritpture to our lives by doing the will of God. It was not abstract concepts. It included real applications in how we can interact with our families and make decesions about our lives. How better to rember these pratical ways to do God’s will but to write them down? Attending both Catholic Parishes and Protestant churches for several years, I honestly never noticed any difference between them except, Priests tend to cite fewer scriptures since it is based on that weeks reading and that the protestants usually preach a bit longer.
 
Syele said:
What I find disturbing are two things that seem prevelant whan Protestant services are brought up:
  1. This strange Catholic Idea that Sermons in Protestant churches are more important than the worship. This is not the case. While the sermons tend to last the same time as the worship (45 minutes of each at my church) I would definately say we go there to Worship, not to hear the sermon. There are times (maybe 3 or 4 times a year) Where we have the entire time worship and no sermon. No one feels anything is wrong with this and last time it was done I heard a few people say they wish it was done more often.
  2. The common comment that Homilies(sp?) are about how to apply Scripture and Sermons are not. I find this VERY odd. (Looking at my notes LOL from last Sunday) the sermon was all about how to apply scritpture to our lives by doing the will of God. It was not abstract concepts. It included real applications in how we can interact with our families and make decesions about our lives. How better to rember these pratical ways to do God’s will but to write them down? Attending both Catholic Parishes and Protestant churches for several years, I honestly never noticed any difference between them except, Priests tend to cite fewer scriptures since it is based on that weeks reading and that the protestants usually preach a bit longer.
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I never described what sermons are. They are whatever that Pastor decides they will be as you admit right here in your own experience.

I can not define them for that reason.

The Homily is not a rambling free for all.

Scripture IS and has always been a part of every Mass from the first Mass to today.

I dont think it is charitable or fair to make the implication that Scripture is missing in the Catholic Church.

I think we all have a responsibility to :

Not treat the Scripture as if it is something that we toss at people to digest without proper interpretation, reflection and prayer -

The Priest could lay tons of scripture at our feet and if he does not do this without the above- it is not the highest and best way to use Holy Scripture.

Once again, I think a correct understanding of what the purpose of the Mass is for a Catholic needs to be repeated- we are there for the Pascal Mystery.

Of course- Holy Scripture is a very large part of that.

But we cant make it all of that. we each have an individual OBLIGATION to take it upon ourselves to read and pray those Scriptures for the day -

And many of us do just that, in addition to the other things that are in the Mass.
 
MariaG said:
Hey, I am doing 6th grade too. That might not be a bad idea!👍
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When I handed out the forms (half-page blanks to include the Date, Parish, name of preacher, name of the Sunday (i.e. 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time), and a couple of lines on the homily.

Parents did not object (but a couple of 'em squirmed). But hey! Were Catholic! That means we go to church every Sunday anyway. Right? :rolleyes:
 
I dont think it is charitable or fair to make the implication that Scripture is missing in the Catholic Church.
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I did not intend to imply that Scripture was missing. I only ment Protestant Pastors cite more Scriptures during sermons. I didn’t intend to say that is a good thing or a bad thing, obviously it would be a bad thing if said more scriptures are taken out of context or preached on without it being prayerfully. Sometimes it is better to reflect more on a small amount of scripture than to try and understnad many at once while other times having more makes it clearer. These are only observed differences, not some sort of indictment.

I take notes when I attend Catholic Parishes as well as when I attend protestant churches. 😉
 
<< In my Protestant church space is provided in the bulletin for notes you might want to take on the sermon. When I look around at Mass NOBODY has a Bible and NOBODY takes notes. Are there Catholic churches where people bring their Bibles to Mass and take notes on the homily every week? >>

I’ve never noticed anyone doing this but there have been times after Mass when I wished I could remember everything my priest said during his homily.
The only people I see writing duing Mass are some young kids whose parents give them books and things to occupy their time and I guess, keep them quiet.
 
Syele said:
I did not intend to imply that Scripture was missing. I only ment Protestant Pastors cite more Scriptures during sermons. I didn’t intend to say that is a good thing or a bad thing, obviously it would be a bad thing if said more scriptures are taken out of context or preached on without it being prayerfully. Sometimes it is better to reflect more on a small amount of scripture than to try and understnad many at once while other times having more makes it clearer. These are only observed differences, not some sort of indictment.

I take notes when I attend Catholic Parishes as well as when I attend protestant churches. 😉
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You are one smart cookie Syele!

Did not mean You personally, I’m just talking in the bigger picture!🙂
 
I wonder about an implication that because the Eucharist is the high point, we should accept less than excellent parts of the service elsewhere. I think to properly do honor to what is happening, Catholic homilies should be far and away superior to anything found in Protestant services - without detracting from or upstaging the main event, as if that were actually possible.

I’ve been in Protestant services where the sermon was done first, particularly if the subject is worship, to lead us into the presence of God.

I’m not sure that a homily and a Protestant sermon are particularly comparable, as their place in the service, their function and their impact differ. In some Protestant groups, the sermon is the Word and is the highest part of the service, while in others it is the worship; in the Mass it is of course the Eucharist that is prime. The sermon is to bring us closer to Christ; in the Mass Christ is there and eaten. The homily is derived from the readings, while a sermon or sermon series can be on whatever the preacher determines is the best for the situation. Some sermons are written to derive a spiritual response and without that they seem to fail; no one really expects much to happen, I suppose, as a result of a homily. The action is later on in the Mass. I don’t expect to encounter a forty minute homily as I would a forty minute sermon, nor a homily in which the grammatical structure of a verse is painfully analyzed word by word and by tense, syntax, morphology and the history of its interpretation. But what I expect is excellence and time well spent, and the homily not to outshine the living Christ among us, as it that were possible, but to point us to Him.

That said, there is a lot of room for growth in adult education among Catholics. I hear that these things should be done outside the homily: lecture, analysis, exhortation, etc.; my question then is are they being done to the extent they should be happening? If Catholics are the true Church then the true Church should out-teach the Protestants.
 
Truthstalker said:
I wonder about an implication that because the Eucharist is the high point, we should accept less than excellent parts of the service elsewhere. I think to properly do honor to what is happening, Catholic homilies should be far and away superior to anything found in Protestant services - without detracting from or upstaging the main event, as if that were actually possible.
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It is problematic to cast this as a Catholic/Protestant issue or to believe that preaching is unimportant to Catholics at Mass. The roster of Saints is replete with those whose reputations as powerful preachers were legendary.
. . . That said, there is a lot of room for growth in adult education among Catholics. I hear that these things should be done outside the homily: lecture, analysis, exhortation, etc.; my question then is are they being done to the extent they should be happening? If Catholics are the true Church then the true Church should out-teach the Protestants.
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Preach it!
 
There is an interesting teaching about how we experience Jesus in many ways each Sunday at Mass. Each person that comes to Mass, brings Jesus with them. They have been called in faith. Jesus speaks to us in the scriptures. The priest acts “In Persona Christi”- in the person of Christ. We receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus at Communion. The book of Gospels is not taken out at the end of Mass, rather, the faithful are called to live the Word in all that they do during the week.:hmmm:
 
Truthstalker said:
I wonder about an implication that because the Eucharist is the high point, we should accept less than excellent parts of the service elsewhere.

**There is nothing more EXCELLENT sorry, you have a much different priority than we do and thats FINE with me.🙂 **

I think to properly do honor to what is happening, Catholic homilies should be far and away superior to anything found in Protestant services - without detracting from or upstaging the main event, as if that were actually possible.

THINK AGAIN! AND stop telling Catholics what is and what is not important.
I dont tell you how to run your services. You are telling Catholics how to run theirs? By what authourity? I know, your INTERPRETATION!

I’ve been in Protestant services where the sermon was done first, particularly if the subject is worship, to lead us into the presence of God.

**I was a Protestant. And Ive seen every kind of free for all you can imagine!😛 **

I’m not sure that a homily and a Protestant sermon are particularly comparable, as their place in the service, their function and their impact differ.

AGREED!

In some Protestant groups, the sermon is the Word and is the highest part of the service, while in others it is the worship;

Sounds very um, as you admit — confused!:confused:

in the Mass it is of course the Eucharist that is prime.

AMEN!

The sermon is to bring us closer to Christ; in the Mass Christ is there and eaten.

WOAH—“eaten”??? Consumed. as you are in your jealousy!!!

The homily is derived from the readings, while a sermon or sermon series can be on whatever the preacher determines is the best for the situation.

Whatever HE WANTS! And yet you have “issues” w/ Papa!

Some sermons are written to derive a spiritual response and without that they seem to fail;

YES INDEED!

no one really expects much to happen,

AMEN!

I suppose, as a result of a homily.

:confused: Homily OR Sermon? Are you okay? Make up your MIND.

The action is later on in the Mass. I don’t expect to encounter a forty minute homily as I would a forty minute sermon, nor a homily in which the grammatical structure of a verse is painfully analyzed word by word and by tense, syntax, morphology and the history of its interpretation. But what I expect is excellence and time well spent, and the homily not to outshine the living Christ among us, as it that were possible, but to point us to Him.

**Interesting…:rolleyes: **

That said, there is a lot of room for growth in adult education among Catholics.

Have you visited CAF lately?

I hear that these things should be done outside the homily: lecture, analysis, exhortation, etc.; my question then is are they being done to the extent they should be happening? If Catholics are the true Church then the true Church should out-teach the Protestants.
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**WE DO ALL THE TIME! SHOW ME WHERE YOU WON – show me!😛 **
 
As to Adult education for Catholic…
My Diocese (Dallas) all the Parishes are running the “Why Catholic” program. From what I have been told signup has been very high. So I think the Catholic Church is starting to be more proactive in this area.
 
Stephen_C said:
As to Adult education for Catholic…
My Diocese (Dallas) all the Parishes are running the “Why Catholic” program. From what I have been told signup has been very high. So I think the Catholic Church is starting to be more proactive in this area.
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Brother in Christ,

Stephen… RECALL ST STEPHEN now for a minute! How did he die?
I think this thread has gone into a typical CATHOLIC BASHING thread —

If this OP wants to debate - fine - but stick to the ORIGINAL POST please!

He is talking about NOTES----

Now he is adding all kinds of stuff that DOES NOT RELATE TO THE OP!

Typical tactic.

Start a new thread OP — I will be there!😛
 
Damascus said:
Brother in Christ,

Stephen… RECALL ST STEPHEN now for a minute! How did he die?
I think this thread has gone into a typical CATHOLIC BASHING thread —

If this OP wants to debate - fine - but stick to the ORIGINAL POST please!

He is talking about NOTES----

Now he is adding all kinds of stuff that DOES NOT RELATE TO THE OP!

Typical tactic.

Start a new thread OP — I will be there!😛
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I was just replying to the OP’s concern in a later post

“That said, there is a lot of room for growth in adult education among Catholics. I hear that these things should be done outside the homily: lecture, analysis, exhortation, etc.; my question then is are they being done to the extent they should be happening? If Catholics are the true Church then the true Church should out-teach the Protestants.”

That’s all. I will post nothing else about this in this thread.
 
Stephen_C said:
I was just replying to the OP’s concern in a later post

“That said, there is a lot of room for growth in adult education among Catholics. I hear that these things should be done outside the homily: lecture, analysis, exhortation, etc.; my question then is are they being done to the extent they should be happening? If Catholics are the true Church then the true Church should out-teach the Protestants.”

That’s all. I will post nothing else about this in this thread.
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Here is the short answer to this one:

The question here is --IF Catholics are the TRUE CHURCH then the TRUE CHURCH should out teach the Protestants.

HE made an assertation of fact.

NOW HE MUST PROVE IT AND THE BURDEN IS ON HIM TO DO SO!😛

I love these forums!🙂

GO FOR IT!
 
Stephen_C said:
As to Adult education for Catholic…
My Diocese (Dallas) all the Parishes are running the “Why Catholic” program. From what I have been told signup has been very high. So I think the Catholic Church is starting to be more proactive in this area.
Click to expand...
Stephen-great signature
Deacon Tony- Average Joe Deacon (On the Altar):gopray:
 
You people are encouraging me to bring a notebook to Mass so I can take notes on the homily. I’m used to taking notes and sometimes spending time later with the Lord discussing the implications between us, or talking to my wife and sometimes others about what it means. Maybe I can do the same thing with this.

BTW my friendly neighborhood Catholic Church, where I am negotiating my unconditional surrender to Catholicism, recently hired a pastoral associate whose primary job is the training and teaching of adult Catholics. I may meet him at RCIA (the priest suggested I go, if I am ready - not sure yet) or next Sunday after Mass. I think this a really good thing and hope this is widespread.

At Mass this morning the man in the pew in front of me had one of those old taped together, worn-covered Bibles you see frequently in AOG churches where everyone brings their Sword. First time I’ve seen one in a Catholic church, not that I’ve been to a lot of Masses.
 
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