Too long homily

[Elzee]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

My five year old leans on me. She has actually fallen asleep. That is the extent of her misbehavior.
However, we started our kids young with Catholic children’s books. They were allowed to read them during the Homilies. In our parish, children sit through the homily without a peep. I guess it comes down to what we expect from our children is what they will give us.
If we are disgruntled about the length of a sermon, why would we expect our children not to be?

I think we have similar parenting styles when it comes to faith-building and our kids, netmils - I’ve noticed this from time to time when I read your posts.

Oh how I would LOVE a 15-30 minute homily if it was orthodox, taught me something, and challenged me to live my Catholic faith!

Our priest talks for 4-7 minutes - all happy and feel-good. The theme is usually we are one in baptism and are nourished by the Eucharist. He will occasionally touch on a reading or the Gospel, but always within this context. He doesn’t take advantage of opportunites to teach us our Catholic faith even when the readings would seem to make it extremely easy…Peter being given the keys, the apostles being give the power to forgive sins, the Ark of the Covenant and the Immaculate Conception, etc. Like Karl said, this is his ONE chance to reach a lot of people each week and really help them grow in their faith and knowledge of the Church, but for some reason he doesn’t take advantage of it. So, if your priest is long-winded but is orthodox and actually teaches you something, be thankful, not restless. You have been given a great gift. There are many of us out here who are craving that kind of instruction and just don’t get it from our priests and parish.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

Elzee:

I think we have similar parenting styles when it comes to faith-building and our kids, netmils - I’ve noticed this from time to time when I read your posts.

Oh how I would LOVE a 15-30 minute homily if it was orthodox, taught me something, and challenged me to live my Catholic faith!

Our priest talks for 4-7 minutes - all happy and feel-good. The theme is usually we are one in baptism and are nourished by the Eucharist. He will occasionally touch on a reading or the Gospel, but always within this context. He doesn’t take advantage of opportunites to teach us our Catholic faith even when the readings would seem to make it extremely easy…Peter being given the keys, the apostles being give the power to forgive sins, the Ark of the Covenant and the Immaculate Conception, etc. Like Karl said, this is his ONE chance to reach a lot of people each week and really help them grow in their faith and knowledge of the Church, but for some reason he doesn’t take advantage of it. So, if your priest is long-winded but is orthodox and actually teaches you something, be thankful, not restless. You have been given a great gift. There are many of us out here who are craving that kind of instruction and just don’t get it from our priests and parish.

I thank God every day for the priests of my parish and for their persistence in teaching the faith in all its fullness and splendor. The Catholic faith, when taught in its entirety, truly feels like receiving milk from the loving hands of a mother, and in the strength of a caring father.

No wonder it is called, Holy Mother Church.

It is through the homily and sermons that we learn to examen our consciences because the priests give us something to chew on. It is what brings me back each week - the challenges. Also, when you find good orthodox sermons, regardless of how long they are, I think you will find that confession is readily available. And, such priests, spending so much time in a confessional, providing counsel and helping us to apply the faith that they preach, get their content for more sermons. I know the priests at my parish draw on what they learn from us and they also get a good feel for where the bulk of the parishioners are from a spiritual standpoint. It makes it easier to bear the soul in confession when you can refer back and tell the priest that something he said in his homily made recognition of the sin possible for confession.

Show me a homilist that is always talking about feel good stuff and I’ll show you a priest who likely doesn’t spend much quality time in a confessional.

The length does not matter, be it short or long, provided it is orthodox and carries the basics of the faith.

I don’t have children, but I watch in amazement at how the parents in my parish handle their children throughout Mass. There are some exceptions, but for the most part there are no toys, cheerios, gameboys (yes, I’ve really seen these at other parishes), nor ipods.

For those with infants reading this thread I strongly encourage you to take a cue from the many parents in my parish who simply focus on the Mass, even while holding their babies, without giving them undue attention. Whether they know it or not, they are teaching their babies from a very young age that this is God’s hour, not their hour. They should get wonderful quality time before and after Mass. However, in church, if the parents are fully focused on the Mass, saying the parts, singing, listening intently to readings/homily, it goes a long way in teaching, far more than words. When the babies seek attention, stay focused on the Mass in order to teach them the lessons. It will be easier than trying to correct it at age 4, 5 or 6. I see way too many babies, toddlers and small children sitting contently through 1.5 hours of our Latin Mass each Sunday to buy-in to the idea that it is not possible. It is possible, but it must start with infancy.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I have to laugh. A little girl of about 2, sitting behind me, was being shushed by Mommy during the first portion of the Liturgy of the Word. When Father came to the homily, which was a little long-winded, the little girl went to the end of the pew, stood up on the seat, and in a stage whisper “shushed” Father!!

 

[netmilsmom]

Elzee:

You have been given a great gift. .

Amen, my friend!
I thank Our Lord every day for leading me here!

 

[Elzee]

Lux_et_veritas:

I
Show me a homilist that is always talking about feel good stuff and I’ll show you a priest who likely doesn’t spend much quality time in a confessional.

How right you are. Our priest commented to someone once that in our extremely large parish he is lucky if two people a week show up for reconciliation (he doesn’t use the term ‘confession’). Another, smaller parish in town, however, has priests that really teach and challenge their parishoners. Their confession lines are always long. People wait as much as 30-45 minutes. Hopefully they’ll open up other times, but they to split their time between parishes so it’s difficult.) You have sure hit the nail on the head.

 

[Lux_et_veritas]

Elzee:

How right you are. Our priest commented to someone once that in our extremely large parish he is lucky if two people a week show up for reconciliation (he doesn’t use the term ‘confession’). Another, smaller parish in town, however, has priests that really teach and challenge their parishoners. Their confession lines are always long. People wait as much as 30-45 minutes. Hopefully they’ll open up other times, but they to split their time between parishes so it’s difficult.) You have sure hit the nail on the head.

I waited 35 minutes behind just one person yesterday. I never once minded it or felt annoyed because I figured the priest, who is very seasoned, knew what he was doing, was aware of the time he was using, and knew that someday, he might be keeping me in there that long. All of the priests are generous with their time and no confession I’ve given comes without counsel and challenges. Plus there were other priests available, but I stayed my course.

Confession - a term I love to use since, for me, that is what it is, is where the priests can see how we are doing from an application standpoint, of what we are getting from readings and preachings.

A few months ago, the homilies of all of the priests were hitting something in particular (can’t remember atm what it was). All priests in the parish were certainly in sync with something and we were really being challenged.

Our weekday homilies last about 5-7 minutes. The weekend homilies easily last 15-20 minutes. On the feast of All Souls, one priest gave a sermon that lasted 30 minutes and people just about stood up and cheered at the end of it (but of course we did not). There were plenty of kids in Church too and, as usual, they behaved themselves and sat contentedly.