What HAVE you heard in homilies?

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Sorry about that last post. Just a first reaction.

Our priest is from the Phillipines. He works hard at his homilies, and I’ve noticed over the past year he has taken more and more a direct approach to the serious issues in the poll above. Usually he will use the readings as the take off point and transition into a particular theme he feels is necessary. By nature he is a kind and gentle man, and he’s no fire and brimstone preacher. But he is orthodox, and for that I am grateful as a convert. I can trust him. Our parish is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and so he does hit the theme of Mary and the rosary frequently. And we have the rosary everyday before mass in the morning through the week.
In short, we love him. And we pray for him all the time.
By the way, Fr. Frank. Nice to know there are some from the clergy reading these posts. I’ll pray that you won’t be so lonely in the confessional.
On that point, I’ve noticed that confession can be contagious. That is to say, I’ve been early to mass and seen nobody in or out at the specified half-hour before each mass. Then, when I have gone in on another Sunday morning, and have taken advantage of the sacrament, I’ve seen others go in right after, almost as if the ice were broken.
Just a coincidence, my imagination? I don’t know. Just a thought.
 
Two weeks ago, the priest at a parish I waas visiting said the Church was unequal in ‘its’ treatment of women, and that we should all pray for the day that women can receive all seven sacraments.

When questioned after mass, he reiterated his point to me, and said, further, that the pope behaves like an autocrat and that he was denied the sacrament of matrimony and that wasn’t fair.

I don’t hear that kind of homily at my home parish. 🙂
 
Our Pastor gave a great homily directed to the children receiving First Holy Communion when my son made his. All about Jesus being your friend and his presence in the Eucharist each time you receive. Then the next week he ended his Homily with the news that Communion took too long to distribute and that he was thinking of ways to speed it up. I don’t think he has mentioned any of the other topics.
 
I hadn’t checked back in this forum, it hadn’t occured to me that people would be interested in where I lived after I said that I lived in a Catholic paradise, but that is my fault for not thinking. I was emailed by one forum member about it, so I came back here and found that a couple of people asked, so I will reply (this is a copy of the text of the email that I sent, at lest part of it).

Front Royal, Virginia is the town and area that I dub a Catholic Paradise and Homeschooling capital of the U.S.

I say this keeping in mind that no place is perfect and all have their faults, but some have a good deal more than others and out of all of the places in the country that I have heard of or lived in, this is the best (I have lived in Front Royal for about 8 years).

First of all, the Catholic Community here really began when Christendom College opened up its doors in this little backwoods Virginia town about 25 years ago. The college is the best Catholic college in the country in my opinion, but at least it is among the 6 or so good Catholic colleges left (including places like Ave Maria, Thomas Aquinas, Magdalen, maybe Steubenville, etc) The college has about 360 students or so, and many alumni have settled in the area, as well as the fact that the faculty live here.

Secondly, Front Royal is the home of Seton Home Study School, which is the largest publisher of Catholic textbooks in the country as well as the largest Catholic homeschooling curriculum provider, with over 10,000 students. The staff is large and the building fairly large as well. This is the primary reason that Front Royal is the homeschooling capital, but the large number of Catholic homeschooling families is probably one of the highest concentrations in the country, if not the largest, per population. I guess I should also mention that there is a large Catholic homeschooling support group here as well. We also have one of the largest Catholic Home Schooling conferences in Northern Virginia in the U.S. (www.ihmconference.org)

Human Life International moved its international headquaters here about 8 years ago (this is the pioneer Pro-life organization that was started by Fr. Paul Marx). Their building looks like a castle quite literally, with also a hint of monastery, it is very large, but unfortunately the staff as had some cut backs.

Population Reasearch Institute also has international headquaters here.

(In 2 parts… continued)
 
(Front Royal…Part 2)

The local parish, St. John the Baptist is very conservative according to the standards across the country, and the Parocial vicar that we had the blessing to receive about 8 months ago is just like the Cure of Ars, and their is a strong group that supports him, however, there is a more liberal element as well, and as a result the parish isn’t quite as conservative as some here would like it to be. But we have many liturgical feasts that are celebrated with community functions, even a Corpus Christ procession down the center of Main Street in the heart of down.

We have 7 chapels/churches in town that I know of and about 4 - 6 daily masses, at HLI, Christendom, and we even have a Byzantine community here with a church though it is small. We also have Adoration for almost 24 hours (we are still working on two of the days of the week, but the rest are filled)

We have a Catholic construction company, Catholic realty company, Catholic financial company, Catholic bookstore, Catholic Gym and Health Club, etc.

Like any town in the South, we are greatly outnumbered by the non-Catholic population, but we have essentially created our own community within the town. (Front Royal has a population of about 14,000 or so and is about 70 minutes from Washington D.C.)

I tried to give as much pertinent info as I could think of. I love this community very much even though it is not perfect, there is no where else I would rather be. As you can tell, I don’t mind answering any questions and would be happy to help if I can. It is the least that I can do to repay the favor that other families did for us when we moved here. btw, It is also the norm to see catholic homeschooling families with many children, we have several with over ten.
 
I have heard lots of heresy in the Novus Ordo churches I have visited. In fact, in one Church I heard about how other religions can save you.

Typical New Order Catholic stuff approved by the Pope.

What I have NEVER heard in the Novus Ordo churches I have visited is:
  1. Real Presence
  2. Hell
  3. Sin
In my Byzantine Catholic Church I have heard about:
  1. Devil
  2. Sin
  3. Hell
  4. Real Presence
  5. Need to go to confession
 
Let’s see… Here is a sample of our Parish:

We have one foot in Heaven
We have a sinful Church
We can disagree with the Church as Paul did with Peter
Never a word about mortal Sin,
Never a word about Homosexuality
Never a word about Contraception or Sex outside of Marriage.

Lord help our priests have the courage to preach the TRUTH!
 
I recently left my parish due to “progressiveness” and am checking out a second one…I live on the southwest side of Chicago, and am beginning to think I am doomed as far as finding an orthodox church less than 15-20 minutes away.

The latest fiasco was this past Sunday…for Homily, the Priest actually said: Just as Jesus commishioned the 72 to go out and preach and heal, we had another man with a dream from the 1950’s who wouldnt give up…he was laughed at as well…some had faith in his plan and mission, and others didnt…just like Jesus.

This mans name was…Ray Kroc…the FOUNDER of McDONALDS!.. :eek:

All that popped in my head was…"go yee forth and make eaters of FRIES… if they accept you… then may they get biggie sized…if they deny your bugers…then shake the onion ring batter from your shoes and move on! 😃 I couldnt help it…I was creating a mini play in my head and couldnt STOP! 😦

The Priest even said… Ray Kroc had a dream…and he sent forth people to fulfill that dream… :confused:

Of ALL the Saints and holy people who had dreams but were thwarted, and still persevered…NONE were used…instead, we got a guy who founded a hamburger franchise…I didnt know whether to laugh out loud or cry…to top it off…the Priest says, and today…we are 5 million strong HUH??? arent we like 800 million to a BILLION???

This had to be the ULTIMATE DUMBING DOWN of a “sermon” I had EVER heard IN MY LIFE 😦

I’m a pretty good “net surfer” and spent 2 hours on Sunday trying every combo and wording possible to try and find out if any bloggers, etc…have compiled listings of orthodox churches/priests on the southwest side of Chicago…I couldnt find ANYTHING. *sigh…

I read another poster here state that he lives in Front Royal Virginia and its like Catholic Paradise…I am actually thinking about getting the hell out of Dodge and moving there.
 
Having attended mass regularly since childhood, I can remember hearing all of the above. What saddens me is that I can remember only because it is with such infrequency that I hear homilies on controversial issues. I think that priests tend to duck the hard issues to avoid hard feelings among the laity who may disagree. I don’t think that’s good shepherding. I respect the priest who is willing to stand up and preach the hard message when it needs to be taught. 👍
 
All we are use to hearing at our parish is the talk of money and how our priest need a luxuriance living quarters. Sad to say.😦
And what is even sadder is that the priest at our parish took a vow of poverty.
 
Anytime I have visited Front Royal, VA, I feel as if I’ve stepped off planet earth onto a cloud near heaven. Truly, I have. They even had (last time I was there) a Catholic cafe named after Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, with a large picture of him on the wall. (The food was great, too, with hospitality provided by Christendom students~ WooHOO!)

Back to reality: In my hometown, I’ve heard none of the homilies listed in the poll. On Father’s Day of this year, we got to hear a homily about “heroes.” The main person held up to be a hero, along with Jesus, of course, (that goes without saying) was…

Are you ready???

Christopher Reeves, because he is a champion for the rights of the disabled.

Yeah, you know, the same guy who speaks before Congress fighting for stem cell research of aborted babies! Ay, ay, ay!!! 😦
 
There should be a category for None of the above. I believe I’ve heard one sermon on the Real Presence and one sermon on abortion in the last 15+ years. Virtually all sermons I’ve heard are filled with platitudes, generalities and fluff, an on occassion with heresy.
 
I have heard all of the poll choices preached at one time or another at our parish by “guest” priests giving missions or by the Norbertine priests that occasionally help out. The strangest homily I can remember occurred in San Diego County at a charismatic parish. The priest started the homily but after about 20 minutes turned the task over to the deacon, who then proceeded to speak for an additional half hour until he started to say how not everything taught by the Vatican was inspired by the Holy Spirit. At this point, the priest abruptly cut him off and the Mass continued. My wife and I still refer to this Mass as the “Doug & Bob” show. That’s how they referred to each other, as Father Doug and Deacon Bob. By the way, Father Doug wore spiffy Christmas socks with Santas and snowmen in his sandals.
 
Panis Angelicas,
Anytime I have visited Front Royal, VA, I feel as if I’ve stepped off planet earth onto a cloud near heaven. Truly, I have. They even had (last time I was there) a Catholic cafe named after Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, with a large picture of him on the wall. (The food was great, too, with hospitality provided by Christendom students~ WooHOO!)
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Unfortunately, Pier Giorgio Cafe had to close, that is why I didn’t mention it.
 
+veritas+:
In light of the post regarding teaching from the pulpit (namely, hell being taught) I am just curious as to how many people have actually heard these things at their parish during the homily?

Or not heard these things? Or not heard other things?
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I think there needs to be a check mark labeled “garbage”. I frequently go to a parish alot farther away from my house because the parish that is closest is so fanatically liberal, politically correct and all the rest that I can’t stand it. Alot of Ghandi and Simon & Garfunkle gets lectured on (no, I am absolutely not kidding), but not too much that is Catholic.
 
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ccav:
I think there needs to be a check mark labeled “garbage”. I frequently go to a parish alot farther away from my house because the parish that is closest is so fanatically liberal, politically correct and all the rest that I can’t stand it. Alot of Ghandi and Simon & Garfunkle gets lectured on (no, I am absolutely not kidding), but not too much that is Catholic.
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Talk to this priest. If he won’t listen, TALK TO YOUR BISHOP!!! :eek:

Seriously, the new instructions on the Mass make it clear that the preaching is to be based on the readings from the Mass.

The instructions also make it clear that the laity have the right **and responsibility ** to talk to their priest, failing that recourse - to the bishop, failing that recourse - to the Vatican.

Hearing this kind of ($&**#&*%) “stuff” gets me. :mad:

Sorry, I just had a great weekend talking about what it means to make up for what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ - and then to hear that people are suffering through – THIS!!!

May God bless you all who are enduring.

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!!!
 
The homilies at my parish usually are how the readings apply to our everyday life. I was raised in a penecostal church where the sermons were very long and seemed to be about a lot of things. I prefer the homilies where I am given usually just maybe a couple of things to think about during the week. I thought the homilies were supposed to be a reflection on the readings. The best homilies are the ones where the priest is able to tie the readings, church teaching, and everyday application of the readings together.
 
My pastor has given absolutely wonderful and orthodox sermons, but he speaks very little about hell, the perils of unrepentent sin, and of the absolute need to form a correct conscience. The Associate Pastor, God bless him, is a good man whose sermons are trite and “politically correct.” Besides his sermons which seem designed to offend no one, the prayers of the faithful are repetitive and dull, with their primary emphasis being “peace, justice, and love of the poor.” Of course, who could be against “peace, justice, and love of the poor.” However, these “catch words” have become meaningless abstractions and code words for liberal causes. When I entered the Church, I learned that the primary duty of diocesan priests is to save the souls in their care, not to engage in efforts primarily to recast the Gospel in politically liberal ideology. * I have timed the singing, sermons, and announcements on Sundays. 45-50 minutes are devoted to the former, while the Eucharistic Prayers (the real MASS) takes only 15 minutes - including reception of the Body and Blood of our Lord. The schedule reveals the problem and why many Catholics are not attending Sunday mass.*
 
I voted for the moral issues one, because I heard a priest preach against divination and fortune-tellers once.

I rarely hear any of this stuff in any of the churches I attend. Mostly the message is something like, ‘Let’s all love each other and it will be fine’. The nun who runs RCIA at my parish actually told a candidate she did the right thing in not stopping her Mormon Mother-in-law from receiving the Eucharist at her confirmation. She said something like “It calls to people, you shouldn’t stop it.”

I probably should have spoken up, but I didn’t. Maybe I should now.:ehh:
 
I voted for the moral issues one, because I heard a priest preach against divination and fortune-tellers once.

I rarely hear any of this stuff in any of the churches I attend. Mostly the message is something like, ‘Let’s all love each other and it will be fine’. The nun who runs RCIA at my parish actually told a candidate she did the right thing in not stopping her Mormon Mother-in-law from receiving the Eucharist at her confirmation. She said something like “It calls to people, you shouldn’t stop it.”

I probably should have spoken up, but I didn’t. Maybe I should now.:ehh:
 
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