First of all, pray to the Holy Spirit to give you the words to speak when you approach your brother who is also your Holy Priest by the power of God. If you want to show the most of reverence for the sacred power he has been given, kiss his hand when you greet him–as a sign of your reverence for the Holy Eucharist, and for the fact that he has been given the power by God almighty to confect the sacrament. It is an awesome gift of Jesus Christ our dear Lord to this priest and through him to you.
I’m no expert, but the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) is extremely clear on this. Redemptionis Sacramentum underlines it with a big fat red marker, highlights it with flaming fluorescent orange and draws arrows from all corners of the page making this so clear, that if one doesn’t know about it, one simply has not read it.
You could bring your priest a copy of the GIRM, and bookmark Chapter II, Section III, B, paragraph #65 and #66, especially paragraph 66:
- The Homily should ordinarily be given by the priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to the deacon, but never to a lay person. (my emphasis)
source: this USCCB web site pageThe General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM). Order him one and give it to him with a bookmark on this chapter.
- It should be borne in mind that any previous norm that may have admitted non-ordained faithful to give the homily during the eucharistic celebration is to be considered abrogated by the norm of canon 767 ?1.145 This practice is reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of custom.
source: Redemptionis Sacramentum
How clear can it get?
Ask him if as a validly ordained Roman Catholic priest he is bound by the GIRM and by the instruction of the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. If he says yes, then ask why he isn’t following the instruction of the GIRM and Redemptionis Sacramentum. If he doesn’t allow this, then you must go to the Bishop.
If your priest does not see the light after this reference, then write your bishop and ask the exact same questions. If that doesn’t work, you have the right and duty under Canon law to ask the Holy See why this is permitted to happen in your parish. Follow these steps to resolve the conflict in this order because they are biblical.
A few weeks ago, Colin Donovan had a few things to say
a similar abuse in Seattle near where my parents live
God bless you and your priest. Pray for him, and so will I.