LET IT aLL sTART hERE
For Catholics who care...
In the column "dear Padre" a reader complains: Our last pastor gave good homilies, and I got a lot out of them. Our new pastor either tells jokes or talks about what he did during the week. How can I get him to preach better homilies? (Signed: Hungry for the Word)
I think the parishioners at Sacred Heart Parish ( Stamford, NY) are particularly blessed, if not spoiled by the quality of homily they receive every Sunday. Our pastor, Fr. Cambi, spends a great deal of time preparing for the writing of his typical eight minute homily; he knows the power of words and how to make them work for us and he is engaging. I can follow just how he carefully and skillfully uses the day's Scripture reading to direct the listener to a place of reflection. Sadly, not every Catholic has the good fortune of experiencing such a "homilist" and that works against The New Evangelization and individual conversion. If a person is "not getting anything out of " the Liturgy of The Word there is a big problem brewing for The Church, the individual and the priest. Fr. Rick Potts aka "the dear Padre" tells us: "a homily must artfully draw a listener into questions of the human heart and bring that day's Scripture reading to bear on those questions. In that moment we hear--in faith how hope, love, sacrifice, and belief in God guides us in our life's journey." Many of my readers at LetItAllStartHere are knowledgeable enough to describe the qualities of a strong homily. They know what they need to get out of that experience. I am asking those same readers to join our movement as we insist that priests do the work and prepare thought provoking homilies. Answer the question: How can a pastor write a better homily? BE NOT AFRAID! Tell us what you have learned through the many years you have participated in The Holy Mass. I can start the ball rolling by offering this from Thomas Merton: " We don't need so much to talk about God but to allow people to feel how God lives within us, that's our work." This is the work of the priest: To get his people to feel something.
19 Comments
Dennis
8/3/2015 10:06:31 pm
I do like the homily. In the mass we start by opening ourselves to God. We pray and ask for His love. For me, closeness and presence to Christ grows. Then we are immersed in readings, bits of knowledge written to guide us. The homily can take all of this and enlighten me. I will admit, the homily can be hardest part of the mass to stay present with. During a recent budget report I spent some time admiring the stain glass windows! I would also add that I can get something out of every homily if I listen well.
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Frances Wellington
8/4/2015 07:00:13 am
There is something in every homily, the person signed "Hungry for the Word" I am sure did not listen or understand. No priest will give a homily just telling jokes and talks about his week. In the jokes and experience he had during the week, I am sure there were thoughts in it that reveals the presence of God.
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jackie white
8/5/2015 10:14:35 am
Maybe we should consider doing a better job ourselves by preparing the readings and the gospel before we celebrate the liturgy either by attending a scripture group, spending time in meditation and let the homily be a bonus to what we already considered time well spent.
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8/5/2015 11:17:09 am
Sorry ladies BUT priests have a job to do like the rest of us. If I cone I'll prepared to preform the service my client expects I pay for it one way or another. Its the priest's responsibility to prepare a homily that makes sense to those listening. It is their responsibility to acquire the necessary skills to evangelize. Listen it's not neurosurgery here. Priest aren't saints, at least not all if them, so let's be reasonable. A comprehensible homily is not much to ask.
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8/5/2015 11:45:48 am
Also...the blog specifically requests suggestions for what makes a good homily. SO...when a priest's homily leaves you dull eyed or scratching your head...what would observations could offer him? Thanks
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jackie white
8/5/2015 08:22:54 pm
Evelyn..To stay with the subject matter....
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Frances Wellington
8/6/2015 04:27:40 am
I guess I have not been at the right Mass. In the 62 Mass as a Catholic I have never been left dulled eyed and scratching my head. I still think the priests are doing their job. No one wants to be in the front of hundreds of people and not be doing the best they can.
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Frances Wellington
8/6/2015 05:15:22 am
Evelyn, do you remember hearing about Solanus Casey? He was at Sacred Heart in Yonkers. He was a great priest, a very holy man, but he was not allowed to hear confessions or give a homily. He will proably be canonized some day, he is already beatified. In spite of his limitations he brought others closer to God.
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Dennis
8/6/2015 09:30:45 pm
Evelyn, I support your crusade to hold priest's to their task. But we are responsible for the feelings we feel. We would most assuredly throw away many good men because language and oratory is a weak point
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Dennis
8/8/2015 12:20:02 am
Evelyn, your blog does bring out the emotions within me. Forgive me for implying you would throw anyone away! My bad.
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Dennis
8/9/2015 01:25:51 am
Wow! what a homily I heard today. A substitute priest came this week, it felt, he reported, a special assignment. I haven't desired to receive the Host the way I did, after his homily today, in many years. I suspect, every mass I attend from now till my death, at communion time I will be remembering today's homily.
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jackie white
8/9/2015 07:48:45 am
Dennis,
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Ellen Moran
8/10/2015 01:24:45 pm
There was a time when I actually left a "Mass" because a "homily"rubbed me the wrong way.(with excited blasphemous feelings ,while simultaneously asking the Lord to forgive me for my selfishness and outrage.)
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8/10/2015 02:20:43 pm
I loved this response Ellen. There is a lot to learn from your words. Thank you.
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Corinne
8/17/2015 12:06:33 am
Reading the Joy of the Gospel , Pope Frances expresses that a Homily is a constant source of renewal and growth . He also states that Saint Paul spoke very forcefully about the need to preach . Also Christ did establish the apostles with him so they could be sent out to preach and to bring people the heart of Church .
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8/17/2015 06:36:18 am
Yes Corinne! I am so glad you mentioned The Joy of the Gospel. It is such an important book. Do you have any other thoughts about it to share? Thanks
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Corinne
8/17/2015 10:08:45 pm
Yes I do . I think it is important to have a Homily that is given with compassion . To know the true Christ . To me in order to come to the table I must be brought there. Gods words are to be taught and we need to be enlightened , to be excited about our faith. We need to have our lives touched . In the joy of Gospel , it was said Jesus was angered by those teachers who Demanded to much of others. We must teach with love and understanding . Only then we will be drawn to Christ. Clergy and followers also should show the faith . To show understanding and to know all of us belong to Christ . So to me I firmly believe that walking out of church with excitement about my faith will draw me closer to Jesus . The joy of the Gospel had spoke to my heart . It had mentioned all the things that I have wanted to express but couldn't quite put it into words . Leave a Reply. |
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