preventing "homily abuse"

11/15/2016

      “Today, I invite you to turn your hearts to a very rampant
       and widespread abuse among priests – homily abuse. Yes,
       abuse of the kindness of the people who are forced to listen
      to long, winding, repetitious, boring, unorganized, unprepared,
      mumbled homilies. In jest, but certainly with some truth,
      the people say our homilies are one of the obligatory scourges
       that they must go through every Sunday.”

This is a direct quote from the homily of Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop
Socrates Villegas given April 2nd 2015.

In the end the message from the Archbishop is clear: “Stop the homily abuse!”

Faithful Catholics know what makes a bad homily. We have sat through enough of them in our lifetimes. Often we are asked or rather, urged, to be more understanding of less eloquent priests.   Now, I can’t be sure why our clergy doesn’t understand, as Archbishop Villegas reminds us that: “Homily abuse can harm souls.” What I can say is this: Good homilists are made, not born.
Pope Francis, himself, considers the homily "the touchstone for judging a pastor’s closeness and ability to communicate to his people."

We, in my small, rural parish are fortunate in that we have excellent homilist in our pastor.
The question that begs to be asked is: What makes him different?

After all, the same Gospel is available to every priest, in every corner of the world-- each Sunday. The same “Cliff Notes” for priests to draw upon are available to anyone who needs back-up. So, how was the homilist in our pastor made?

With the Pope’s words in mind, I set out to discover what enables a priest to write a “homily that can actually be an intense and happy experience of the Spirit, a consoling encounter with God’s word, a constant source of renewal and growth," as the Pope put it. Here is what I discovered:

Prayer: A good homilist spends a great deal of time in prayer. He prays unceasingly. He prays when he can’t sleep, he prays when he is driving to appointments, he prays late at night in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

Study: A good homilist spends a lot of his free time devouring Catholic periodicals, newspapers and magazines. He makes himself familiar with an inexhaustible catalogue of Catholic writings (available in print and on line) that includes everything from the Vatican Library (which is in the process of digitizing its collection of manuscripts) to the current books published by professors of biblical theology and renowned Catholic lecturers.

Reflection: A good homilist observes his people. He listens carefully allowing them an opportunity to be themselves. He is not quick to respond, carelessly, when involved in an encounter, but instead holds back, allowing himself time to ponder the variables and subtle nuances of each person who engages him. Later, he works in collaboration with The Word...and with the Holy Spirit by his side, he recalls what his people have taught him as he prepares and delivers his homily.

In, the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis wrote: "We know that the faithful attach great importance to it, and that both they and their ordained ministers suffer because of homilies: the laity from having to listen to them and the clergy from having to preach them! It is sad that this is the case."

If you are cursed with a clergyman who is guilty of homily pollution, do your parish and yourself a favor and send him this. You will be glad you did!

23 Comments

Mel link

11/16/2016 05:42:40 am

This is probably the finest post I have seen you put up. I abhor bad homilies, but often feel sorry for the guys who preach them. Ordination confers faculties, but not every gift, including homiletics. This is a good argument for opening up the ministry of preaching to trained and gifted non-ordained persons. While the Spirit gives every community all the gifts it needs, it does not concentrate them all in one person. We are truly a pilgrim Church and the journey is a long one.
One suggestion: let your homilies know when they have touched you, positively or negatively, and engage them in conversation about the Word and your own prayer life...a good or potentially good homilies will be grateful!

Mel

11/17/2016 08:54:10 am

Sorry...auto-correct changed my word "homilist" to "homilies" !

Dennis

11/16/2016 06:52:34 am

Evelyn, your a good person to have in the corner in a bout. I agree, Fr. Michael obviously puts much into his homily but he also has the blessings of intelligence and skill. I could work weeks on writing a homily and put everything into it but I would still come up with a sleeper. We should be less interested in judging a homily and more focused on the message it tries to deliver.

John

11/16/2016 08:50:18 pm

Homilies cut both ways. Coming to mass unprepared to receive the Eucharist can cloud the effectiveness of homilies. Being tired, distracted, thinking of what's for dinner, where you're traveling the next day, 'is that so-and-so' three rows ahead?, etc., is certain to weigh on the effectiveness of homilies. Firing up the Holy Spirit and checking the demands of the outside world at the door for one hour on Sunday will enable most people to glean something from virtually any homily, independent of the presenter's oratory skills. Sometimes a single sentence in a 15 minute sermon can do wonders for the interior life. It's all about how one is disposed upon entering the doors. As for critiquing the priests role--or lack thereof--in preparation I'll leave that to him and our Lord.

Denise

11/16/2016 08:52:37 pm

With each new blog post I am finding it more and more difficult to remain silent. The most recent “Preventing Homily Abuse”, and “Conscientious Objector” posts have me questioning the true intent of this blog.
Research has proven that people learn and react to information differently. It’s a diverse world we are living in. Every person brings their own approach, talents and interests to a situation. We also know that a person’s culture, family background, and socioeconomic level will affect how they learn and interpret information.
So I wonder how we can deem a homily to be boring, polluted, or unworthy. I would furthermore be hard pressed to express this discontent with the person who delivered the homily. The fact is that what you find unworthy may be truly inspiring to me. It’s as simple as viewing these homilies through the eyes of a child. I would have to believe that my kids aren’t as moved as I am on many occasions. They have a different level of education, and different experiences that they bring to the situation. I would also suggest that these same factors come into play as a person decides who to vote for. What is the purpose of accusing someone of being an unfaithful Christian?
There is simply nothing to gain by condemning the choice of someone else. Expressing an opinion may be appropriate if it is done with consideration and gentleness. Educating others on the teachings of the church may also be appropriate, but understand that some topics are sensitive. Each person is at a different place on their journey of faith. Each person will react differently. It seems that these judgements are being made under the false umbrella of “evangelization”. Has it occurred to anyone that this may not be the most effective way to evangelize?

Evelyn

11/17/2016 12:15:21 am

This blog's purpose was to put God on the brain and to challenge the Faithful to think more about Catholic related issues. The blog does just that.

I ask the tough questions about a Faith that is not easy to live, and it is reflected in this blog.

The majority of the content of this particular blog comes out of the mouth of Church leaders...most noted... our beloved Pope Francis.

If you are asking yourself : "Who does she think she is?" The answer is: I am someone who spends an inordinate amount of time with God on my mind...I'm in the "trenches" and I am not afraid share my observations.

I am pleased that I have motivated you to share yours. Each time someone posts, the blog has successfully served God and its purpose.

Denise

11/17/2016 02:53:31 am

I did not ask “Who does she think she is”. Nor would I on a public forum. I will reiterate my point. There are more perspectives involved than that of the author. I think everyone is in the trenches and I can’t insinuate that God is not on their mind. I don’t have a handle on what is going through the mind of someone else. I also have no desire to judge them.

jackie white

11/17/2016 04:37:30 am

Evelyn,

I read your blog and all the great comments from each participant and I could not think of anything to add until this morning in prayer and this is what I have to offer.

From Morning Whispers....@perfect peaceandjoy.org

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain , and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
(2 Peter 1:19)

A sermon or a book on spirituality will not serve you if it merely lodges within your mind. It must work its way into your heart if it is to make an impact on you life.

LISTEN, READ ,PROCESS, INTERNALIZE, PRAY AND CHANGE. John Gaudreau

michael

11/17/2016 07:27:41 am

given the comments i read about the previous blog, "conscientious objector," i not only read this blog, "preventing homily abuse," but also read the comments with interest as well. i've read both positive and negative responses with an equal mindset. i see quite a difference in the kinds of reactions.

a blog is a forum for opinions, yes; the person who puts up such a blog usually does so with specific intentions, and seeks to remain faithful to those intentions. this blog illustrates that purpose. evelyn stated what she considered to be a meaningful issue; she opened with a quote from an archbishop that addressed - perhaps motivated - the topic of the blog; further, she used both the words and the writings of pope francis to support the topic she addressed.

the criticism, however is directed at her, not the topic she introduced... and before those who are responsible of such "innuendo," i would suggest you re-read what you posted denise, dennis, john. i'm sure you are aware of "subtext."

after complimenting evelyn, and fr. michael, dennis ends with, "We should be less interested in judging a homily and more focused on the message it tries to deliver." (the subtext is an accusation of being judgmental... even though, evelyn was interpreting words from church officials).

...and, john offers a helpful interpretation about what personal pre-occupations parishioners may bring into the mass, justifying the possible lack of response or enthusiasm from some attendees for a homily on a particular sunday. an interesting and helpful observation from the point of view of certain baggageTHEY bring into the environment as being cause for a "questionable" homily... which would have been fine if he had left it at that, but he ends with, "As for critiquing the priests role--or lack thereof--in preparation I'll leave that to him and our Lord." (the "subtext" being that evelyn - and - by association - an archbishop and the pope, have stepped out of bounds by addressing an issue of concern).

...and, denise has no need for subtext. she's right out there with direct accusation, reprimand, and judgment... a few quotable comments:
"There is simply nothing to gain by condemning the choice of someone else. Expressing an opinion may be appropriate if it is done with consideration and gentleness." (what was "condemning" in the blog? what exactly did you find "inconsiderate" and "un-gentle?" and, what is it you're doing here, denise?)

"With each new blog post I am finding it more and more difficult to remain silent. The most recent “Preventing Homily Abuse”, and “Conscientious Objector” posts have me questioning the true intent of this blog.(this is gentle and not judgmental?)

"It seems that these judgements are being made under the false umbrella of “evangelization”. Has it occurred to anyone that this may not be the most effective way to evangelize?"

there were no specific references to the words of the archbishop or the pope; were any letters written to them, about their positions or comments?"

why not engage in "constructive criticism" when you disagree with a choice of topic or the way it's presented... instead of innuendo, subtext, and recriminations?

if this were my blog, i would offer up the topic of "hypocrisy" ... and instead of subtext, i would use specific examples to back up my opinion(s) - as evelyn has done in this blog.

Dennis ,

11/28/2016 05:20:02 am

Michael, I'm sorry I reacted so negatively to your insights. I haven't figured out why , maybe upset at something else that day. I have a feeling you love Jesus...me too...possibly every individual who reads this blog. Let's get together around Him.

evelyn augusto

11/17/2016 08:45:00 am

Jackie: This was perfect! Thank you.

Denise

11/17/2016 09:11:59 am

I believe I stated this, but saying someone is not a faithful Christian based on who they vote for is not gentle in my opinion. It is very judgemental and inconsiderate "in my opinion". The blog is out there as opinion. You may not agree with mine and that's OK.

I did re-read my post and stand behind my desire for all opinions to be considered. You had the need to defend some people while attacking others because they support different opinions. I wasn't aware that I needed to include in-text citations to have a valid opinion. My response is based on my take away from the read. Many other posts have been of the same format.

I can whole heartedly agree that the blog was based on an "interpretation" of words from a church official. Possibly, this is only one of many interpretations.

I can understand your accusation of hypocrisy from your limited viewpoint, and I can own my words and my actions. As I tried to emphasize earlier. You are not walking in my shoes. You don't have a solid understanding of what has shaped my life or my opinions.

Evelyn is interpreting words from church officials and then introducing her own opinions. I interpreted words from her and then stated my opinions.

I will be free and clear from this from here forward. No chance it is bringing good things to my heart. I sincerely apologize that my viewpoints are so grossly inaccurate.

evelyn augusto

11/17/2016 01:20:18 pm

Denise: The information in "Homily Abuse" was directly quoted from the Archbishop and Pope. I did not interpret anything. What are you talking about? Look up the quotes!

Denise

11/17/2016 01:42:15 pm

Really? The entire post is not a quote. Yes some quotes. Also many interpretations and opinions. No matter what. Everyone has a take away. Not everyone has to agree. Not all information was a direct quote. If it were there is no need for a blog. Simply attach a link. And further, I did look them up prior to my post! But thanks for the directive! :)

VERY CONCERNED PARISHIONE R

11/17/2016 09:57:06 am

Denise. You go girl!❤️

Anne Cannon

11/17/2016 11:05:06 am

After reading the last two blogs, I have to ask myself how happy Jesus is with all of us. Apparently the purpose of the blog is to evangelize. How sad is it that it has turned into a battleground for the parishioners. Who in their right mind would hand this blog to a priest and walk away feeling happy. Who made US authorities on how a priest should dress, who should be an altar server, who to vote for, and how to write/deliver a great homily? Shame on us and our judgmental mentalities!

evelyn augusto

11/17/2016 01:46:00 pm

Anne: A Doctor of Minstry from the Albany Diocese wrote that "Homily Abuse" was right on. See the first reply to the post. The blog had such merit she shared it with people she knew. She Evangelized using the essay as medium.

Prof. Pierre Hegy of Adelphi University has taken Notes from a Conscientious Objector and posted it at his academicsite for theology professors: (http://wakeuplazarus.net/2016/summit-d.html/) siting that: "...there was progression and development in the discussion which is of great benefit to participants."

Catholic365.com has published all but two of my blog essays, siting that the last one, Notes from a Conscientious Objector's photo credit was not substantiated so it was taken out of the que.

www.letitallstarthere.com has been very helpful to many. It has not been used successfully as an Evangelization tool and shared within or thru our own parish, I believe, because I hold the pen.

That is an assessment...a judgment...a reality. What does that say about things? Or am I not permitted to question people's motives. I suggest that people start questionin their own motives.

Janet Marie

11/18/2016 07:04:54 am

Anne, you are correct, it is not our place. That quote came from a homily addressed TO PRIESTS by Archbishop Villegas. It IS the place of a bishop to direct and correct priests. Google can lead you to the entire text of the homily.

Janet Marie

11/18/2016 07:10:25 am

https://youtu.be/d9zoq3k-3K0

Janet Marie

11/18/2016 08:02:45 am

I just realized that it looks as though the link above is to Archbishop Villegas' homily. It is not. It's a link to a song which we sing rather frequently at Sacred Heart. (And btw I do wish we used the version in the For King and Country video; the inclusive language in that is better than the inclusive language in our hymnal. I can remember when we would (chorally) promise to guard "each man's" dignity; FCAC's "each other's" is wonderful; Gather's "human's dignity" is-- forgive me--- cringe-worthy.

Janet Marie

11/18/2016 06:34:34 am

In response to "homily abuse." Let's keep in mind that there is a huge difference between the homilist who doesn't put in the time, and the one who simply isn't particularly gifted in this area. In the second case, what do we hope to achieve by underscoring the person's lacks, and particularly in using words like "pollution"? Even in the first case, we need to keep in mind that we don't know what is going on in someone else's life. Perhaps the priest who appears to have neglected preparing his homily has been overwhelmed by parishioners with urgent needs. I would suggest that the first step, ALWAYS, is to pray for the priest. As for the second step, why not try to find one good point in a homily and make a compliment? ("Father, it really struck a chord with me when you said.....") After doing that several times, then.. if you truly feel it is necessary... the time might be ripe for suggesting that there is room for improvement. ("Your homilies are so moving when you....") People rarely react well to being told that they stink at something. And we are talking about pastors here: a unique, underappreciated group who in recent years are often under attack. We should all be praying for priests every day. And I am not suggesting that the writer of this blog, or its readers, are not. I'm sure they are. But just as the indifferent homilist can try harder, so can we.

Dennis

11/19/2016 04:41:08 am

Yes, indeed, my blog is judgemental. It was meant to be!

evelyn augusto

11/19/2016 05:29:58 am

: )

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