The Good, Bad and Ugly of Homiletics
First off, the Birds blew it. Again.
Amy the Fair's got a thread going in which she seems to lean toward advocating the return of the "priest simplex" -- i.e. an ordinand who can celebrate Mass, but who is deprived of the faculties to preach and, in most cases, hear confessions.
With the state of things these days, I can't say I'd mind bringing that distinction between competence and... well... something else back either. It'd beat most of the nails on the chalkboard I've heard on Sundays, which is why I hang my liturgy hat either at university parishes or Jesuit ones. Agree or disagree with the preaching, you know you're getting solid stuff.
Now, here's the rub. One of the commentors over at Amy's suggests allowing laypeople to preach. And, as I've reported before -- and have just culled this piece from The Tablet archives for reinforcement -- the Swiss bishops have already been granted permission to do exactly that.
Before you lot freak out, this permission came from Rome. During the pontificate of John Paul II, known to his cultists as "the Great."
If you have a problem with it, go scream at The Tomb.
But you know what? Here's something which will cause a firestorm, but it's damn true. Allowing laypeople to preach -- to compete in the preaching market, if you will -- will increase the pressure on priests and deacons to be good in the pulpit and will bring the state of affairs up across the board. This is very capitalistic, I know, and I'm not often a capitalist. But just let it happen and watch. The malaise of the clerical culture -- not to mention oft-horrible homiletics training, or just pinhead sems (NO! NEVER!) -- has often let a thousand horrific homilies bloom.
And that serves the People of God how, again?
In this business, you never know what laypeople can do until they're actually given a chance and proceed to whip the Establishment into shape and bring it back to basics. This would be no exception.
-30-
Amy the Fair's got a thread going in which she seems to lean toward advocating the return of the "priest simplex" -- i.e. an ordinand who can celebrate Mass, but who is deprived of the faculties to preach and, in most cases, hear confessions.
With the state of things these days, I can't say I'd mind bringing that distinction between competence and... well... something else back either. It'd beat most of the nails on the chalkboard I've heard on Sundays, which is why I hang my liturgy hat either at university parishes or Jesuit ones. Agree or disagree with the preaching, you know you're getting solid stuff.
Now, here's the rub. One of the commentors over at Amy's suggests allowing laypeople to preach. And, as I've reported before -- and have just culled this piece from The Tablet archives for reinforcement -- the Swiss bishops have already been granted permission to do exactly that.
Before you lot freak out, this permission came from Rome. During the pontificate of John Paul II, known to his cultists as "the Great."
If you have a problem with it, go scream at The Tomb.
The Swiss bishops' conference has now declared that the [lay] assistants (who hold university degrees in theology) are to be allowed to preach during Mass and baptise whenever a priest was not available. The bishops, who announced to journalists following their return from their ad limina visit to Rome that they have secured Curial backing for their plans, have also secured the necessary permission for the Protestant partner in a mixed marriage to receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. The general secretary of the Swiss bishops' conference, Agnell Rickenmann, said that the two declarations were partly a response to the shortage of priests in Switzerland, but also reflected the Swiss Church's "independence". He said: "In Switzerland we have a 30-year tradition of theologically trained lay people active in the Church."There are a thousand ways to interpret "general norm," it's not even funny. But, there again, they got the concession from Ratzi, and Re the vicar-designate.
[T]he Swiss bishops were not hauled over the coals during their five-day ad limina visit to Rome. On the contrary, Bishop [Amedee] Grab [president of the Swiss Bishops' Conference] said on his return, this had been his fourth ad limina visit and he had "never returned so happy". The head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, had told the Swiss bishops that in emergency cases lay theologians could hold a "brief sermon-like discourse" or a meditation based on the Mass for the day but that this should not be allowed to become the "general norm".
But you know what? Here's something which will cause a firestorm, but it's damn true. Allowing laypeople to preach -- to compete in the preaching market, if you will -- will increase the pressure on priests and deacons to be good in the pulpit and will bring the state of affairs up across the board. This is very capitalistic, I know, and I'm not often a capitalist. But just let it happen and watch. The malaise of the clerical culture -- not to mention oft-horrible homiletics training, or just pinhead sems (NO! NEVER!) -- has often let a thousand horrific homilies bloom.
And that serves the People of God how, again?
In this business, you never know what laypeople can do until they're actually given a chance and proceed to whip the Establishment into shape and bring it back to basics. This would be no exception.
-30-
posted by Rocco Palmo at 23:40
7 Comments:
Preachers are only part of the problem. Abba Moses said that "the Holy Spirit inspires a preacher in direct proportion to the merit and eagerness of the listeners." (John Cassian 1/23)
I doubt that he would have been convinced that the right to preach the Word of God was something acquired with a theology degree.
The problem with "lay ministry" is that it tends to gentrify and feminise the liturgy. Who has the time and money to get a "useless" degree like theology? Religious sisters and middle-class housewives principally. It also tends to bring with it a liberal protestant liturgical style - and indeed content. All of these things are available down the road at the Anglican or Baptist church.
Let's chase a different market share, Rocco, to follow up your freemarket analogy. Let's address the Church's message to people other than the bored and bourgeois.
Allowing laypeople to preach -- to compete in the preaching market, if you will -- will increase the pressure on priests and deacons to be good in the pulpit and will bring the state of affairs up across the board.
Or, it may result in priests simply putting the time which they had used to prepare homilies, to other purposes, and not trying to improve the homilies. I suppose the response will depend on how important the priest sees preparing homilies, compared to other efforts.
Let's see. I've heard lay preaching during Mass and lay preaching outside the Mass. The lay preaching I've heard in the Mass sometimes follows the homily and sometimes replaces it. One example was a silent clown pantomime; I've also heard many stewardship talks. The talks given by directors of RCIA or pastoral associates generally tend to be more 'pastoral' and less 'exegetical.' After all, those preaching may have a certificate from New Wine or similar programs, but not usually a theological degree.
It would seem to me that the more important preparation for preaching would be a life of holiness, charity, and contemplative prayer with the Holy Scriptures. Due to these qualifications, I have heard excellent lay sermons outside the Mass. For example, Jean Vanier preaches the Gospel beautifully and powerfully. Lay people also present testimony at religious retreats and in other contexts.
Lay preaching should not be merely a matter of expediency, but rooted in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation, a true proclamation of the Gospel. For any lay ministry, the pastor should exercise more discernment than I have typically observed, to ensure that the Gospel is heard clearly in word and deed. Lay people are currently responsible for the Gospel during Mass when they lector, when they cantor, and when they offer reflections that supplement the homily.
The Church has had lay preaching before, and in spite of the difficulties, St. Paul seemed loath to forbid it entirely (1 Corinthians 14; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). Between the chaos portrayed in the New Testament and the current minimalism, there would seem to be some middle ground. Let's see what happens with the Swiss.
I'm much less keen on the priest simplex idea, which would seem a reversion to notions of the priest as sacrament dispenser and the Jansenist scrupulousity which mandates frequent reception of the sacraments due to beliefs that give more weight to one's worthlessness than to the power of God's grace. Don't get me wrong -- frequent reception of the sacraments is a great gift that all Christians receive if available. But our times are the rocky soil described in the parable of the sower.
In rocky times, Christians have died before ever receiving Holy Communion or had to live for many years in absence of most of the sacraments. As a Church, we would do well to remember spiritual communion, not simply as a devotional practice, but as a desire for Jesus Christ that fills our whole lives, even when at work or otherwise unable to receive Holy Communion.
Folks who are unhappy about the state of Catholic preaching are invited, always, to do something constructive -- not an unreasonable thing to exhort them to do.
After all: be part of the solution, if only a small part.
I post my homilies online, seeking comment -- favorable or unfavorable.
I get few comments, and fewer are specific. "Nice homily" is gratifying to hear, but not all that helpful.
If you have something helpful to say, please feel free.
As a teacher, I share your concern to receive adequate feedback. I may start sending my pastor brief but detailed responses to homilies. By the way, his homilies are well prepared, thoughtful, challenging, and yet mindful of the concerns of daily life.
Yes, I participated in such an exercise as a deacon and seminarian. It was very helpful, and strongly affirming.
We only did the first part, however, the feedback.
It might be worthwhile to undertake such a project again, in my current parish. I have to admit, I don't much want, on Sundays, to start the work, already! on the next homily!
Something for me to consider, thanks...
Liz seems to have misunderstood me. My choice of "useless" (with inverted commas) is a not a "jab" at anyone. Theology (by-and-large) doesn't pay, so only those who can afford the leisure get to study it. This is a statement of socio-economic fact.
In any case Theology, as the contemplation of Divine Truth, ought to be useless and irrlevant.
Nor did I use the phrase "bored housewife". But if the cap fits...
Post a Comment
<< Home