 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
left coast mystic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 10th, 2008 |
| Location: | La Honda, California USA |
| Posts: | 167 |
| First Name: | Marcee | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nondenominational charismatic, Presbyterian, long-time lover of the RCC |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 07:04 am |
|
I was listening to Jimmy Aiken today and a caller asked whether a non-ordained person could give the homily at a communion service. Jimmy answered that of course a communion service is not the same as mass, but a non-ordained person should not be giving the homily in either case. How is a communion service not the same as mass? Isn't the point of a communion service to receive communion? Amd isn't the point of mass to receive communion? So how can they be different?
Marcee
____________________
Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim. 6:6)
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength. (Isa. 30:15)
|
|
|
Robert
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 12th, 2007 |
| Location: | Germany |
| Posts: | 146 |
| First Name: | Robert | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | The whole spectrum from black to white, now 100% Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 12:48 pm |
|
Hi Marcee,
As far as I’ve been taught, a lay person cannot give the homily at Holy Mass. A layperson can however speak and give instruction based on the readings at a service at which communion is also given by a layperson. This of course is never done without the express permission of the Ordinary.
This is what I found concerning this from the USCCB: http://www.usccb.org/norms/766.htm
The Key is always to avoid any chance that the actions of a layperson be confused with those reserved ordained ministers.
Isn't the point of a communion service to receive communion? And isn't the point of mass to receive communion? So how can they be different?
I wouldn’t look at it quite like that. I would rather say that in both instances I want to encounter Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in a way that He assured us that we could (cf. Joh 6:56).
____________________
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
|
|
|
David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2429 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 01:19 pm |
|
Hi Marcee. We’ve missed your questions and insights. I see by another post elsewhere in the forum that you will be away another week. So we will have to be patient until your return.
Regarding the question at hand: You are aware that the Mass contains far more than the bare communion liturgy where we actually receive Christ in the Eucharist. Indeed, as a simple practical matter one cannot partake of a sacrifice until it is offered by the priest, so while communion is important, it is only part of a larger process. The Mass begins with a penitential rite. It then proclaims the word of God in the Liturgy of the Word. Thirdly, it offers the sacrifice of Christ for our salvation in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Only at the end of the Liturgy of the Eucharist is communion offered.
A communion service is something that can be offered when a priest is unavailable. It uses hosts that have been previously consecrated and does not include the Eucharistic Prayer portion of the Mass, because a priest is required to do that part. But it is also true that an ordained clergyman, at least a deacon, is required to proclaim the homily. Therefore, it is not proper, even in a communion service, for a layman to give a homily.
The way I have seen it done is that, after communion (so as not to confuse a layman’s words with the homily, which properly follows the proclamation of the Gospel), a layman may offer some reflections on the scripture proclaimed earlier in the service, or other pious thoughts. In my diocese, the bishop requires that a deacon, not a layman, provide a communion service if a priest is not available; this way, the homily is properly preserved as an official part of the communion service for the edification of the faithful in attendance.
It also prevents the usurpation of a clerical function by a layman, thus preserving the proper distinction of roles, functions and vocations in the liturgy and in the Church. As St. Paul says, there is a variety of ministries, but the same Lord (1 Corinthians 12:5). See the entire chapter, especially vv. 14–30, for an expanded and generalized treatment of the differentiation of roles and functions in the Church, according to the charism and vocation each one has received.
David
|
|
|
Robert
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 12th, 2007 |
| Location: | Germany |
| Posts: | 146 |
| First Name: | Robert | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | The whole spectrum from black to white, now 100% Catholic! |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 08:00 pm |
|
But it is also true that an ordained clergyman, at least a deacon, is required to proclaim the homily. Therefore, it is not proper, even in a communion service, for a layman to give a homily.
Sorry to disagree to a point. As you can see in the link from the USCCB, it is up to the Bishop to decide if a layman can preach.
What I think is being misunderstood is what a Homily is.
The Homily is an integral part of the Mass and is reserved for the ordained clergy (Cf. GIRM 29, 65, 66). Since a Word Liturgy with the distribution of Communion is not a Mass, it does not contain the Homily. Unfortunately, the term Homily is often misused for any form of practical preaching or sermon that takes place within a liturgy such as a communion service.
The simple matter is that the bishop can give permission, which not all will do and which leads to variations in practice in the different dioceses.
“If necessity requires it in certain circumstances or it seems useful in particular cases, the diocesan bishop can admit lay faithful to preach, to offer spiritual conferences or give instructions in churches, oratories or other sacred places within his diocese, when he judges it to be to the spiritual advantage of the faithful.” (USCCB, Canon 766 - Lay Preaching)
____________________
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
|
|
|
David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2429 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 23rd, 2008 02:35 am |
|
The permission allowed by canon law (can. 766) does not cover liturgical preaching of the homily in the Mass or a communion service. This is made clear both in Canon Law (can. 767: “Can. 767 §1 The most important form of preaching is the homily, which is part of the liturgy, and is reserved to a priest or deacon.…”) and in the General Instruction to the Roman Missal:
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. [note 65 follows]…
Note 65. Cf. Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 767 ' 1; Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, response to dubium regarding can. 767 §1: AAS 79 (1987), p. 1249; Interdicasterial Instruction on certain questions regarding the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of priests, Ecclesiae de mysterio, 15 August 1997, art. 3: AAS 89 (1997), p. 864.
The Vatican’s “response to dubium” reads as follows:
The diocesan bishop is not able to allow a layperson to give a homily (c. 767.1)
The doubt: Whether the diocesan bishop is able to dispense from the prescription of c. 767.1, by which the homily is reserved to priests and deacons.
The response: Negative.
June 20, 1987
AAS 79 (1987) 1249.
Periodica 77 (1988) 613-624; Apollinaris 62 (1989) 123-169.
Links (Latin and English) to Vatican interpretation may be found at the bottom of this article.
To summarize: The permission allowed by canon law (can. 766) does cover non-liturgical events like classes, conferences and devotions taking place in churches, oratories and other sacred places, but it does not cover liturgical acts, including the Mass or its expedient substitute, the communion service (which is covered by can. 767, which specifically reserves the homily to “a priest or deacon”). The Vatican has officially interpreted can. 767 as also prohibiting a bishop from dispensing a layman from the canon’s prohibition.
The difference is also expressed by the vocabulary used: “homily” in the liturgy and “preaching” outside of liturgy. “Preaching” can be permitted; a “homily” cannot. And this is precisely why my own bishop does not allow a layman to lead a communion service. It is also why, where permitted, any layman’s comments or reflections must be deferred until after communion and not occupy the place proper to the homily, following the Gospel.
David
|
|
|
Current time is 08:17 pm | |
|
|
|
|
|
