tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post2898566910079623327..comments2024-01-17T03:08:25.317-06:00Comments on The Progressive Catholic Voice: Many Voices, One ChurchPCV Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519134580470262558noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-10260802613986120192010-02-25T16:42:31.634-06:002010-02-25T16:42:31.634-06:00Hi Tom,
Thanks for your thoughtful response.
I g...Hi Tom,<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful response.<br /><br />I guess I'm still unclear as to the reasons for why the "gift" of lay preaching can never be "properly exercised in place of the preaching of the priest" - especially when for many Catholics, lay preaching is indeed experienced as being "properly exercised" during the designated time for the homily. <br /><br />How does placement before, after, or during the Mass affect the "proper exercising" of a homily delivered by a lay person? Would a homily delivered by a priest outside the designated time be one that wasn't properly exercised? That we are grappling with such questions suggest that the church has become pedantic in this matter?<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelPCV Editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519134580470262558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-60117578037397314512010-02-25T10:14:42.714-06:002010-02-25T10:14:42.714-06:00Michael,
You are right in saying that preaching b...Michael,<br /><br />You are right in saying that preaching by lay people can be just as spiritually nourishing. In addition, you are right in saying that the priest does not necessarily have homilies better than a lay preacher. Believe you and me, we have heard our share of bad homilies from priests! <br />The issue however, revolves around the question of: what is it about the ordained priest that sets him apart from the lay preacher? Is it quality of preaching? No. It is his duty and obligation to teach the faithful, leading them into closer communion with God. In a very real way, he does this through his homilies- but of course, this should be evident through all his actions. <br />This is not to say that lay people are off the hook. You and I share in the common priesthood of the faithful, and as such, must also preach the Gospel through our words and actions. It is great if we have the gift of effective preaching. This gift, however, is not properly exercised in place of the preaching of the priest. <br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Thoughts, comments?tomschulztehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15897529366408648406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-17764891607072845122010-02-24T22:53:26.251-06:002010-02-24T22:53:26.251-06:00Hi Ray. There seems to be somewhat of a disconnec...Hi Ray. There seems to be somewhat of a disconnect in what you're saying. <br /><br />On the one hand, you're saying that there is "nothing wrong" with a lay person delivering a homily, yet on the other hand you say that this homily can't be preached at the "designated time" for the homily. See what I mean by a disconnect? <br /><br />Clearly, there must be something "wrong," something insufficient about a homily presented by a lay person if it can't be delivered when the homily is presented during the Mass. <br /><br />For many Catholics, this way of thinking doesn't make sense - especially when they've experienced homilies by lay people that have been just as spiritually nourishing, insightful, and inspiring as a homily that's been delivered by a priest.<br /><br />Are we really to believe that the priest, simply by virtue of being a priest, has some special quality that ensures his homilies are always better than a lay person's? Do we really want to encourage this type of magically thinking within our Church?<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-876502085465766394.post-71107035587695077492010-02-24T07:11:58.278-06:002010-02-24T07:11:58.278-06:00There is nothing wrong with lay preaching. It may...There is nothing wrong with lay preaching. It may be done before or after the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.<br /><br />It may not be done at the designated time for the homily, right after the reading of the Gospel, during the Mass.<br /><br />Check with the Joanies!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08332138030182107580noreply@blogger.com