Should a priest, during his homily, chastise the people in the pews for arriving late for Mass or for inappropriate behavior during Mass?
A general rule in mass communication is that a leader should never admonish all of his or her followers for the misdeeds of a few. That being the case, a wholesale reprimand of the congregation is a no-no, whether delivered during a homily or at the end of Mass.
Such reprimands detract from the solemnity of the Mass and the message of the homily. If a reprimand is delivered during the homily, many in the congregation may immediately shift their attention to those exhibiting poor behavior or who perhaps to those who arrived late for Mass. Some parishioners might even wonder about the priest’s priorities.
“Yes, a few people do come late, (or are inappropriately dressed) but at least they are coming to Mass!” some parishioners might think. “Father should be more concerned about those who only come to Mass on Christmas and Easter, or who don’t bother coming to Mass at all!”
Let’s face it, people have been arriving late for mass for decades, maybe even centuries. And sometimes there are valid reasons for arriving late. Some people also come to Mass wearing inappropriate attire. And at almost every Mass there are people exhibiting other inappropriate behaviors. But chiding all parishioners for the actions of a few is just not good idea.
There is, however, a proper way to chide improper behavior. And it can be done during a homily. It takes the form of instruction.
Toward this end, I’d like to hear a homily something like the following, perhaps as often as once a year, when it’s appropriate to the Gospel reading.
A Homily
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let’s think for a few minutes about why we are here.
First off, we are keeping the Third Commandment to keep the Lord’s Day holy. We are also commemorating Christ’s sacrifice for us and simultaneously worshipping God. But just being here is not enough. Just being here does not mean we are actively worshipping God.
Being at Mass requires, as the “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” states (18), “a conscious, active, and full participation of the faithful both in body and in mind, a participation burning with faith, hope, and charity, of the sort which is desired by the Church and demanded by the very nature of the celebration.”
The Mass is, first and foremost, a commemoration or a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. At every Mass Our Lord and Savior is physically present here with us in the Eucharist.
Think about this for a moment. Our God, our Lord and Savior, is physically present here with us. Even before the Consecration, Jesus Christ is physically here with us. He is present right there in the Tabernacle, in the Consecrated hosts from previous Masses.
So how should we act in the presence of our God, our Creator, the Creator of all that is seen and unseen? How do we reverently worship God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, our Savior who died a horrible and agonizing death to open the gates of heaven for us?
Do our actions and behaviors at Mass show reverence? Or are our actions and behaviors sometimes irreverent and even maybe lackadaisical? Do we think of Mass as a weekly get together with friends and neighbors? Or do we exhibit humility, piety, and reverent behavior in the presence of our God?
A Pre-Mass Checklist
You know, airplane pilots have a pre-flight check list they go over before they even start the plane’s engines. It’s an important step in preparing for what they are about to do. We, too, might consider adopting a kind of pre-Mass preparation checklist.
The first question we should ask ourselves is, is going to Mass my number one priority each and every week? There is nothing that we do each week that is more important than coming to Mass.
Jesus tells us that we shall love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. Keeping the first commandment means keeping God first and foremost in our lives.
Think about that. If we miss Mass because we made something or someone else more important than God, we are breaking the third commandment and quite possibly the first commandment, too. And if you have any lapsed-Catholic friends and loved ones, it wouldn’t hurt to bring this to their attention! They may be surprised to learn that it’s possible they are breaking two commandments each week instead of just one!
Timing and Attire
The second and third questions on the checklist could be, do I get to Mass on time, and am I dressed appropriately to be in the presence of my God?
Now sometimes things do happen that we have no control over. So sometimes there are valid reasons for being late. But if God really is first and foremost in our lives, we should be excited about going to Mass! Only something we have absolutely no control over should make us late.
As for attire, I know that In Mathew 6:25-32, Jesus tells us not to worry about our clothes. But there is a deeper message here. He is not saying that it’s okay to dress inappropriately for Mass!
A tee shirt and jeans are fine for a barbeque but the Mass is not a barbeque. And God already knows which sport team you support, what company you work for, where you go to school, or what rock band you like! Decorum is a good word to apply here. Wear clothes – and shoes – that are suitable and in keeping with good taste and propriety.
Jesus is Physically Here With Us
Fourth, when I enter the knave of the church, do I look and see if the lamp next to the tabernacle is lit, signifying the physical presence of our Lord in the tabernacle? If it is lit, do I show reverence to God by taking a knee and genuflecting or bowing before I enter the pew and sit down?
Number five on the checklist is, once I am in the pew, do I focus my thoughts on God, or do I let worldly matters enter my mind and distract me? Chatting with one’s spouse during Mass about dinner plans is not focusing on God. And checking cell phones during Mass is perhaps the most irreverent thing a person can do. It’s like saying to God, “Hang on a minute God, I have to check and see if anyone’s responded to my post on Facebook.”
The sixth question on the checklist is, once Mass begins do I actively participate?
The Mass is a continuous prayer from start to finish. As the Catechism tells us [1346] “The liturgy of the Word and liturgy of the Eucharist together form “one single act of worship.”
Yet during this act of worship I’m often amazed at the number of men standing with their hands in their pockets or checking their watches, or the number of women adjusting their jewelry or fiddling with their hair! From start of the Mass to its finish, our hands should be folded in prayer and our focus should be on worshipping God. This is why we are all here.
Active Participation
In this act of worship, as the “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” notes [35], “The acclamations and the responses of the faithful . . . constitute that level of active participation that the gathered faithful are to contribute in every form of the Mass.”
The acclamations and the responses require everyone’s participation. We all say the Act of Penitence, the Profession of Faith, the Prayer of the Faithful, and the Lord’s Prayer together. We say these as one people, out loud, not silently.
And when it comes to singing the Gloria or the other songs, if you don’t have a good singing voice or can’t hold a tune, at least say the words – out loud.
Proper Postures
Proper posture at Mass is the seventh checkpoint that goes along with reverence. And by that I mean, kneeling when we are supposed to kneel, standing when we are supposed to stand, and sitting only when it’s appropriate to sit.
I sometimes notice people sitting down at the beginning of the Communion rite and they remain sitting until the final blessing. But this is not showing proper piety and reverence in the presence of God. And it’s also not being very polite to the person who’s kneeling behind the person who’s sitting!
From the Consecration until the undistributed Hosts are placed back in the tabernacle, and the tabernacle doors are closed, everyone not performing the tasks required by their ministry should be kneeling. Kneeling is showing humility, piety, and reverence to our God who is physically present here with us.
Only when Our Lord is hidden from view in the tabernacle, is it okay to sit down. And only if someone has an infirmity that prevents them from kneeling do they get a pass here. If you are just dog tired and tempted to slouch back against the seat while kneeling, remember the agony Jesus endured for your sake. A little bit of suffering brings us closer to Jesus!
Our Number One Priority
The final item on the checklist is a reminder to stay until the Mass is over. Remember the first question on the checklist. Mass should be our number one priority each week. Our entire day should center on attending Mass. Nothing else we plan on doing is remotely as important.
Let me say that again. Going to Mass is the most important thing we do each week. Even if we cannot receive Communion, we are still actively worshipping God. And if we are in a state of grace, we get to receive the Eucharist. We get to enter into Communion with Jesus Christ. We become one with Him.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are on this earth for one reason only – to love and serve God. Many of us are oftentimes less than saintly during the week. Being devout and reverent at Mass helps make up for our slip ups during the prior week and starts the new week off right.
Laudetur Jesus Christus!
18 thoughts on “A Homily I’d Like to Hear”
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Sorry, but much of your “homily” just reflects your personal preference, which usually is a recollection of how your childhood parish did things. For example, your insistence about kneeling after communion until the tabernacle is closed. That’s quite common but by no means universal. Go ahead, try to cite the Rule Book on this. You won’t find anything. Likewise about when to bow or how deeply to bow or how one must hold their hands (fingers together or spread apart?).
Today’s church has many problems. These are not among them. Or rather, attempts to force your preferences upon others, is in fact the problem.
It is indeed a sorry situation that piety and reverence is so lacking today. The GIRM states (43) “The faithful kneel after the Agnus Dei unless the diocesan Bishop determines otherwise. With a view to a uniformity in gestures and postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the directions which the deacon, lay minister, or priest gives according to whatever is indicated in the Missal.” So the priest could say “remain kneeling until the Tabernacle is closed” providing the bishop has not determined otherwise.
The GIRM also states (274) “. . . all who pass before the Most Blessed Sacrament genuflect, unless they are moving in procession.” But this is also disregarded by many. Bowing is covered in the “Ceremonial of Bishops” (72), “A deep bow is made to the altar by all who enter the sanctuary (chancel), leave it, or pass before the altar.” Whether one’s hands are clasped in prayer or at one’s side is not an issue.
Love your article and have happily shared it with our priest. Reverence to our Lord Jesus is an act of humility and acknowledgement and recognition of the sacrifice and suffering Jesus made in love for us. We need to be bold as St. Paul, St. Peter and disciples in our faith. I do not accept the do-not-rock-the-boat attitude that we should be at least grateful people are coming to mass. Tepidity of faith is useless.
In the Book of Revelation, we see the Lord has some rather severe words about the lukewarm: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16). Pope St. Pius V went so far as to say, “All the evil in the world is due to lukewarm Catholics.” Pope St. Pius X showed no less disdain with, “All the strength of Satan’s reign is due to the easygoing weakness of Catholics.”
Generally speaking, your critique has merit. But I am glad you were not given a pulpit.
We should never be late for Mass. And we should dress accordingly. But your role of “observer enforcer” in this piece reminds me of the time my mother was hit in the middle of the back (from behind) with a thick set of car/residence keys by her not-so-loving parish priest for whispering when she should have been praying (when she was in grade school). The devil is now unleashed, and he makes a din of every non-priority when we approach sacraments – and our prayers and silent fasting would go a lot further than complaining about a person who may not be able to kneel in front of us. Maybe we can recall for a moment that we each would be as evil as Satan himself were it not for God’s grace? We are living in uniquely perilous times. Checking arrivals, departures and dress codes while our parishes empty out…is a little hard for me to take. Bearing with one another matters – even at Mass.
I am privileged to have a director, a Monsignor who is a gifted orator. Oh how I wish I could have heard just one of his Homily’s as a young man.
There are some diocese and shepherds who are luke warm, for a lack of better term, and a sense of leadership and direction is absent.
An educated and wise leader will admonish and correct tactfully when warranted, and educate when necessary too. A man who is given words by the Holy Spirit will speak in ways that moves, and not divide the flock.
There are times when a Priest needs to blast the congregation as a whole, not singling out the lost sheep. A quality leader knows these things. The best Homily’s I have heard in my later life, from said Monsignor, are those that admonished very harshly to all, not anyone particular. But with the Holy Spirit, it felt as if every single word was directly exactly to me.
[Edited due to length]
Very appropriate homily! Unforeseen circumstances are an exception of course, but that was emphasized in the homily. There should be more instruction than even Mass etiquette but depending on who the Bishop is and what his leanings are, it may be dangerous for the priest to instruct his flock. We once had a Pastor that emphasized that marriage is only between a man and a woman, and intimate relations are only within a sacramental marriage. He paid mightily for that with our Bishop. Pray for your Priest!!! Pray for the Church!!!
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Oh PLEASE!!! Just what we need to drive more people away.
With all that has happened in the Church since the Scandals, be grateful for the people who go to Church for God and not for priests!
People have lives. I can list reasons why I have been late to Mass. But it is really no one else’s business. God knows and He is the only judge!
This is fine if delivered prudently… It is easy to judge, but what about traffic delays, unforeseen circumstances, etc? There are exceptions. We had 7 children. I always planned accordingly and planned to arrive at church 15 minutes BEFORE Mass not when Mass began. My husband with his long work hours would frequently attend another Mass. I would have to be extra diligent at these times. Other moms I know would do the same.
God bless all!
Bless you! It always amazes me that that the family with several children always arrives for Mass early or on time but the folks with no similar obligations are always late. I get the feeling they don’t want to sit through a homily, only be there for Eucharist.
Ironically the pastor of my church uses the homily to shame and scold conservatives for making disapproving facial expressions at those who show up half naked and at those who misbehave. So if a teenager is making fun of the consecration during mass I’m the one getting scolded for my disapproving facial expression and being scolded not to judge. Agree that people are not receiving proper teaching about mass and respect.
There should also be a reminder that you should not receive communion if you are in a state of mortal sin of which includes not attending mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation.
“if you have any lapsed-Catholic friends and loved ones, it wouldn’t hurt to bring this to their attention!” —– The problem in our family is that they already know they are missing Mass and it’s a sin but THEY DON’T CARE!! And, frankly, the message about charity and love and so on towards them has worn thin now for me (in terms of verbally bringing it up). I still PRAY FOR THEM of course BUT I’m talking because the apathy and resistance I’ve received only widens the divide in my opinion and THEY will have to be the ones to decide for themselves. Even Jesus said to the Apostles if you are not welcomed in any house may your peace remain with you AND also to shake the dust from their sandals when those preached to refuse to listen or are actively resistant.
Sometimes, even family members become impossible to verbally speak with on this issue so prayer is the only option with our faith in the Holy Spirit and His ability to make the way into these hardened hearts….NOT reprimanded parishioners is the best option because, as you pointed out, we are there for GOD and those matters divert our attention and even interfere with the purpose of our presence there…to Worship Our Lord GOD…period. I don’t want to hear how someone else is inappropriately dressed or have people pointed out who are arriving late….leave them be and focus where we should….
Annually??? After explaining the readings and the Gospel, catechesis during the homily is not only appropriate, but also necessary, because for the past few decades (or longer) Divine Revelation, and the Sacred Deposit of Faith (Doctrine) are either absent or inadequately taught in most CCD classes. Many Catholics have received very little or very weak instruction in our Faith–this has been my experience, and I hope that priests and deacons will compensate from the pulpit in one way or another.
Gene,
I would love to hear a homily like this annually too!
I would suggest the priest add some instructions like this about Communion time…
When walking forward to receive Communion and back to your pew after receiving, you should do so in a slow and respectful manner with your hands folded in prayer and not looking around the church to watch people or to tap a friend on the shoulder as you pass by. You are about to receive/have received Christ in your body and soul! You should be in awe, totally focused on this miracle!
Amen!