Ask a Question - or - Return to the Liturgy Forum Index

Question Title Posted By Question Date
Sunday Homily Vincent Monday, October 19, 2009

Question:

Mr. Slavek,

Every Sunday our priest and Pastor begins his homily with one or two jokes. He also adds another joke during the middle of the homily, and, at times, at the close of his homily.

My question is this,

Is the telling of a joke or jokes, during the Homily, according to the G.I.R.M. permitted?

The congregation does not appear to object. In fact they seem to enjoy the laughter it brings. However, that laughter, in my opinion, could distract them from the truth of Christ's message.

I, personally, do not appreciate them. I do not feel that they are appropriate during the Homily of Sunday Mass.

Please advice me. If I am wrong I will learn to accept them.

Thank you Mr. Slavek for your continued ministry.

Vincent.

Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek

Dear Vincent,

Actually the Church doesn't give specific guidelines about what may or not be said/done in a homily.  Of course there are the general guidelines that the homilist must explain the readings, nurture the Christian life, etc.

I don't see a problem with having jokes in the homily as long as they have something to do with the readings of the day or pertain in some way to the lesson of the homily which normally should be taken from the Gospel.

Any joke that doesn't have anything to do at all with the aid of religious instruction has no place during Mass, because the Church is not a standup comedy club.  However if the homilist is able to use the joke in some way to explain the Gospel, even if the joke itself has nothing to do with the Gospel, then I don't see a problem.

Mr. Slavek
Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers.

(b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks.

(c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively.