Short and Sweet: US Priests React to Pope’s Call for 10-Minute Homilies

[Michie]

What is the right amount of time for a preacher to preach?

Pope Francis got seven seconds of applause recently when he said that some Catholic preachers talk too much.

“At times, there are long sermons, 20 minutes, 30 minutes. But, please, preachers must preach an idea, a feeling, and a call to action. Beyond eight minutes the preaching starts to fade; it is not understood. And I say this to preachers,” Pope Francis said, departing from his prepared text for a general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Dec. 4.

People started clapping.

“I can see that you like to hear this!” the Pope said. “At times, we see men who, when the sermon starts, go outside to smoke a cigarette and then come back in. Please, the sermon must be an idea, a feeling and a call to action. And it must never exceed 10 minutes. This is very important.”

But his talk that day lasted 15 minutes 24 seconds. So there must be exceptions. What is the right amount of time for a preacher to preach?

The Register asked five American priests known for their preaching how long they fill the time at Sunday Mass between the Gospel reading and the Profession of Faith.

Continued below.

Short and Sweet: US Priests React to Pope’s Call for 10-Minute Homilies

What is the right amount of time for a preacher to preach?

www.ncregister.com

 

[FaithT]

What is the right amount of time for a preacher to preach?

Pope Francis got seven seconds of applause recently when he said that some Catholic preachers talk too much.

“At times, there are long sermons, 20 minutes, 30 minutes. But, please, preachers must preach an idea, a feeling, and a call to action. Beyond eight minutes the preaching starts to fade; it is not understood. And I say this to preachers,” Pope Francis said, departing from his prepared text for a general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Dec. 4.

People started clapping.

“I can see that you like to hear this!” the Pope said. “At times, we see men who, when the sermon starts, go outside to smoke a cigarette and then come back in. Please, the sermon must be an idea, a feeling and a call to action. And it must never exceed 10 minutes. This is very important.”

But his talk that day lasted 15 minutes 24 seconds. So there must be exceptions. What is the right amount of time for a preacher to preach?

The Register asked five American priests known for their preaching how long they fill the time at Sunday Mass between the Gospel reading and the Profession of Faith.

Continued below.

Short and Sweet: US Priests React to Pope’s Call for 10-Minute Homilies

What is the right amount of time for a preacher to preach?

www.ncregister.com

I prefer short homilies.

 

[Michie]

I prefer short homilies.

It depends for me what is being tied into the gospel reading. I’m sure the same holds true for everyone. I had one priest always trying to tie in his visits with family into the gospel. It didn’t really work for me personally and they were too long.

 

[AvilaSurfer]

Deaconate training calls for 7 minutes. Get in, make your point, get out.

 

[RileyG]

I prefer short homilies.

Same here, but I think it depends.

 

[RileyG]

We have an Indian priest who gives rather long homilies. I wonder if that's normal overseas?

 

[RileyG]

It depends for me what is being tied into the gospel reading. I’m sure the same holds true for everyone. I had one priest always trying to tie in his visits with family into the gospel. It didn’t really work for me personally and they were too long.

One of my former priest from my hometown, who has since retired (I want to be clear, he is one of my favorite people on earth and the most compassionate person I've ever met), always mentioned his family in his homilies.

 

[Bob Crowley]

It depends on the ability of the speaker. Some preachers can talk for half an hour and get away with it.

I heard a homily once which was virtually one line. I thought it was far too short, but in fairness the priest had flown from the Gold Coast to Darwin that morning (about 3000 kilometres or more than half way from New York to London).

My old Presbterian pastor could preach for 20 minutes and hold our attention. He admitted to me once he had a gift for public speaking. I think that's why he got a scholarship into ministry - his family could not have afforded seminary (university) costs when he was young. But a visiting pastor / moderator / whatever heard him speak somehow, saw his potential and got him in.

Ten minutes is probably enough, provided the main point comes through. When I was in Toastmasters, most speeches were timed from 5 to 7 minutes, but preaching isn't quite the same thing.

 

[FaithT]

It depends on the ability of the speaker. Some preachers can talk for half an hour and get away with it.

I heard a homily once which was virtually one line. I thought it was far too short, but in fairness the priest had flown from the Gold Coast to Darwin that morning (about 3000 kilometres or more than half way from New York to London).

My old Presbterian pastor could preach for 20 minutes and hold our attention. He admitted to me once he had a gift for public speaking. I think that's why he got a scholarship into ministry - his family could not have afforded seminary (university) costs when he was young. But a visiting pastor / moderator / whatever heard him speak somehow, saw his potential and got him in.

Ten minutes is probably enough, provided the main point comes through. When I was in Toastmasters, most speeches were timed from 5 to 7 minutes, but preaching isn't quite the same thing.

I think the sermons at my former Lutheran church were about a half hour. Way too long. At first I didn’t mind because they were preaching on things I could relate to but that didn’t last and I got bored.

 

[mourningdove~]

Same here, but I think it depends.

If the priest has alot of wisdom and inspiration to share? I wanna hear it! Talk away!

But if he is boring, talks about worldly stuff, or as if reading a short script? Skip it. 10 minutes is more than long enough ...

 

[Michie]

One of my former priest from my hometown, who has since retired (I want to be clear, he is one of my favorite people on earth and the most compassionate person I've ever met), always mentioned his family in his homilies.

Nothing wrong with that. But my priest sort of rambled on when he spoke of his visits. Really could not make heads nor tails how some of those things tied in with the gospel reading at the time.

 

[mourningdove~]

We have an Indian priest who gives rather long homilies. I wonder if that's normal overseas?

I have heard some very good sermons by Indian priests.
I sometimes have to strain to 'hear' them clearly, but it is usually worth the strain!

I must be different than many others.
I value greatly the spirituality that a devoted man of God might have to share.
I value strong godly leadership, role models, mentors, realizing that there is always so much more for me to learn!
So, time is not a factor with me, when a person devoted to God is sharing with me.

I realize the liturgy is not set up this way. But for some of us, that is the only time we actually get to hear a priest speak ... at Mass ... or of course, in the confessional.

There was one priest ... outstanding to listen to, in the confessional. Such a deep spiritual thinker; he spoke with such wisdom and authority, I always looked forward to those sessions, though I wasn't a chatterer in the confessional ... more a listener.

Then one day I learned this priest was having difficulties at the parish, and was taking an extended leave of absence. I later learned he was gay, and struggling. What a shocker was that, to learn he was gay and confused! I had always looked forward to his sermons also ... so wise. Yet the poor man had a deep inner struggle.

I don't like the homilies about family members, etc. B-O-R-I-N-G. (LOL!) Deacons often seem to talk about family. B-O-R-I-N-G. (LOL) But when a priest or man of God has walked closely with God, particularly thru a struggle? I think they often have lots to share that can be a blessing to others. So ... I like hearing from them!