15-second homilies in California Catholic – see below
A new analysis from the Pew Research Center shows that many Catholic priests are holding to Pope Francis’ advice to keep their homilies on the shorter side, especially compared to Protestant denominations.
An analysis of nearly 50,000 sermons, given across a variety of Christian denominations during the months of April and May this year, found that the median length of a sermon was 37 minutes, but for Catholic priests, the average length was just 14 minutes.
Pew found that historically black Protestant sermons had the longest median length of 54 minutes, while mainline Protestant sermons were an average of 25 minutes long, with evangelical churches falling in between at 39 minute per sermon.
The analysis was published on Dec. 16, and was titled “The Digital Pulpit: A Nationwide Analysis of Online Sermons.”
While the terms “homily” and “sermon” are often used interchangeably, they are actually different in nature. A “homily” refers to an explanation or further commentary of scripture during a Mass. A sermon is usually defined as a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given by a religious leader during a liturgy.
For the purposes of this study, Catholic homilies were counted as “sermons.”
The above comes from a Dec. 16 story on the website of the Catholic News Agency.
New in 2020
Starting in 2020, California Catholic will publish and transcribe 15-second excerpts from the best homilies in California Catholic churches. If you have suggestions for this feature or want to send videos of homilies, email to info@cal-catholic.com
Watch Father Illo homily from Nov. 24.
The Carholic Mass and Protestant service are two different things! Protestants do not have a Mass, only a religious service, and I think there has always been a big emphasis on the Protestant minister’s big Sunday sermon. At a Catholic Mass, the emphasis is always mainly on the Eucharist. Best for a Catholuc priest to balance the time spent delivering his homily– the most important parts of the Mass come after that!
Every mass we unite with all heaven, in the miraculous prayer, the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus. Pope John Paul !! called it “heaven on earth”. My old protestant service was more like a sing-along with a speaker, or a bible study. Lovely but only one is transcending. I pray those that are Christmas/Easter Catholics will be open to the transcendent this Christmas.
Mass is the most important and powerful place any of us will ever go during our life on earth. Pray reverently every word..
Viva Cristo Rey! We do have wonderful priests.
Pope Francis was responsible for the charade of the Pachamama, an Inca (not Amazonian) goddess of fertility. He planted a tree for her in the Vatican gardens. Fortunately an Austrian kid threw the statue into the Tiber later.
I do hope Archbishop Cordileone will in time allow Fr. Illo to found a St. Neri Oratory. San Francisco really needs the holiness. Pour encourager les autres.
Fr. Joseph Illo is a treasure in our Church. His simple message to Church leadership that it is a “grave error to bow down before a pagan god” speaks to his great courage of conviction and, frankly, an act of moral bravery in this climate. I would want Fr. Illo to know that we are here, waiting, watching and praying to hear the Good News because we have been so bereft of joy.
Please pray for those of us with responsibility to preach at Mass.* While time is not unimportant, I think content is primary. Recently Fr. Dwight Merrick remembered hearing Fr. Tom Forrest (of blessed memory) tell priests that he lamented a mistake that the Church was making in ordaining priests who were not yet disciples and “hoping they would become disciples somehow.” Being disciples of Christ is the first calling for all of us. And, pray for seminaries, like Saint Patrick’s in Menlo Park, now forming men to be disciples as well as priests.
* There are other occasions when religious and lay persons are called to preach as well.