Folia Canonica 2. (1999)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. - Vladimir Filo: Homily as a Specific Duty of Ordained Persons

HOMILY AS A SPECIFIC DUTY OF ORDAINED PERSONS

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year”. These laws nevertheless should not be interpreted strictly, but broadly as the Fathers of the Council interpreted it.26

The aim of the homily (causa finalis) is to expound the mysteries of faith and the norms of Christian living. At first sight it may seem that there is no objection to a lay person’s giving a homily under this aspect, in the event that they have sufficient theological qualifications. However we may not forget that the homily is not catechesis. The aim of the homily is neither education nor the transmission of knowledge. The aim is sacramental, practically divine worship. The aim is to indicate the differences between the Head and the members, the Shepherd and the flock, and between the Husband and the bride. The liturgy of the most Holy Eucharist, through the transubstantiation of the wine and the bread dramatically confronts us with the significant differences between the common priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial or the hierarchical priesthood. In the same way we can see the difference in the liturgy of the word, through the preaching and interpretation of the word of God in the person who acts “in persona Christi Capitis”.27

Conclusion

To draw the final conclusion we shall have to say that the diocesan bishop cannot grant dispensation from the prescription of c. 761 § 1, which reserves the homily to the priests and the deacons, since it defines the essential constituents of the homily and since c. 86 does not allow him to do so either.

Another reason why the diocesan bishop cannot grant dispensation is that it is not a merely disciplinary law, but one of a theological-liturgical nature.

To resolve all doubts about this question the Instruction distinctly states that “all previous norms which may have admitted the non-ordained faithful to preaching the homily during the Holy Eucharist are to be considered abrogated by canon 767, § l”.28

Therefore - as the Instruction emphasises - non-ordained faithful or theological students are not to be allowed to preach a homily. “Indeed, the homily should not be regarded as a training for some future ministry.”29

On the other hand the Instruction also states that “homilies in non-eucharistic liturgies may be preached by the non-ordained faithful”. But not under any

26 Cf. Fox, L’omelia (cf. nt. 7), 33; Sacra Congregatio Rituum, instr. Inter oecumenici, 26. IX. 1964, in Enchiridion Vaticanum 2, n. 54, 330. Missale Romanum, The General Instructions of the Missale Romanum, 41.

27 Missale Romanum (cf. nt. 26.), 32, 3

28 Instruction (cf. nt. 3.), art. 3, § 1, 19.

29 Cf. Instruction (cf. nt. 3.), art. 3, § 1, 19.