Author Topic: Homily versus sermon (Read 4155 times)

Matto · « **on:** April 22, 2014, 02:54:36 PM »

I have a beginner's question. What is the difference between a homily and a sermon?

TKGS · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2014, 03:23:17 PM »

In the ordinary sense, the two are synonyms, meaning they essentially mean the same thing.

However, in a more technical aspect, the homily is an informal talk given in a church about a moral or religious subject. I have been told, though I have never been able to confirm this, that the homily is supposed to specifically discuss the Gospel lesson from the day's Mass.

The sermon, on the other hand, is a much more formal speech given at the Mass. The same source that told me the homily is supposed to be about the Gospel told me that the sermon can be on any appropriate subject.

If you look up the two words in the dictionary, you generally find that a sermon often is of the nature of a moralistic rebuke, that is, a fire and brimstone speech. The homily, on the other hand, is kinder, nicer, and folksy.

I've often noticed that all of the traditional missals I've ever seen don't even mention a sermon or homily. Immediately after the Gospel is complete, they go directly to the Creed. This is because the sermon is not really part of the Mass. However, in the instructions on how to use the missal or explanations of the Mass found in the beginning of the hand missals I have, they do mention that the priest gives a sermon after the gospel.

However, in all the hand missals and "missalettes" I've seen for the Novus Ordo (and even for the 1965 hybrid Mass) after the Gospel they tell us that the homily follows.

I presume, though I do not know, that the Conciliar church went with the word, homily, in English-speaking areas because it doesn't sound quite as harsh or restrictive as the word, sermon, plus the fact that priests had pretty much stopped preparing anything of real substance and only wanted to talk about luv and stuff of that nature. Jello is more comfortable with a homily than with a sermon.

holysoulsacademy · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2014, 06:13:04 PM »

Quote from: Matto

I have a beginner's question. What is the difference between a homily and a sermon?

Fr. Doran's "talk" is more like a homily, and Fr. Robnson's more like a sermon.

Homily, usually associated with NO because of a more intellectual or emotional approach.
Sermon, usually associated with Trad because of the rebuking nature of it.

Personally, I prefer a mixture of both.
Fr. Pfeiffer seems to have a good blend.
Fr. Chazal is pre-dominantly sermon, but still a good blend.

OHCA · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2014, 07:09:20 PM »

Quote from: holysoulsacademy

Homily, usually associated with NO because of a more intellectual or emotional approach.

I wouldn't give the NO credit for having a more "intellectual" approach. NO is simply feel-good and mushy, and there's no nice or flattering way of saying it.

Growing up in the NO, I wasn't aware that "sermon" was generally the terminology used instead of "homily" pre-VII. Is that the case? I always thought homily = Catholic and sermon = protestant.

poche · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2014, 12:52:47 AM »

Quote from: TKGS

In the ordinary sense, the two are synonyms, meaning they essentially mean the same thing.

However, in a more technical aspect, the homily is an informal talk given in a church about a moral or religious subject. I have been told, though I have never been able to confirm this, that the homily is supposed to specifically discuss the Gospel lesson from the day's Mass.

The sermon, on the other hand, is a much more formal speech given at the Mass. The same source that told me the homily is supposed to be about the Gospel told me that the sermon can be on any appropriate subject.

If you look up the two words in the dictionary, you generally find that a sermon often is of the nature of a moralistic rebuke, that is, a fire and brimstone speech. The homily, on the other hand, is kinder, nicer, and folksy.

I've often noticed that all of the traditional missals I've ever seen don't even mention a sermon or homily. Immediately after the Gospel is complete, they go directly to the Creed. This is because the sermon is not really part of the Mass. However, in the instructions on how to use the missal or explanations of the Mass found in the beginning of the hand missals I have, they do mention that the priest gives a sermon after the gospel.

However, in all the hand missals and "missalettes" I've seen for the Novus Ordo (and even for the 1965 hybrid Mass) after the Gospel they tell us that the homily follows.

I presume, though I do not know, that the Conciliar church went with the word, homily, in English-speaking areas because it doesn't sound quite as harsh or restrictive as the word, sermon, plus the fact that priests had pretty much stopped preparing anything of real substance and only wanted to talk about luv and stuff of that nature. Jello is more comfortable with a homily than with a sermon.

There have almost always been regulations that required the priest to preach on Sundays and on holy days of obligation.

TKGS · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2014, 06:14:28 AM »

Quote from: poche

IThere have almost always been regulations that required the priest to preach on Sundays and on holy days of obligation.

Actually, the formal requirement for the priest to preach on Sundays and Holy Days was created around the time of the Council of Trent.

StCeciliasGirl · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2014, 09:06:24 AM »

I didn't know there was much of a difference, but thought the subtle difference was opposite

That is, that a homily was a more formal exhortation about the Mass reading, while the sermon was a homily that became more shoot-from-the-hip (notes not referred to as often) because Father's not too pleased about something. I had it completely backwards!

Nadir · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2014, 05:05:41 PM »

I believe that they are the same thing. However the word homily came to be more commonly used after Vat2. I don't think I ever heard the word used before that.

I know too that in some NO churches which I attended, the priest was directed not to speak for more than 5, or it could have been 10, minutes. But that's just an aside. Nothing to do with the termonilogy.