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Requirements of those allowed to preach

By Adam Schwend
Liturgy and Ritual

Q.  I attended Mass sometime back where a nun gave the homily.  I’ve heard conflicting views on whether or not this is an acceptable practice.  Should I be concerned?

A.  No it is not an acceptable practice and yes you should be concerned.  Someone who is not a cleric (that is, a priest or a deacon) is permitted to preach only in very special circumstances and, even then, never at Mass at the time reserved for the homily and never without the approval of the Bishop (c. 767§1; cfr. Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law, 26 May 1987, in AAS 79 [1987], 1249).

So, when is a layperson allowed to preach?  Well, first, let’s take a look at the situations that this rarity could be possible:  1.  The Liturgy of the Hours.  When a layperson is leading the Liturgy of the Hours and a cleric is not present, they may preach at the appropriate time (after the reading).  2.  If a layperson is leading a Celebration of the Word of God, they may preach after the gospel.  5.  During Mass, a person may give a reflection, for example after the post-communion prayer, but this should be exceedingly rare and never during the time that is reserved for the homily.   4.  At other spiritual retreats or conferences or para-liturgical events at the appropriate time.  HOWEVER, it must be noted that only those approved by the bishop may preach at anytime anywhere.  Even if the situation is one of the three listed above, a person may not preach unless they have personally been authorized by the bishop of the diocese to do so.

The next questions would be, “who can be approved to preach in these situation”.  The answer is given to us in an instruction from the Holy See.  It say thus, “The lay faithful who are to be admitted to preach in a church or oratory must be orthodox in faith, and well-qualified, both by the witness of their lives as Christians and by a preparation for preaching appropriate to the circumstances.”  So, this means that a Catholic who is granted permission to preach must believe and profess everything that the Catholic Church teaches to have been revealed by God.  They must accept the Church’s teaching on all matters of faith and morals.  Any layperson who does not meet this criteria would not be allowed to preach in any capacity.  Moreover, it is always the diocesan bishop’s decision whether or not he will allow laypersons to preach at all, or even just in a limited situation, such as those in formation to become permanent deacons.  As keepers of the Church’s faith and liturgy in their diocese, we must have faith that our bishops will make decisions in this situation (and others!) that is of the greatest advantage to the spiritual welfare of his diocese. 

So why all the rules about lay people preaching?  Certainly there are lay people out there who know the faith every bit as well as priests and deacons, and they may certainly be better speakers than priest or deacons.  Why not let them preach?  There are two issues to keep in mind.  First, there is the matter of “identity”.  As St. Paul says, “For as in one body we have many members, but all the members have not the same office” (Romans 12:4).  We as Catholics all have an identity to our ministry.  One of the identities of the cleric is that of preaching in a liturgical setting.  While clerics are not “better” than laity, they “have not the same office”.   Allow me to give a personal example that incorporates the whole “body” theme.  I have a habit (at home and when I have no shoes on) of picking things up with my toes/feet.  Why?  Well, quite frankly, because I’m lazy and my feet do a better job at picking things up at times!  However, my feet are not for picking things up a vast majority of the time.  Although, in rare occasions, I may use them for picking things up, it is my hands that are identified as what should be used to pick things up.  This doesn’t mean my hands are more important than my feet.  They do, however, have a different purpose and a different job than my feet have.  Secondly, there is the matter of recourse.  If a cleric (again, a priest or deacon) were to take the pulpit and completely lose it and begin preaching total heresy, the bishop, who has a responsibility to safeguard the faith, would have a much different manner of recourse with the cleric than with a layman.  Priests and deacons take public vows of obedience to the bishop and his successors.  Although we should always love, honor, and obey our bishop, we don’t take public vows as such in the same way a cleric does.

As I said a few paragraphs ago, we must love and respect the decisions our bishops make, even if we disagree with them.  We have to keep in mind that we may not know the whole situation, we may not have a view of the entire diocese, and finally, we aren’t the bishop! (unless you are the bishop…in which case, thank you for reading, Your Excellency.)  Some think matters like lay preaching, or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion policy, or personnel decisions are easy and they can’t believe that the bishop “can’t see it my way”.   I remember telling a wonderful, holy priest once; “I can’t wait until you’re made a bishop!”  He responded, “Why?  I thought you liked me.”  It isn’t easy being the bishop.  Quite the contrary…it’s incredibly difficult.  If you don’t believe me, just ask him.  In the mean time, no matter what you do, always pray for our bishops.