Homily

A homily is the preaching by an ordained minister — bishop, priest, or deacon — that expounds the Scripture readings proclaimed in the liturgy and exhorts the faithful to receive them as the Word of God and to apply them to their lives. It is an integral part of the liturgy, not an interruption of it (CCC 1100, 1349).

The Homily in the Mass

In the Mass, the homily follows the Gospel reading and is the bridge between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy declared that the homily "is to be highly esteemed as part of the liturgy itself" and strongly recommended it at every Mass (CCC 1349).

Who May Preach the Homily

The homily at Mass is reserved to ordained ministers — bishops, priests, or deacons. Laypeople may offer reflections or catechesis outside Mass but may not preach the homily during the Eucharistic liturgy. This reservation flows from the homily's integral connection to the ordained minister's role as servant of the Word (CCC 1348).

The Content of a Good Homily

A homily should open up the Word of God as proclaimed in the readings, apply it to the lives of the faithful, and prepare them for the Eucharistic sacrifice they are about to celebrate. The Catechism warns against reducing the homily to abstract theology or moral lecturing disconnected from Scripture (CCC 1100).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a homily and a sermon? A homily is specifically an exposition of the Scripture readings within the liturgy. A sermon is a broader term for any Christian discourse. In Catholic usage, the term "homily" is preferred within Mass to emphasize its liturgical character (CCC 1349).