[sinkspur]

Homily preparation is probably the single worst indictment that can be leveled at priests today. Most homilies sound as if the priest prepared them while walking up the aisle for the processional. On the whole, they have no content other than platitudes, and don't demand any action other than "love God and your neighbor." They're vapid and horrible.

The Anglican converts preach rings around the native Catholic priests, almost to a man.

I had a great homiletics teacher in the seminary, God rest him. The guys now are obviously not very demanding and, as a result, Catholics are starved for inspired preaching.

[ninenot]

Yesterday we had a Jesuit who told a cute story about how Fr. DeSmet converted some Indians.

SSSSnnnnooooooorrre.......

[sinkspur]

Oh, and another sign of the laziness of many priests is an alarming tendency to type out and read the homily.

In my view, if a priest can't begin praying over the upcoming Sunday readings a week in advance, keep them in his heart while inviting the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and preach them from his gut for ten minutes on a Sunday morning, then he should let somebody preach who knows how.

The reason Protestant preachers are generally better than Catholic priests are that preaching the Word is all they've got.

If they fail at that, who needs them?

[ultima ratio]

For once I agree with you. One of the aspects of attending an SSPX chapel is the superiority of the homilies--which are focused on the Gospels and Catholic doctrine and are the result of prayer and reflection.

Years ago, when I was still attending Novus Ordo Masses, I actually made an appointment with a young priest to complain about his homily. I got tired of his vapid idiocies--more reminiscent of Ann Landers than true Catholicism. It was obvious he had given very little thought to what he said and had very little interiority or understanding of the necessity for his own recollection.

"You can't give what you don't have to give" is an ascetical admonishment often repeated by priests who are in the know. Priests can't move others with words if their words are off-the-cuff and lack the depth of meaning that comes from mental prayer and long reflection on the Gospels.

[Loyalist]

On the whole, they have no content other than platitudes, and don't demand any action other than "love God and your neighbor." They're vapid and horrible.

If people want a faith without defined teachings and morality, they'll get sermons without content or context.

They'd better not complain about being bored or patronized if they don't want to hear any difficult or uncomfortable.

[Desdemona]

The Anglican converts preach rings around the native Catholic priests, almost to a man.

And they talk three times longer than they need to. Give me a concise 5 minute homily any day of the week over the rambling.