Sermons & Homilies: What’s the difference?

by Admin · October 17, 2023

(Photo: Cathopic)

Question: On Facebook I recently saw a meme that corrected certain terminology which is often used wrongly. One of them said that in the Catholic Church, the correct usage for the priest’s address at Mass is supposed to be “homily”, not “sermon”. I have heard both terms used. Is the meme correct, and if so, what is the difference between these terms?

Answer: In the Catholic liturgy, the terms “sermon” and “homily” are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two.

A sermon is a formal discourse or speech that is delivered by a priest, deacon or bishop during a religious service. It tends to be more structured and prepared than a homily, and may touch on a wider range of topics that are relevant to the faith and the community. In a way, it can be compared to a lecture.

A homily, on the other hand, is a more informal and personal talk given by the priest, deacon or bishop which is meant to provide spiritual guidance and insights to the congregation. Homilies are usually based on the readings of the day and are intended to help the congregation better understand and apply the message of the Scriptures in their daily lives.

While both sermons and homilies aim to educate and inspire the congregation, the main difference resides in their style and focus.

Sermons are more formal and may be delivered on specific occasions such as weddings, funerals or feast days, while homilies are a regular part of the Mass and are given every Sunday and on major holy days.

The meme you saw on Facebook, therefore, is making a rather sweeping generalisation. While we mostly hear homilies at our ordinary Masses, there are also times when there are sermons delivered in the Catholic liturgy.