A homily is the reflection a priest or deacon gives right after the Gospel at Mass. It explains the Scripture readings and the mystery being celebrated and shows how they bear on the daily lives of the people present. The homily is part of the liturgy itself. It is not a lecture inserted into the Mass.
Meaning of the word "homily"
"Homily" comes from the Greek homilía, meaning a familiar conversation or a talk among people who know one another. That origin still describes the tone the Church asks for. A homily is less like a speech to strangers and more like a pastor speaking to his own family about the Word of God they have just heard together.
What the homily is for
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM 65) calls the homily a part of the liturgy that is strongly recommended because it is necessary for nourishing the Christian life. It should explain some aspect of the readings, or of another text of the Mass of the day. It should keep in mind both the mystery being celebrated and the particular needs of the listeners. The Second Vatican Council (Sacrosanctum Concilium 52) describes it as setting forth "the mysteries of the faith and the guiding principles of the Christian life" from the sacred text.
In practice, a good homily does three things:
- Opens the Word: it helps people understand what God is saying in today's readings.
- Connects it to life: it shows how that Word meets the real situations of this congregation.
- Leads to the Eucharist: it prepares hearts for the Liturgy of the Eucharist that follows, so the Word heard becomes the Word received and lived.
The Vatican's Homiletic Directory (2014) develops this at length. Pope Francis's Evangelii Gaudium (nos. 135–144) also urges preachers to keep the homily brief, warm and rooted in Scripture rather than turning it into a lecture or a show.
Where the homily happens in the Mass
The homily comes in the Liturgy of the Word, immediately after the proclamation of the Gospel and before the Profession of Faith (the Creed) and the Universal Prayer. A brief period of silence may follow so the assembly can take the Word to heart (GIRM 66).
Homilies are also given at other liturgies: weddings, funerals, baptisms, confirmations, ordinations and other sacramental celebrations. At a funeral, the Church specifically asks that the homily proclaim Christ's victory over death and console the mourners. It is never a eulogy (Order of Christian Funerals 27).
Who can give a homily?
The homily is reserved to an ordained minister. Ordinarily the priest celebrant preaches. He may entrust the homily to a concelebrating priest or, occasionally, to a deacon, but never to a lay person (GIRM 66; Code of Canon Law, can. 767 §1). Lay men and women may preach or give reflections in other settings permitted by their bishops' conference (can. 766), but that is not the homily at Mass.
Is the homily required?
| Celebration | Homily |
|---|---|
| Sundays and holy days of obligation, at every Mass with the people | Required; may be omitted only for a serious reason (can. 767 §2; GIRM 66) |
| Weekdays, especially in Advent, Lent and the Easter season | Recommended |
| Feasts and occasions when many people gather | Recommended |
| Weddings, funerals and other sacramental celebrations | Normally given, according to the ritual |
How long should a homily be?
Church law sets no exact length. It asks that the homily be proportioned to the celebration and not overshadow the rest of the Mass. In a 2018 general audience on the Mass, Pope Francis suggested homilies should not run beyond about ten minutes. Many parishes aim for 7–10 minutes on Sundays and 3–5 minutes on weekdays. Weddings and funerals are usually 5–10 minutes. What matters more than the clock is a single clear message the congregation can carry home.
Homily vs. sermon
| Homily | Sermon | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Within the liturgy (Mass and the sacraments) | Any religious gathering |
| Source | The readings and prayers of that day's celebration | Any chosen topic or text |
| Preacher | A priest or deacon | Any authorized preacher |
| Aim | Open the Word and lead to the Eucharist | Teach, exhort or explain a theme |
Catholics often use the two words interchangeably, and many Protestant traditions call all preaching a sermon. In the Catholic liturgy, though, "homily" has the specific meaning described here.
What a good homily usually includes
- An opening that draws listeners in: a question, an image or a short story connected to the readings.
- One central message drawn from the Gospel and the other readings.
- Explanation of the text and its context, briefly and clearly.
- Application to the concrete lives of this congregation.
- A close that turns toward the Eucharist and a simple, concrete response for the week.
For a full method, see how to write a homily, with steps, examples and templates.
Homily examples
Reading real homilies is the fastest way to see these principles at work:
- This Sunday's homily
For the coming Sunday's readings - Sunday homilies archive
Every past Sunday, by season - Homily for today
A short weekday homily - Funeral homilies
Hope, consolation and mercy - Wedding homilies
Marriage and anniversaries - Sample homilies
Examples across occasions
Preparing your own homily
Priests and deacons use HomilyWriterAI to move from the day's readings to a faithful first draft. They then shape it with their own prayer, voice and knowledge of their people. It draws on Scripture, the Catechism and the Fathers of the Church, and works for Sundays, weekdays, funerals, weddings and other occasions.
Frequently asked questions
What is a homily in the Catholic Church?
It is the liturgical reflection on the Word of God given by a priest or deacon after the Gospel. It explains the readings and applies them to the lives of the faithful.
Can a deacon give the homily?
Yes. A deacon may preach the homily when the celebrant entrusts it to him.
Can a lay person give the homily?
No. At Mass the homily is reserved to ordained ministers. Lay people may give other kinds of reflections where the bishops permit.
Is the homily the same as a reflection or a eulogy?
No. A reflection can be given in many settings. A eulogy praises the life of a deceased person and is not the homily. The funeral homily proclaims the paschal mystery and consoles the mourners.
Sources: General Instruction of the Roman Missal 65–66; Sacrosanctum Concilium 52; Code of Canon Law, cann. 766–767; Congregation for Divine Worship, Homiletic Directory (2014); Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 135–144 and General Audience of February 7, 2018; Order of Christian Funerals 27.