A reader writes:
It’s quite clear that the priest or deacon is the only one that should give a homily. As I understand it, it’s allowable to have a lay person come up after the homily to give a talk about something. I would hope that such talks about whatever should be done at the end of mass with the announcements, but if someone absolutely must give a talk I believe it’s possible AFTER the homily. Is this right?
As indicated in Redemptionis Sacramentum, the Church really does’t want the laity speaking right after the homily–presumably because it would be too easy to confuse what they are doing with the homily and continue the blurring of the laity’s role in this area. The document states:
If the need arises for the gathered faithful to be given instruction or testimony by a layperson in a Church concerning the Christian life, it is altogether preferable that this be done outside Mass. Nevertheless, for serious reasons it is permissible that this type of instruction or testimony be given after the Priest has proclaimed the Prayer after Communion. This should not become a regular practice, however. Furthermore, these instructions and testimony should not be of such a nature that they could be confused with the homily, nor is it permissible to dispense with the homily on their account [RS 74].
Great! Thanks for the clarification. I’ve heard it explained that the priest could give a homily and then have someone else speak afterwards. Clearly, this is not to be the practice because it would definitely confuse the people into thinking that the other person was giving a homily. This will also be useful to my brother who is in Seminary now and will God-Willing be a priest in my diocese in a few short years.