Is this normal?

[Doom]

Today, on Palm Sunday, we read the full gospel, which lasted nearly 30 minutes. Then we had a full homily after that which lasted about 20 minutes, so we didn't even start the liturgy of the Eucharist until nearly the 1 hour mark, so Mass lasted about 90 minutes.

I'm not complaining about it, but in my lifetime of attending Palm Sunday Mass (every year since about 1996) I don't remember this ever happening, usually when the gospel goes on that long, there is either no homily or a very brief one of less than 5 minutes. They do this, I assume, precisely to prevent a 90-minute to 2-hour Mass.


Is it actually normal to have a full homily after the long Palm Sunday gospel reading?

[Stella]

It's always a long Mass. We had a very short homily between Johns Gospel, the readings and the Passion reading and Mass was still about 75 mins long.

[zeno]

It happens in a lot of places in my experience. This year the parish we were (out of town visitors) at read the short form (which I have never experienced in my life) and did not do the dialogue, just a single reader (which I also have never experienced in my memory). The homily was normal at about 12 minutes. We were done in about an hour which I had not expected but admit I wasn't too sad to avoid the typical 90 to 120 marathon I had anticipated.

[Doom]

I've never heard the short version of any gospel reading ever, least of all on Palm Sunday.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I always do the full Gospel, but I try to keep the homily short.

[anawim]

Some years we have the short reading, and normal length homily, and other years we have the long reading, and a short homily. This year was short::normal.

The strange aspect this year is that the one reader (normally there are 2) and the priest kept going back and forth. The congregation had no part in reciting "the crowd" portions of the reading.

[gherkin]

I'm not a fan of the format for the Gospel on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, but I haven't been consulted on that by anyone with a say, so I go along with it for now.

Our mass yesterday went about 1:45 or so, with the initial gathering outside and the Gospel reading and blessing of palms, procession in, then the full version of the Gospel. Father did do a homily which probably went something like 6-8 minutes, I'd guess. We also did incense and such, which adds at least a few minutes. I would hate to do the short version of the Gospel. But I do feel a bit bad for the parents of young kids when mass goes super long.

[zeno]

We also did the procession, it was included in the hour I mentioned.

I am not a fan of the pageantry of the procession and even less of the dialogue version of the gospel. To me it all distracts from the purpose of the Mass. The length of time these things involve just adds insult to injury. And so I dread Palm Sunday every year - and was pleasantly surprised at the parish we happened to be visitors at this year.

[Doom]

You guys realize both the procession and the readings of the passion narrative are traditions that go back hundred of years right? They aren't modern.

[zeno]

I am sceptical that having the people chant "Crucify him!" is an ancient tradition.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I am sceptical that having the people chant "Crucify him!" is an ancient tradition.

Perhaps not, but the three-part version is.

[zeno]

Ok but it is the people's part that bothers me.

[zeno]

On a related note, what to do with blessed palms? I already have so many tucked behind the crucifix on my wall it is in danger of falling off (ok an exaggeration maybe but it definitely doesn't need any more ). I usually don't take one or leave it in the pew to be used for next year's ashes but both dh and ds brought theirs home this time. I know I can't just get rid of them because they are blessed but what to do?

[Doom]

Ok but it is the people's part that bothers me.

Why should it bother you? The congregation takes the role of the crowd and all the opposition to Jesus to emphasize the fact that it is our sin that is responsible for the crucifixion. How is that a problem?

[Doom]

On a related note, what to do with blessed palms? I already have so many tucked behind the crucifix on my wall it is in danger of falling off (ok an exaggeration maybe but it definitely doesn't need any more ). I usually don't take one or leave it in the pew to be used for next year's ashes but both dh and ds brought theirs home this time. I know I can't just get rid of them because they are blessed but what to do?

You bring them back next year where they are burnt to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday.

[zeno]

I don't feel comfortable demanding the death of Christ. I get your reasoning but I don't like it. Just my preference.

[zeno]

On a related note, what to do with blessed palms? I already have so many tucked behind the crucifix on my wall it is in danger of falling off (ok an exaggeration maybe but it definitely doesn't need any more ). I usually don't take one or leave it in the pew to be used for next year's ashes but both dh and ds brought theirs home this time. I know I can't just get rid of them because they are blessed but what to do?

You bring them back next year where they are burnt to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday.

What on earth am I supposed to do with them til then? Also I don't think I have ever been told to bring them back for collection at a later time.

[Doom]

California must be weird because in literally every year as long as I can remember the priest asked us to bring our palms back from Palm Sunday the previous year so he can make the ashes for Ash Wednesday. How is it possible you have never heard of this custom?

[zeno]

Maybe because we are trained to leave the palms in the pews so they have enough without asking ...

Or possibly I haven't been paying attention ...

Dunno.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I don’t burn palms to make ashes. Getting satisfactory results is difficult, and a purchased bag of ashes can last years.

What to do with the palms? Burn them yourself, or find a farmer who can put them in a burn pile.