AND THE PEOPLE WHOM WE OURSELVES HAVE GIVEN UP FOR A LONG TIME TO EDUCATE WITH OUR AUTHORITY AND AUTHORITY GIVEN A LESSON SAYING «ENOUGH!» TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF BRINDISI

Much has been said about the excessive length of homilies, as mentioned above, the Pope also intervened. By the way, inappropriately? It's something the Pope must say? Personally I think not and eight minutes seems like a Procrustean bed to me, but we know, That's how he is.

Author
Hermit Monk

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Not taking into account or perhaps not remembering the suggestion given by the Supreme Pontiff regarding homilies which must not last more than eight minutes[1] (WHO), the Archbishop of Brindisi-Ostuni, S. AND. Mons. Giovanni Intini, in recent days he has seen fit to add another ten minutes to the eight, on the occasion of the celebrations of the patron saints of Brindisi, San Lorenzo and San Teodoro d'Amasea. The mayor's speeches were expected, lasted, coincidentally, exactly eight minutes, and the archbishop. But the complaints about the length of the speech, about eighteen minutes, they interrupt the words of the Brindisi prelate several times. The muttering of the crowd, coming from the Virgilio staircase and the Brindisi seafront, they have become "Enough!» (WHO). And these were accompanied by ironic applause and some other sounds. The Archbishop finished the speech without giving any sign of disturbance and, as scheduled, the highly anticipated fireworks display began followed by the procession.

The next day, in the Church during the solemn Pontifical, the bishop, who evidently had digested the matter badly, decided not to give the homily, indeed to keep a very short one of this nature:

«So as not to tire you out this evening as I tired the listeners last night and I wouldn't want anyone else to shout enough, I thought about keeping quiet tonight. Let us welcome in silence the word of God that has been sown in our hearts" (WHO).

For his silent protest he cashed in, needless to say, the solidarity of a political faction, But, in conclusion, Excellence, It's possible that a whole night wasn't enough to overcome such a modest thing? Maybe it wasn't an opportunity to laugh about it and perhaps launch a short, incisive and constructive message to the protesters, given that the thing had now ended up in the newspapers and therefore well known? That's how it went. At the bottom of the Archbishop of Otranto Stefano Pendinelli it got much worse: he was slaughtered by the Turks who waited sitting on his episcopal chair together with the devout faithful gathered around him in the cathedral church in distant 11 august of 1480, transformed by the infidels into a horrible slaughterhouse (cf.. The Martyrs of Otranto).

Archbishop Giovanni Intini was not the first challenged in history and not even the most famous. We all remember that even the Apostle Paul, thinking well of taking advantage of the circumstances and finding himself in an authoritative place like the Areopagus in Athens, launched into a speech with a high-sounding incipit: «Athenians, I see that, in everything, you are very religious". But we all know how it ended as soon as Paul introduced the central theme of Christianity, that is, the Resurrection of Christ: «We'll hear from you another time about this» (At 17). One flop we would say today, poor Apostle. But it's not that the next day Saint Paul lost heart. Indeed, he left and went to Corinth without ever ceasing to offer the word of his Gospel.

All those who have to do with the Christian message they know they have to take into account the objection or annoyance of a party. In these times when there is an obligation to have one's say social, even and perhaps especially if you don't know the subject, it's almost a refrain that as soon as the words of some ecclesiastic are reported there are those who comment: «ah on pedophilia?»; «The riches of the Vatican?» … Or the most classic: «Welcome them, you who have the facilities»; if anything we are talking about migrants. If you hear the news about social which concerned the Archbishop of Brindisi, you see that there is no deviation from this rule, some defend it, others criticize it, many laugh, they make jokes and there is no shortage of blasphemy.

But that doesn't mean you have to blame it, maybe a little at the moment, much less keep silent. Sometimes the weapon of irony, to know how to use it, it becomes more effective than silence and opens up possibilities for dialogue.

On the excessive length of homilies a lot has been said and, as mentioned above, the Pope also intervened. By the way, inappropriately? It's something the Pope must say? Personally I think not and eight minutes seems like a Procrustean bed to me, but we know, That's how he is.

I remember a funny fact which I have witnessed more than once. In a country parish where I was, the respect for the "Mr. Curate" was deep-rooted: woe betide anyone who touched the priest. But it happened that he too could sometimes go on at length in his homilies. There was a direct farmer in the parish, not of high culture, but of solid wisdom, who did not miss a Mass despite his commitments. He stood sideways, along the nave and sometimes, fortunately rare, if the sermon became excessively long or repetitive, he pointed this out by standing up. No offense or rudeness, just a sign of friendship, because he loved the parish priest very much, and him, understanding, he quickly reached the conclusion.

It's not that one wants to teach the I believe to the Apostles, as they say, and even less give advice to an Archbishop. But if it were to happen again and, Alas, it will happen again, it would be better not to get too upset about a dispute. We know well that there are knights who are defenders of the faith around and who, on tempting occasions like this, throw themselves into it headlong.. But with what result? To embitter tempers and with the excuse of defending one side end up widening the divide that divides? It is a little difficult to say how one should behave in such circumstances, the episode of the Archbishop of Brindisi teaches us that emotions are difficult to stem or keep in check. We always remember, But, that every occasion, good or bad, adverse or favorable, it is good for offering the word of the Gospel, so as not to silence the Christian fact. The first Apostles themselves remind us of this even after so many centuries, Saint Paul whom we have mentioned above, who did not lose heart and Peter who wrote in his letter:

«If you then had to suffer for justice, lucky you! Do not be dismayed by fear of them and do not be troubled, but worship the Lord, Christ, in your hearts, always ready to respond to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you" (1PT 3,14-15).

From the Hermitage, 4 September 2024

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[1] «The homily must not exceed eight minutes, because after time, attention is lost and people fall asleep, and he's right. A homily must be like this"

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Sant'Angelo Cave in Ripe (Civitella del Tronto)

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