Catholic Priest Goes Viral With Taylor Swift–Inspired Sermon

A Catholic priest has captured the internet’s attention after delivering a sermon inspired by Taylor Swift’s song “The Fate of Ophelia,” written for her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.

Rev. Eric Mah used the ballad as a lesson on rejection, love, and God’s presence in times of hardship. He shared the homily—originally delivered at St. James Parish in Colgan, Ontario—on his TikTok and Instagram handle, Catholic Latte, where it has amassed 4.4 million views.

“It’s definitely been my most-viewed homily,” said Mah, 48, in an interview with Vox Daily Times.

Mah explained that Swift used the character Ophelia—the tragic figure from Shakespeare’s Hamlet who likely drowned herself after being rejected—as an analogy for her own dating experiences prior to meeting Kelce.

“What she’s basically saying there is: for the longest time I was lost, I was looking for love… all I found was rejection and pain… but then you came and… you healed my broken heart… so now I’m saved from a life without love,” Mah preached.

The priest, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a law degree, connected the song’s themes to how God views human pain.

“Just know, you are always accepted by the Messiah. You are always loved by God,” he told his congregation.

Fans quickly praised the Canadian clergyman for weaving Swift into his sermon.

“Jesus and Taylor. Yes please!” one commenter wrote.
“I’ve never wanted to go to church so bad!” said another.

Mah noted that many viewers tagged Swift in their comments online.

“I’m hopeful that she will see it someday,” he said.

The idea to use “The Fate of Ophelia,” from Swift’s latest album The Life of a Showgirl, came after Mah noticed it was the No. 1 song in North America.

“It was such an unusual and provocative title, which led me to research the Shakespearean reference. That, in turn, seemed like a great opportunity to speak about God’s love in a unique and accessible way,” he said.

Mah added that the congregation responded positively to the connection.

“There was definite curiosity to see how the song would tie into the Gospel,” he said.

Known for incorporating pop culture into his homilies, Mah has previously referenced films ranging from action hits like Spider-Man: No Way Home and The Bourne Ultimatum to romantic comedies such as The Proposal and The Break-Up.

“When it comes to evangelization, we often forget that an important starting point is getting people interested in what you want to share and meeting them where they’re at,” Mah said.
“A practical way to do this is tapping into something already captivating your audience and using it to lead people to deepen their relationship with Christ and the Gospel.”

The viral response shows his approach is working.

“That’s how our priests should act so more young people join the church,” one viewer commented.
“If only all homilies were this good. The way he relates to people and ‘sees’ his congregation,” added another.
Even non-religious viewers were inspired: “I’m not religious, but if he’s preaching Taylor Swift, I’ll show up every Sunday.”