Era Might Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 How does a person become one of the Scripture readers at Mass? Also, if anyone here is a reader and has any thoughts on being a reader, feel free to post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fides quarens intellectum Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 contact your parish office and tell them you'd like to do that so that they can put you in contact with the person who runs it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloysius Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 if you wanna be cute, send a letter to the Diocese/Bishop asking how one can be instituted as an actual lector (the former minor order) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Our pastoral associate at church coordinates this. I used to years ago, but no longer do so. This may sound silly, but I prefer men to be readers at mass, and I know that means I'm a really bad feminist. I have a book that is a pronunciation guide for lectors. I always practiced before hand, to make sure I could handle any weird/foreign words. Wear something nice, and clear your throat before you get to the mic. Don't trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qfnol31 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I read on occasion...You really just need to ask the director of liturgy or pastor at your local parish for more information. It should be really easy to sign up. As for preparation, you should read Sacred Scripture every day and practice the readings a few times beforehand. It might be easier for you to begin at daily Masses... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloysius Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 [quote name='CatherineM' post='1780967' date='Feb 14 2009, 09:45 PM']Our pastoral associate at church coordinates this. I used to years ago, but no longer do so. This may sound silly, but I prefer men to be readers at mass, and I know that means I'm a really bad feminist. I have a book that is a pronunciation guide for lectors. I always practiced before hand, to make sure I could handle any weird/foreign words. Wear something nice, and clear your throat before you get to the mic. Don't trip.[/quote] the position of Lector can only be filled by a man. "reader" is a sort of temporary replacement and through a canonical loophole people have decided that replacements for things needn't be those who would theoretically qualified to be those things. personally, I disagree with that, and think that any temporary replacements for the position of Lector (ie, "Readers") ought to be those who would theoretically be qualified for that position... ie, males. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 [quote name='Aloysius' post='1781355' date='Feb 15 2009, 06:41 AM']the position of Lector can only be filled by a man. "reader" is a sort of temporary replacement and through a canonical loophole people have decided that replacements for things needn't be those who would theoretically qualified to be those things. personally, I disagree with that, and think that any temporary replacements for the position of Lector (ie, "Readers") ought to be those who would theoretically be qualified for that position... ie, males.[/quote] That's exactly why I'm uncomfortable with female readers. I just didn't want to turn this into a debate about how discriminatory that is, or how mean the church is to women. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 I read. I'm probably the youngest person at my church who does too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apotheoun Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 The scriptural pericopes are not read, but are instead chanted in the Byzantine liturgy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 [quote name='Apotheoun' post='1781693' date='Feb 15 2009, 05:49 PM']The scriptural pericopes are not read, but are instead chanted in the Byzantine liturgy.[/quote] You make it more and more enticing... Is it done in the vernacular or the language of the Particular Church, though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qfnol31 Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' post='1781873' date='Feb 15 2009, 07:13 PM']You make it more and more enticing... Is it done in the vernacular or the language of the Particular Church, though?[/quote] Depends on where you go. If you go to a Ukrainian church in the Ukraine, well, the language is Ukrainian. If you go to a Russian church in America, well, it could be Russian or English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 (edited) [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' post='1781873' date='Feb 15 2009, 07:13 PM']You make it more and more enticing... Is it done in the vernacular or the language of the Particular Church, though?[/quote] Some places use a sacral language, some the vernacular. Edited February 16, 2009 by Resurrexi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angieAugustina Posted February 16, 2009 Share Posted February 16, 2009 just like other ministries, it's not just doing something just to do it. it is a [b]call to serve[/b] your Parish community and it is a profound undertaking. the reader must essentially "step aside" so that the Holy Spirit may use the person as an instrument to transmit the living Scripture during Holy Mass. that being said, to proclaim the readings takes your own preparation: not just going over what's in the missalette or lectionary for that Sunday, but going to your Bible and prayerfully taking in the whole context of each reading, also what is the Gospel for the Mass of that day? What was proclaimed last week? next week? be well-prepared and trained by the liturgist at your parish, but then let go and let God. it is NOT the reader, it is THE WORD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justified Saint Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='Aloysius' post='1781355' date='Feb 15 2009, 06:41 AM']the position of Lector can only be filled by a man. "reader" is a sort of temporary replacement and through a canonical loophole people have decided that replacements for things needn't be those who would theoretically qualified to be those things. personally, I disagree with that, and think that any temporary replacements for the position of Lector (ie, "Readers") ought to be those who would theoretically be qualified for that position... ie, males.[/quote] Does the same gendered qualification exist for communion ministers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aloysius Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 [quote name='Justified Saint' post='1783278' date='Feb 17 2009, 03:26 AM']Does the same gendered qualification exist for communion ministers?[/quote] yes, as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are a replacement in essence for the Priest or deacon, but the instituted (formlery minor order) role of a layperson would be an Acolyte, which must be at least 25 years old and male. all three things this could be replacing (of course, Acolyte itself is an extraordinary replacement for a priest or deacon) are all male-only roles and the canonical loophole (which is really against the spirit of canon law even if it technically fulfills its letter) allows for the insanity that a temporary replacement in a role could be someone who'd actually not be qualified to be instituted to that role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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