Is there a minimum age for readers?

jwroch · #1 May 3, '12, 10:55 am

I have been asked if a 13 year old may be a regular reader at Mass. I know that they can be a reader at youth and children’s Masses but can they be a reader at the Sunday Masses? Is there a minimum age for readers?

Thanks for any help. A reference to any document would be great.

**1ke** · #2 May 3, '12, 11:19 am

Have they been confirmed?

jwroch · #3 May 3, '12, 11:42 am

Thanks. I haven't thought conformation.

Jegudiel · #4 May 3, '12, 12:06 pm

A 13 year old could become a "regular" reader. Being confirmed is not a prerequisite.

MarkThompson · #5 May 3, '12, 3:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwroch

I have been asked if a 13 year old may be a regular reader at Mass. I know that they can be a reader at youth and children’s Masses but can they be a reader at the Sunday Masses? Is there a minimum age for readers?

Thanks for any help. A reference to any document would be great.

I would say that it would be rare to find a thirteen-year-old who could reliably do justice to the readings -- not impossible, but certainly not common. Having someone who can truly proclaim them well is more important than not slighting a kid's feelings, particularly when it is a question of being a regular reader rather than as a single occasion.

**Phemie** · #6 May 3, '12, 4:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkThompson

I would say that it would be rare to find a thirteen-year-old who could reliably do justice to the readings -- not impossible, but certainly not common. Having someone who can truly proclaim them well is more important than not slighting a kid's feelings, particularly when it is a question of being a regular reader rather than as a single occasion.

I agree they are rare, but I have experienced a 9 year old who could proclaim Paul better than 90% of the regular adult readers. Her sister who were 11 and 13 were not quite as good as she was but still better than some of our regular adult readers.

I guess it depends on what the Pastor wants and what the diocese dictates. I've never seen any document that required a reader to be confirmed. Canon Law doesn't mention it. Even if it is a requirement, for 9 years we had 7 and 8 year olds who met that criterion.