Lectors

cecelia · #1 Jun 26, '04, 8:19 pm

Hi fellow soldiers of the Church Militant,
Just wondered how you all felt about the quality of lectoring in your parish (not your "faith community")? Also, I was wondering how you felt about male lectors. Aren't male lectors specified in the GIRM. Personally, I would like to see an all male altar, but I guess that's another thread.
Also, how do you all feel about the lectors coming up from the pews? What's the rule on that?

Deacon Ed · #2 Jun 26, '04, 8:44 pm

Cecelia,

In general, the lectors in my parish are pretty darn good! A couple are great, and a couple leave something to be desired.

As for "male lectors" -- the specification for that is really for men who will be permanently "installed" as lectors. What most parishes have are "readers" who are lay persons and can be either male or female. To ministry of Lector (formerly one of the minor orders) is something that every man who will be ordained must have received and, consequently, it is reserved to men alone. However, there is no requirement in the GIRM or anywhere else that only installed Lectors may read at Mass.

Deacon Ed

James0235 · #3 Jun 26, '04, 9:07 pm

I'd personally prefer that the Church eliminate lectors entirely. Most have been decent but far too many obviously don't even bother to look at the redings before they get up there.

One bad experience: The reading was from Ephesians 5. Before begiining the lector pulled out a book and read something from it which basically said that Paul was a man of his times and therfore sexist and therefore what he was about to read ("Wives submit to your husbands....") does not apply to us.

I was so mad that I actually stood up to leave but decided to sit back down. I was getting madder and madder until I noticed that Father's face was red.

When it came time for the homily he said "And now I will explain to you what Epesians 5 means". After Mass I tried to find the lector to give him a piece of my mind but couldn't. Found out later that Father had pulled him into a room for a talking to. Having seen that lector back since. It's a shame becasue he has a great, booming voice.

James

hawkeye · #4 Jun 26, '04, 9:09 pm

Whats an Uber Roman Catholic

?

cecelia · #5 Jun 27, '04, 4:47 pm

Thanks Deacon Ed for clarifying that for me. Hawkeye, an "uber" Catholic is a super or ultra or thoroughly Catholic. Maybe someone out there can search the etymology of the word. Thanks again for the clarification between readers and lectors. And yes, it definitely does help to have the readers prepare the reading and learn the pronunciation before Mass.

BrianDay · #6 Jun 27, '04, 5:50 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by cecelia

Also, how do you all feel about the lectors coming up from the pews? What's the rule on that?

I'm not aware of any hard and fast rules on that. When I first started reading, we came up from the pews. Then a couple of years ago, our parish changed to having the lectors/readers process in with the priest and stay in the santuary until the start of the offertory rite, where we then return to the pews. I do not attend Mass at many different parishes, but coming up from the pews seems to be common.

BrianDay · #7 Jun 27, '04, 5:57 pm

Here is an EWTN post from this week:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/ZLITUR38.HTM

"... In this way I believe that the rule of GIRM 195 applies above all to instituted lectors who should have a place in the sanctuary from which they carry out their assigned ministry.

However, as mentioned in an earlier question regarding crowded sanctuaries (May 4), this rule is not absolute as it does not entail so much a theological principle as one of practical organization, decorum and facilitating the carrying out of the ministry in question.

Thus, designated or commissioned readers may have a place in the sanctuary but may also enter from the pews.

All the same, we should perhaps refrain from giving too much symbolic weight to aspects that are basically practical in nature."