Acting out the Scrutinies (3rd-5th Sundays of Lent)

[philosoph0123]

Hi there…at our church, we have begun to act out the Gospel readings for the 3rd-5th Sundays of Lent (the Samaritan Woman, the Man Born Blind, and the Rising of Lazarus). The priest reads the things that Jesus says, other people narrate and read the other roles, and the choir leads the congregation in the singing of a response (e.g., “I once was blind but now I see”). Is this licit for these Masses? Or is it meant only to be done on the Good Friday liturgy? Thank you, and God bless!

 

[JustSomeGuy]

the answer to your question is “no, this is not licit.” for many reasons.

1. only the ordained may proclaim the Gospel and give the homily. GIRM 58 et al.
2. each minister is obliged to perform the duties that pertain to him/her. i.e. the priest cannot delegate any part of the Mass that pertains to him to some other person. GIRM 91
3. no single element of the liturgy can be divided among ministers, except for the Passion GIRM 109 (the Passion divided up is in the Lectionary.)
4. the priest cannot change, innovate, adapt, etc. GIRM 24

the sum total of all that is that the priest is not allowed to improvise the Gospel in this manner. it is just another example of seeing the Mass as a “performance” instead of its true meaning and purpose.

john