Are lay readers not supposed to carry the Book of Gospels in the procession?

[Aquinate]

I have read in some places that a Gospel Book may be carried by a deacon or instituted lector (but not a lay reader deputed to read in the place of a lector). But I haven’t found an official document that explicitly affirms it. Can someone direct me to a document or some other official text that mentions this?

 

[benedictgal]

I have read in some places that a Gospel Book may be carried by a deacon or instituted lector (but not a lay reader deputed to read in the place of a lector). But I haven’t found an official document that explicitly affirms it. Can someone direct me to a document or some other official text that mentions this?

Now, in Masses without a deacon, this is what the GIRM notes:

1. Once the people have gathered, the priest and ministers, clad in the sacred vestments, go in procession to the altar in this order:

The thurifer carrying a thurible with burning incense, if incense is used;

The ministers who carry lighted candles, and between them an acolyte or other minister with the cross;

The acolytes and the other ministers;

***A lector, who may carry the Book of the Gospels (though not the Lectionary), which should be slightly elevated; ***

The priest who is to celebrate the Mass.

Note that the GIRM doesn’t make the distinction, in this instance, as to who the “lector” is. It is either an instituted one or a layman.

Maybe someone with better eyesight can catch any differentiation, but, that is how it appears to me.

 

[tee_eff_em]

I get this:

1. In the absence of an instituted acolyte, lay ministers may be deputed to serve at the altar and assist the priest and the deacon; they may carry the cross, the candles, the thurible, the bread, the wine, and the water, and they may also be deputed to distribute Holy Communion as extraordinary ministers.

1. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. They should be truly suited to perform this function and should receive careful preparation, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture.

NB the GIRM does specify what lay ministers serving in the place of acolytes may carry, but does not expressly permit the layperson serving in the place of a lector to carry anything.

:twocents:
tee

 

[Aquinate]

NB the GIRM does specify what lay ministers serving in the place of acolytes may carry, but does not expressly permit the layperson serving in the place of a lector to carry anything.

:twocents:
tee

Exactly. That is precisely the argument used by those who support the idea that a lay person serving in the place of a lector should not carry the Book of the Gospels. But is this a mere conclusion drawn from interpreting the GIRM or is there an explicit text that clearly defines the norm?

 

[Rickwood]

Now, in Masses without a deacon, this is what the GIRM notes:

Note that the GIRM doesn’t make the distinction, in this instance, as to who the “lector” is. It is either an instituted one or a layman.

Maybe someone with better eyesight can catch any differentiation, but, that is how it appears to me.

ALL instituted lectors are laymen unless they have went on to being ordained.

 

[rwoehmke]

How does one become “instituted?” Is it like EHMC,s? Training and certification by the Bishop? What outward badge or sign makes it obvious to the congregants that a lector in a procession is “instituted?”

 

[Rickwood]

How does one become “instituted?” Is it like EHMC,s? Training and certification by the Bishop? What outward badge or sign makes it obvious to the congregants that a lector in a procession is “instituted?”

One has to be a male to become an instituted acolyte or lector. Typically the only instituted acolytes and lectors are those men on their journey to the priesthood or permanent diaconate – although some dioceses like Lincoln Nebraska do institute acolytes and lectors who have no current intention of becoming ordained.

Unlike readers or EMsHC which are commissioned by one’s bishop for a specific term, acolytes and lectors are instituted for life by their bishops.

Instituted lectors/acolytes dress/vest the same way as commissioned readers, EMsHC and/or altar servers. One person insisted that because servers/acolytes functionally take the place of a subdeacon in the EF Mass, that the vesture proper to them is the alb PLUS the tunicle. I have never read anything from the Church to support his position.

I have read more than once where the biggest “silent objection” to instituting acolytes and lectors is that it would eventually preclude all women from the sanctuary, long before the Church once again has an abundance of priests and deacons.

Other than the ability to purify sacred vessels I don’t see the advantage of instituting acolytes and readers unless they had to go through a fairly rigorous formation (2+ years at night/weekends) and had the requirement of taking part in on-going education.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

ALL instituted lectors are laymen unless they have went on to being ordained.

I have understood that the GIRM always references instituted Lectors when it uses the term “Lector”.

 

[Seatuck]

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur84.htm

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

ewtn.com/library/Liturgy/zlitur84.htm

In other words if you stretch it far enough it might fit!

 

[Rickwood]

I have understood that the GIRM always references instituted Lectors when it uses the term “Lector”.

So? Both instituted lectors and commissioned male readers are laymen.

 

[btdn]

So? Both instituted lectors and commissioned male readers are laymen.

So then commissioned readers are not lectors.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

So? Both instituted lectors and commissioned male readers are laymen.

That is correct a person is instituted into the Ministry of Lector. In the Latin Church this is no longer a minor Order.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

So then commissioned readers are not lectors.

That is also correct technically, however both terms are used interchangably by most people.

 

[Aramis]

That is also correct technically, however both terms are used interchangably by most people.

but not by the rubrics.

 

[otjm]

but not by the rubrics.

No, if you read the commentary noted by seatuck, it appears the rubrics do allow an individual who is not an instituted lector to do so.