Commentary before each of the readings allowable?

[Hiker]

Is providing a short commentary (background) before the first and second reading at Mass allowable? The reason I’m asking, a lay reader recently did this (with the priest’s permission) before one of the readings at Sunday Mass. The commentary lasted less than five minutes.

 

[Gorgias]

From the “General Instruction of the Roman Missal”:

1. Likewise it is also for the Priest, in the exercise of his office of presiding over the gathered assembly, to offer certain explanations that are foreseen in the rite itself. Where this is laid down by the rubrics, the celebrant is permitted to adapt them somewhat so that they correspond to the capacity for understanding of those participating. However, the Priest should always take care to keep to the sense of the explanatory text given in the Missal and
   to express it in just a few words. It is also for the presiding Priest to regulate the Word of God and to impart the final blessing. He is permitted, furthermore, in a very few words, to give the faithful an introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Penitential Act), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings), and to the Eucharistic Prayer (before the Preface), though never during the Eucharistic Prayer itself; he may also make concluding comments regarding the entire sacred action before the Dismissal.

 

[AlmaRedemptorisMater]

I imagine if the priest is fine with it, it is allowable.

 

[BartholomewB]

The commentary lasted less than five minutes.

The first question that occurs to me is, How much less than five minutes? @Gorgias quoted from the GIRM, where it says,

in a very few words

To me, that would mean a minute at the outside, preferably less. It also says,

so that they correspond to the capacity for understanding of those participating.

Was the lay reader’s explanation really necessary for the congregation to understand the reading?

 

[JohnLilburne]

The General Introduction to the Lectionary has:

“42. The one presiding is responsible for preparing the faithful for the liturgy of the word on occasion by means of introductions before the readings.70 These comments can help the gathered assembly toward a better hearing of the word of God, because they enliven the people’s faith and their desire for good. He may also carry out this responsibility through other persons, the deacon, for example, or a commentator.71”

So a lay person can give an introduction before each reading.

Another part of the General Introduction to the Lectionary that supports this comes under the heading “3. MINISTRIES IN THE LITURGY OF THE WORD”:

“57. The commentator also fulfills a genuine liturgical ministry, which consists in present to the assembly of the faithful, from a suitable place, relevant explanations and comments that are clear, of marked simplicity, meticulously prepared, as a rule written out, and approved beforehand by the celebrant.”

The 2010 General Instruction of the Roman Missal has in n. 105:

“In performing this function the commentator stands in a suitable place within sight of the faithful, but not at the ambo.”

The General Introduction to the Lectionary is at https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Rites/Lectionary.pdf .

[Excerpts from the English translation of the Lectionary for Mass, © 1969, 1981 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. Excerpt from the English translation of the Roman Missal, © 2010 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]

 

[redal]

So other than that, how was the Mass? Was it so troubling that you were unable to give your attention to worship to the Lord?

If it didn’t, although its a fair question, I don’t see where it is a hill worth dying on.

 

[Hiker]

I was simply asking a question as I have never seen a lay reader do that before. I did not imply that it was troublesome and no, it didn’t disrupt my attention.

 

[Hiker]

Thank you for this.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I experienced that one time except it was the priest that did it. I thought it was great. He tied the first reading to the gospel, and maybe even to the prayers for that particular Sunday Mass. It was very enlightening, and it made the readings easier to follow when they were read after the explanation. I’d love to see other priests use that option for talking about the readings.

 

[Jeanne_S]

Our pastor does this routinely.I personally appreciate this practice.It helps draw me into the readings

 

[SMHW]

This happens (infrequently) at my parish. When it does, it is often the pastor himself who gives the commentary, even if he will not be reading himself (and he usually won’t since we have lots of lay readers and deacons in my parish.)

Our pastor is a scripture scholar and often gives lectures on scripture. And is about to retire from teaching at the seminary. I guess it’s hard for him to turn off the teacher part.

Commentary on the scriptures before they are read can help people see the relationship between the first reading, the Psalm response, and the Gospel. And if the people know the audience to whom reading was intended, it may make more sense.