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PetraG
Guest
Same here, yet we both know that a death in a family brings out both the best and the worst in people.
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rondirect
Guest
Joey, I respectfully disagree slightly. We go to Mass to be feed in two different ways: The Word and The Eucharist. If the Catholic Church believed that the only reason why one should go to church is to receive Jesus, the other “fluff” would be eliminated. But it’s not and equally important, IMO. Therefore, I believe that reading the wrong readings of the day is not sweating small stuff, although in life, I agree with your post otherwise.
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Mi_Rose
Guest
Please talk to the pastor.
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joeybaggz
Guest
My answer may well be a bit generational. I have been an aware Catholic for over 60 years. I’ve heard all the readings, many times. For me, the Mass is the Eucharist, the readings are nice, but have heard it all before. Now if you are a youngster, teen, young adult, different story and I’d say your position is a cogent one.
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Norseman82
Guest
As a lector, I’ll offer these points:
- Is it the same lector that is making the same mistake?
- We normally have the lectionary set out opened to the readings of the day.
- That being said, it is possible the wrong lectionary is being used. That actually happened to me, but the deacon caught it and during the psalm response gave me the missalette to read from so the second reading was correct.
- Another possibility, albeit more rare, is that there could be legitimate alternate readings in the lectionary that are not in the missalette. However, the fact that this would happen 5 times out of 6 would make me doubt this is the case (unless this were Lent where there are the special readings for Masses with catechumens, but even those are in our missalette).
- Additionally, lectors at my parish are given a workbook with readings to look them over and practice prior to coming to Mass.
- If a workbook is not available, another resource a lector can check is the USCCB website, which has the readings for the day.
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promethian_rule
Guest
No. They shouldn’t. You, as laity, especially should not be interrupting the mass to make public corrections of things the priest may be working on handling privately (as is appropriate here). Nor is the mass the place to show your knowledge of readings and disdain for the lector by turning it into a spectacle.
Separate question: are you a lector? Perhaps the lector you’re concerned with has a comprehension problem, and you can help this situation by volunteering so that they have more help.
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Limoncello4021
Guest
We’ve probably heard the wrong reading read in our lives. However 5 out of 6 times in a week, as the OP stated, would definitely for me entail speaking to the pastor. Something is wrong here. Is the reader looking consistently at the wrong page of the lectionary; or being given the wrong reading by someone else; or ? Perhaps the pastor (or you) can bring a sticky note or something and mark the reading before Mass to help out.
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DeniseNY
Guest
What’s kind of ridiculous is thinking hand signals or signs during Liturgy would be appropriate. How about trying have a talk with your pastor?
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SouthCatholic1
Guest
Do y’all have a Lectors’ Coordinator. It seems there needs to be a Lectors meeting called to go over procedures for before mass. The first thing the lector should do is a quick once over on all of the readings, prayers of the faithful, and announcements for the mass. Then, the lector should make sure the correct pages are marked before the lectionary and other materials are placed on the altar. The first thing I do when I get there is check the pages to make sure they are on the correct week.
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Limoncello4021
Guest
Agree. There should be a lectors’ coordinator, or someone in “charge” of daily Mass so that things are done correctly. Find out who that person is. It sounds like lectors need better training/supervision.
If no one does it, volunteer.
If no one does it, volunteer.
Mark121359
Well-known member
I would stand up in front of the whole congregation and shout in a very loud voice: WHOA!!! YOU’RE GIVING US THE WRONG READINGS AGAIN!!! THIS IS BECOMING VERY TIRESOME!!! THE CORRECT READINGS ARE…
Nah. I’d follow the advice given in edward_george1’s post # 2.
Nah. I’d follow the advice given in edward_george1’s post # 2.
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PetraG
Guest
The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist ought not be considered as two separate things, but rather as two parts of a single whole. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it like this [clarifications in brackets: mine]
277. How is the celebration of the Holy Eucharist carried out?
[refers to CCC:] 1345-1355
[and to CCC:] 1408
The Eucharist unfolds in two great parts which together form one, single act of worship. The Liturgy of the Word involves proclaiming and listening to the Word of God. The Liturgy of the Eucharist includes the presentation of the bread and wine, the prayer or the anaphora containing the words of consecration, and communion.
From the Catechism: [boldface mine]
1408 The Eucharistic celebration always includes: the proclamation of the Word of God; thanksgiving to God the Father for all his benefits, above all the gift of his Son; the consecration of bread and wine; and participation in the liturgical banquet by receiving the Lord’s body and blood. These elements constitute one single act of worship.
It is very important to make that connection in real time, during Mass. To pay poor attention to the liturgical requirements of one part of the Mass is to pay poor attention to the whole of the Mass, since this greatest act of worship is to be seen as a unified whole.
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rondirect
Guest
Thank you. I wanted to quote this myself to Joey, but my simple answer, I thought, would be sufficient; knowing that Joey meant no harm.
I too, have heard the same 3 cycles over and over again for over 60 years. I know them, but after 3 years, a refresher is nice and sometimes that one reading you heard 3 years ago was, well, just another reading, but this time it may have more meat or meaning to it based on your current state of mind. We have to realize too that the readings are really not just random. Even in Ordinary Time, some weeks continue a theme and are connected in some respect. Starting this weekend (OT 17) be prepared for a few weeks of a Eucharistic theme from John 6, and the year when “Taste and See” is the Psalm 3 weeks in a row!
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JackMcCoy
Guest
Criticism is easy.
Making things better is hard.
Rather that criticize, you might consider a more positive and proactive approach.
Perhaps you could volunteer to do the readings?
Making things better is hard.
Rather that criticize, you might consider a more positive and proactive approach.
Perhaps you could volunteer to do the readings?
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angel12
Guest
I haven’t criticized lectors here. Why are you addressing this to me?
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OraLabora
Guest
At the abbey I’m associated with, occasionally the wrong reading is read. Usually the lectionary is set up by the monk who will be lector, before Mass. Last Wednesday at Mass, the deacon accidentally proclaimed Thursday’s Gospel. Stuff happens, but it’s occasional human error, no more, no less.
If stuff happens systematically however, it suggests that whomever is responsible for setting up the readings is unsure of how the lectionary’s cycles of readings works, and is in need of some training. Suggesting it would perhaps be politically a bit delicate, but the faithful really should be hearing the correct readings.
Of course before commenting I’d make darned sure I wasn’t the one who had the wrong readings! And I would criticize with the greatest restraint and circumspection, perhaps asking father if he would like assistance. He may be just as exasperated, but doesn’t want to upset anyone.
If stuff happens systematically however, it suggests that whomever is responsible for setting up the readings is unsure of how the lectionary’s cycles of readings works, and is in need of some training. Suggesting it would perhaps be politically a bit delicate, but the faithful really should be hearing the correct readings.
Of course before commenting I’d make darned sure I wasn’t the one who had the wrong readings! And I would criticize with the greatest restraint and circumspection, perhaps asking father if he would like assistance. He may be just as exasperated, but doesn’t want to upset anyone.
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EricF
Guest
When I was trained, we were told the sacristan would already have the book open to the correct readings, but we were also ordered to arrive early, and make sure. Father stressed that so much that it is automatic for me now to arrive early and check that the book is open to the proper page.
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PetraG
Guest
No, I meant that when you’re praying the readings being proclaimed, it does matter which one is read.
That is not to say it is not gracious or spiritually more profit to forgive the mistake! Yes, it is a good habit to pass over mistakes and just keep going. Obsessing over the mistake can be much more damaging to focus than the mistake was in the first place, yes.
I’m only saying that it does matter. If lectors use what ought to be a normal level of care, reading of the wrong reading without noticing will be a rare occurrence. If it is not rare, that is an issue that ought to be addressed. It does matter.
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PetraG
Guest
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t lectors also prepare themselves ahead and know what reading they’ll be reading before they walk into church? It isn’t as if this is difficult information to get. That would be how you can look at the reading and know whether it is the right one or not, right?
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EricF
Guest
Absolutely. We have detailed workbooks which highlight which words are to be emphasized, and they have extensive footnotes explaining what each passage is trying to convey. It is a tremendous help.
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