Correcting Lector During Mass

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EricF said:
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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It seems incomprehensible that someone doing that kind of preparation would not notice that the reading in front of them is totally different than what they prepared for.

Unless the parish is haphazard about preparing their lectors, I’m guessing this is a new lector who is still unfamiliar with how to find the correct reading himself or herself, lectors are repeatedly being asked to fill in at the last minute, or else the parish has a lectionary set that is divided by year and some is carelessly putting out the book for the wrong year, repeatedly hanging the poor lectors out to dry. None of those are tenable situations and they’re all easily fixed.

If the problem is a lector (or sacristan) who no longer has the capacity to be that with it, a person also does not have the capacity to realize and accept that, and no one wants to be the one to tell the person, though, that is a thornier issue. (In other words, if a lector or sacristan is showing the first signs of a serious loss of previously-attained mental capacity, who wants to be the one to tell him or her that?)
 
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One time the lector started reading the gospel reading for the day. The priest cleared his throat VERY Loudly…
 
PetraG said:
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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I think I did not make myself clear enough. I was agreeing with you.
 
I’m sorry Joy, but at your expense, you made me laugh a bit! How about those who have a problem with prophesy? Is it “sigh” or “see?” LOL: It’s an example, I know the answer, so no one has to post.

One time, a lector mispronounced a simple word that was in a reading about 3 - 4 times. After the first time, the priest with head bowed a bit, raised it up. The next couple of times, he was gracious enough not to make any noticeable body language. During his homily, he used the same word correctly! And, for the life of me, I cannot remember the word. Darn.
 
I have been a reader at Mass for many years. Onweeks I scheduled to read, I start preparing the Monday before. Not only do I read the readings, I use them in my prayers and and practice out loud at least 2-3 times making sure I get pronunciation and inflection correct.

What I have found is that I am the “odd man out”. Most people don’t look at the readings until they arrive. Many would have no clue if the book was set correctly or not. It has become so bad that we had a few special training sessions on proper form, how to use the lectionary, etc. All readers we’re told that they must attend one of these sessions to continue to be scheduled in the ministry. Of about 30 people who read, 10 of us showed up. Father kept his word, and the other 20 are not on the schedule this quarter. Some were unhappy, but, all of our readers are now prepared and can actually proclaim the Word of God and not just read it. Win-win, as far as I am concerned.
 
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CilladeRoma said:
All readers we’re told that they must attend one of these sessions to continue to be scheduled in the ministry. Of about 30 people who read, 10 of us showed up. Father kept his word, and the other 20 are not on the schedule this quarter. Some were unhappy, but, all of our readers are now prepared and can actually proclaim the Word of God and not just read it. Win-win, as far as I am concerned.
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People amaze me, sometimes. It is good to hear that everyone actually allowed by the pastor to read has at least had to be educated on the points that were being neglected. Yes, you’re right, he’s doing his duty as the pastor and as a priest.
 
I has happened at my parish a time or two but not to the extent you have seen. I would talk to the priest about it for sure.
My pet peeve is lectors who are over dramatic. Some of them are, for lack of a better term, hammy when they read. It’s as if the focus is on them and not on the reading.
 
I do not like the readers who sound like they are telling ghost stories at a campfire.
 
I don’t know about that. I’ve always seen a sufficient number of people in the liturgical ministries to keep it running like a well oiled machine.

A lot of people like being front and center.

On a previous thread here on CAF, one of the fellows pointed out that the vast majority of men who put their name in to be deacons end up washing out.
 
It’s up to the priest to make the correction, he should stop the lector, walk over to the lectern and find the correct readings. Lectors should also practice ahead of time!
 
Maybe the priest could have the pages opened ahead of time for that lector; if they aren’t definite about the correct readings for that day
 
Or the lector could be a responsible adult and be prepared before Mass, by practicing the readings (clarifying pronunciations), making sure the book is opened to the right page.
 
In my lecturing days, I started practicing the week prior, emailed the deacon for pronunciation help, etc. If I subbed for someone at the last minute, I made sure to prepare as much as possible, not just “wing it”. It’s usually possible to do at least one run-through prior to mass if you are last minute subbing.
 
I’m the lector for Wednesday noon Mass at our chapel. I read the day’s reading and psalm during morning prayer, and I say it out loud so I get the pronunciation and emphasis down. Before Mass I check to see that the lectionary is in place, along with the prayers, and turned to the right day. All of this takes me about 10 minutes tops. It amazes me that readers don’t consider it important to both practice the reading and pray over it.
 
Reminds one of the time several readers were doing The Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. One mispronounced Centurion as “Centaurian”. The second reader also used the mispronunciation. So I marvelled at the thought of attendants to mythological creatures like Centaurs might have been there at Calvary.
 
I remember a student who recited a poem about Calvary and said cavalry throughout. It gave a whole new meaning to the poem 🙂
 
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