Daily readings don't match "Magnificat"

[onetruechurch]

I love my “Magnificat” prayer book because I can read along with the readings at daily mass that are not printed in the book provided by the church. That is…until about a month ago ! Now, I never know what the readings are going to be because the priest has the option to change the readings every day. Lately, I have only been able to read along 2 out of the 5 days of daily readings. My “Magnificat” does not provide the optional readings. Is this happening in your parishes too?

 

[ricmat]

I love my “Magnificat” prayer book because I can read along with the readings at daily mass that are not printed in the book provided by the church. That is…until about a month ago ! Now, I never know what the readings are going to be because the priest has the option to change the readings every day. Lately, I have only been able to read along 2 out of the 5 days of daily readings. My “Magnificat” does not provide the optional readings. Is this happening in your parishes too?

Yes.

Occasionally I am a reader at daily mass, and am sometimes surprised which readings have been chosen. So now I have a daily Roman Missal (I have one from Midwest Theological Forum), which includes the regular readings and the optional readings. I prepare both sets in advance, just in case.

 

[Orionthehunter]

I love my “Magnificat” prayer book because I can read along with the readings at daily mass that are not printed in the book provided by the church. That is…until about a month ago ! Now, I never know what the readings are going to be because the priest has the option to change the readings every day. Lately, I have only been able to read along 2 out of the 5 days of daily readings. My “Magnificat” does not provide the optional readings. Is this happening in your parishes too?

As I understand it, Priests have three options for readings: The universal Gospel which is usually the one listed in Devotionals like the Magnificat and at the USCCB, a similar Gospel from another synoptic Gospel, or a reading that is geared to a particular local feast day (i.e. a parish with Polish members may celebrate the feast day of a saint from their home country). The reason that a Priest might change to another synoptic Gospel is it more relateable to the audience (i.e. a daily Mass that includes school children). And with the change to another Gospel, it sometimes results in a different OT reading as that reading has pre-imagery that matches that from teh Gospel selected.

Does it happen at my parish? Not very often except for the Friday Mass that includes the children from teh school. If it happens at your parish, I would just ask your Pastor why seems to do it often. He might have an answer that satsifies you and he might not. So long as he is following the rules, you might just have to accept what he is doing.

 

[bankerdavid]

Our readings always correspond with Magniificat, but the entrance antiphon and communion antiphon often don’t. And I don’t know how to find the correct one when the missalette doesn’t have either one that day.

 

[onetruechurch]

For the past 2 months we have had a new assistant priest. He always says the mass on Monday and Tuesday. (He also has the annoying habit of walking up and down the aisle after the Our Father shaking the hands of everyone sitting in the aisle seats. He then distributes communion without washing his hands.) Ever since he came those two masses did not follow the “Magnificat”. Now, I noticed the paster who says the Wednesday and Thursday masses has started to ocassionally use readings that are not in the “Magnificat”. Starting next week I will drive a few miles further to attend another parish mass on Monday and Tuesday.

 

[Orionthehunter]

For the past 2 months we have had a new assistant priest. He always says the mass on Monday and Tuesday. (He also has the annoying habit of walking up and down the aisle after the Our Father shaking the hands of everyone sitting in the aisle seats. He then distributes communion without washing his hands.) Ever since he came those two masses did not follow the “Magnificat”. Now, I noticed the paster who says the Wednesday and Thursday masses has started to ocassionally use readings that are not in the “Magnificat”. Starting next week I will drive a few miles further to attend another parish mass on Monday and Tuesday.

Why not first ask him why they are making this choice? Assuming the Priests are following the rules, maybe this is a test of the Holy Spirit to get you to submit and obey.

 

[onetruechurch]

Why not first ask him why they are making this choice? Assuming the Priests are following the rules, maybe this is a test of the Holy Spirit to get you to submit and obey.

Before mass today I asked the secretary why this was happening and her response was…because they have a choice. I don’t have a chance to talk to the priests because they leave right after mass and I stay for at least 7 extra minutes for a private thanksgiving after communion. The Holy Spirit inspired me to write this thread to see if other parishes were also choosing to make our Magnificats less useful. According to the response, it looks like my local parish is in the minority. So it is my choice to drive to another parish where I will be able to use my book the way it was intended to be used.

 

[Orionthehunter]

Before mass today I asked the secretary why this was happening and her response was…because they have a choice. I don’t have a chance to talk to the priests because they leave right after mass and I stay for at least 7 extra minutes for a private thanksgiving after communion. The Holy Spirit inspired me to write this thread to see if other parishes were also choosing to make our Magnificats less useful. According to the response, it looks like my local parish is in the minority. So it is my choice to drive to another parish where I will be able to use my book the way it was intended to be used.

I beg you to reconsider.

1. 
   *]As Catholics, we don’t resolve our questions about liturgy, worship and devotions by talking to the parish secretary.
   
   *]If this is really this important, one can forego their 7 minute private prayer to get the answer or schedule an appointment.
   
   *]It is not rational to think that the Priests were doing this to make YOUR Magnificat useless. You need to ask them why they are doing this. Otherwise, you have an OBLIGATION to believe that they are doing this for the spiritual benefit of their flock. See CC 2478 which requires you to interpret “thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way.” It looks that you are seeing this as personal which indicates something internally that you need to address.
   
   *]The Magnificat is a private aid for daily prayer. It is a not restriction on the Priest to select readings.
   
   It really appears to me that you are just looking for a reason to leave your parish and you want us to sanction your decision. You need to be moved by the Holy Spirit in this regard. And frankly, it appears you are motivated by something else.

 

[onetruechurch]

I beg you to reconsider.

1. 
   *]As Catholics, we don’t resolve our questions about liturgy, worship and devotions by talking to the parish secretary.
   
   *]If this is really this important, one can forego their 7 minute private prayer to get the answer or schedule an appointment.
   
   *]It is not rational to think that the Priests were doing this to make YOUR Magnificat useless. You need to ask them why they are doing this. Otherwise, you have an OBLIGATION to believe that they are doing this for the spiritual benefit of their flock. See CC 2478 which requires you to interpret “thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way.” It looks that you are seeing this as personal which indicates something internally that you need to address.
   
   *]The Magnificat is a private aid for daily prayer. It is a not restriction on the Priest to select readings.
   
   It really appears to me that you are just looking for a reason to leave your parish and you want us to sanction your decision. You need to be moved by the Holy Spirit in this regard. And frankly, it appears you are motivated by something else.

1. 
   I am not sure why you are lecturing me about my obligations. I am under no obligation to attend daily mass. If I should choose to attend daily mass I am not obligated to go to the closest church. I was only planning to go to another parish on Monday and Tuesday. I said nothing about “leaving my parish”. I will try to accept your advice in a favorable way. I’ll pray for you tomorrow.

 

[AspiringDeacon]

My .02, I think the one value of having the actual readings written down is not to read them in Mass along with whoever is reading, but to read them BEFORE the Mass so we can reflect on them and be better prepared to participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. I wouldn’t think most priests would prefer people to come in “cold” not knowing the readings (although most do), so you might ask the priests what would be the best way to know what the readings will be beforehand so you can come in prepared to listen to the Word of God and not be trying to catch up with what is said (and sometimes hard to hear).

Both the CCC and the GIRM actually say “Listen to the word of God with our minds and hearts”, not “Read” (not that reading is prohibited or anything, I think it is just meant to be listened to, as the gospel is “Proclaimed”).

 

[Joannm]

My parish prints the citations for the daily mass readings in the bulletin each week, but sometimes the priest saying the mass may choose to do an optional memorial which could include different readings or choose to do a votive mass, such as the Sacred Heart or a mass for peace. He has that option. Magnificat is a great worship aid and many of our parishioners use it, but no one has complained if the readings do not match. When it doesn’t they just close the book and listen, no big deal.

And if you go to another parish, who is to say you will not find the same problem since they too have options.

 

[onetruechurch]

My .02, I think the one value of having the actual readings written down is not to read them in Mass along with whoever is reading, but to read them BEFORE the Mass so we can reflect on them and be better prepared to participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. I wouldn’t think most priests would prefer people to come in “cold” not knowing the readings (although most do), so you might ask the priests what would be the best way to know what the readings will be beforehand so you can come in prepared to listen to the Word of God and not be trying to catch up with what is said (and sometimes hard to hear).

Both the CCC and the GIRM actually say “Listen to the word of God with our minds and hearts”, not “Read” (not that reading is prohibited or anything, I think it is just meant to be listened to, as the gospel is “Proclaimed”).

Aspiring Deacon,
God love you! Finally, someone understands why a little ol' granny such as I would want the words in print. Many of the new priests have such thick accents that we seniors need the "crutch" of reading along. You said just the right words in such a loving way. I appreciate your advice. All your future parishoners are very lucky that you are an "aspiring deacon".

 

[Orionthehunter]

Before mass today I asked the secretary why this was happening and her response was…because they have a choice. I don’t have a chance to talk to the priests because they leave right after mass and I stay for at least 7 extra minutes for a private thanksgiving after communion. The Holy Spirit inspired me to write this thread to see if other parishes were also choosing to make our Magnificats less useful. According to the response, it looks like my local parish is in the minority. So it is my choice to drive to another parish where I will be able to use my book the way it was intended to be used.

I am not sure why you are lecturing me about my obligations. I am under no obligation to attend daily mass. If I should choose to attend daily mass I am not obligated to go to the closest church. I was only planning to go to another parish on Monday and Tuesday. I said nothing about “leaving my parish”. I will try to accept your advice in a favorable way. I’ll pray for you tomorrow.

I apologize for lecturing you. That was not my intent. My intent was for you to get to the bottom of what is bothering you. While I always appreciate people who pray for me, it concerns me that you see my posts as malicious. If I wasn’t concerned for you, I’d have never posted on this thread. When I read your posts I saw a person striving for Holiness (daily Mass, etc.) but also one who saw too much as a personal attack (both the Priest’s choice to use readings that aren’t in the Magnifcat as well as my posts).

• You used words that have a tone of accusation against your Priest yet you have never talked to him.
• You have talked to the Parish secretary.
• You claimed that the parish/Priest were taking action to make the Magnifcat “less useful” as if that was their intent. Intent you have discerned w/o ever talking to the Priest.
• You assert that the purpose of the Magnificat is to follow the readings in Mass. It is much more than that as it is primarily a devotional aid for those who don’t/can’t attend daily Mass.

 

[onetruechurch]

Oh my goodness!

I want to thank everyone who contributed their thoughts on this subject. God bless all of you. I needed to be humbled. I will pray the Humility Litany so next time I start a thread I won’t sound so arrogant.