Deacons & Priests reading the Gospel during Mass

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As I said before, I am learning so much on this Forum. You guys rock!! :extrahappy:
 
Having to children write the prayers would tend to reduce the prayers to some degree of “cutness,” depending on the ages of the writers. It becomes yet another liturgical gimmick, not to mantion juvenile and/or pedantic.

It would also likely become the source of undue attention: “So-and-So’s daughter has had her petitions read SIX times this year, but my darling has not hasd any of his read aloud. That is not fair, I need to talk to someone about this!”

There is no way that I would ever open that can of worms. :banghead:
 
During the homily can a priest or a deacon preach that it is wrong to hold hands during the Our Father?
 
FRIENDLY REMINDER:

The topic of this thread is:
Why do we have Deacons & Priests only, read aloud the gospel readings during Mass? As we have parishioners or non-ordained folks read the OT & non- gospel NT, why not the gospels?
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In my opionion, the reasoning for the deacon as the primary reader of the Gospel:

The Gospels are the direct testimony to the works and words of Christ; the charism of the deacon is specifically to teach the words and works of Christ. All priests are deacons, as are all bishops both priest and deacon, but their charism includes further duties, which the deacon does not have, and thus the deacon is thus in theory more able to focus upon the tasks of reading the Gospel.

Remember: it was traditional for the reader of the epistle to be the subdeacon, and the gospel to be the deacon, and the preaching the priest or deacon.

It was also traditional that the epistle and gospel be sung in the chant tone of the day, much as is still done in the Byzantine Rite Churches (both Catholic and Orthodox). This is a skill learned by training and practice, and was a practical factor as much as a liturgical appeal approach: chant propagates more clearly than speech does, and is also able to be louder without distortion.

Subdeacons and deacons were trained in both singing the chant, and in singing well enough to be heard.

and a note from an authoritative (if dated, but for this purpose, that’s perfect) source…
The lesser “ordination” lectors were permitted in the older versions of the Roman Rite, as clerks, and were still provided for in the early 20th century, but lay readers in Surplice (and thus also cassock) were permitted in the absence of a subdeacon. (NewAdvent, Catholic Encyclopedia, Lector)
 
Could you show me where that is written?
IF you have a sacramentary or the Rubrics of the lastest Roman Missal…there is a section which says that It is the Deacon, even if the Pope is presiding that Proclaims the Gospel…Deacon are odained minister in the Church, Like a Bishop, or Priest, they have been Ontologically Changed by the Sacrament of Holy Orders,to be Icons of Christ the servant, and Given Faculties by their Bishop to Always Proclaim the Gospel at Mass when present, and to Preach when assigned to Preach at Masses,and other Liturgical functions…

Deacons,Priests and Bishops may All proclaim (read or sing) the Gospel at Mass because they have been ordained to do so by Christ and and His Church. That is why only the Clergy (Bishops, Priest and Deacons) my Read the Gospel at Mass and Give the Homily.

The new English Translation of the Roman Missal when Published will have a special Section for Mass with a Deacon, and Mass without a deacon…it spells out everyone’s fuction during the Mass. If you ask your parish Priest, he can let you read the Instructions to the Roman Missil in the front of the Sacramentary.
Hope this helps.
God Bless,
Deacon Joseph
 
At the risk of furthering a “liturgical abuse” - which I don’t know that it is one to have the laity prepare the POF, here is a suggestion - IF the Recot doesn’t resume the task~

I presume there is a parish school or other religious education program…why not have kids write the prayers - they have very little self-consciousness, and you could come up with the real gems to touch the hearts of the congregation -

We used prayers the kids in the confirmation class prepared highlighting the gifts of the Spirit. Really wonderful prayers.
Brother:
It is suggested that the Deacon Prepare the Prayer of the Faithful, but many times the Liturgy Commitee does this. In our Parish the Pastor always checked them before printing them.
Peace,
Dcn,Jospeh
 
Further to the comment about Papal masses, you will see that deacons from the Latin and Eastern Rites of the Church chant the Gospel in Latin and Greek respectively, following their own rubrics, in big Papal Masses, such as HH Benedict XVI’s coronation. Just FYI. The deacon always proclaims the Gospel, whenever he’s there. The reason people get confused is that deacons are rare in the Church.
 
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