Feeling ashamed!

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I was a lector when I was a kid and i made a huuugeeee error.

Ran down crying and I wouldn’t stop sobbing. My parents didn’t allow me to quit though.

Thing is, as I got older, i realised nobody really noticed it. Or even cared. And as someone who isn’t a lector anymore, i genuinely don’t care if a lector were to mess up at all. Or even mumble their way through. I usually read it on the screen (or in my bad days, switch off) anyways.

Most people who would be bothered by it would usually feel that way for 10 minutes only.
 
I come here as a potential new convert, not as a pastor, but since I’m still one, can I tell you what I tell the lectors of my parish when they mess up (and they do) ?

When you walked up to the ambo, what were your intentions ? Did you intend to read in a manner that gives praise to God and helps your brothers and sisters receive the Word of God ? If your answer is yes, then whatever happened next, you did a good job. Be at peace 😊

Worship is not performance, and intentions matter. God knows your heart.

(For what it’s worth, as a celebrant I mess up too. And not infrequently.)
 
There’s no reason for being ashamed. Everyone makes mistakes and anyone who regularly speaks or reads to people can tell you about their own mistakes. The priests at our parish often make mistakes themselves, and neither of them are inexperienced. Nobody cares!
I’m a lector and EMHC and have had mistakes doing both. Our pastor tells us it’s not a mistake that matters, but carrying on with the mass after the mistake is made. If you feel better doing more preparation before reading, then do it. But please don’t stop.
 
Izzy1 said:
I’m serious I feel really ashamed …I’m an introvert and I started reading in church to become more comfortable and now after this I don’t want to ever do it again
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Wow, you are getting a lot of love on this thread! These are people who don’t know you. The people of your parish do know you, and I’m sure there is more love there.
 
@Izzy1,

All that GOD requires is a willing heart, and that’s all! You don’t even need to worry about the talent, He will provide.

Remember:

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GOD bless !
 
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Lea101 said:
Thing is, as I got older, i realised nobody really noticed it. Or even cared.
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As much as I hate to say it, many people are not even listening. Their mind wanders, or they read it out of the Missal and don’t really listen. They do not notice a lector goofs unless the lector goes silent for a full minute or does something really dramatic like knock the microphone down making a loud startling noise.
 
A great quote from St. Mother Teresa:

“God doesn’t require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.”

And in fact you did succeed - - you made it through the reading!
 
I am a lector as well and a few weeks ago I totally messed up the reading, plus I had minor laryngitis so I sounded horrible besides. I went back to sit down and almost cried during the rest of the service I was so upset. Several people told me afterwards not to worry and they enjoyed my reading of the Scriptures. Plus I figured God has probably heard much worse mistakes, but loves the efforts of those who serve Him, even if we occasionally mess up. So don’t worry next time you’re going to do better.
 
Sounds like you discovered you’re human like everyone else and make mistakes. If this is the first time you’ve made a mistake, and all the others until now were well done - then that is an accomplishment in itself for which to thank God. Actually, both scenarios are - for all the times you read well and for this single occasion when you didn’t. God doesn’t call everyone to be a reader/lector. You answered the call. Do it for God and seek His praise and not worry so much about what others think/judge whether you read well or not. Just do the best you can do at that time.

You know, in the EF without a deacon the priest prays before proclaming the Gospel - "Cleanse my heart and my lips, O God almighty, Who didst cleanse the lips of the Prophet Isaias with a burning coal, and vouchsafe through Thy gracious mercy, so to purify me that I may worthily proclaim Thy holy Gospel. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
and
"Pray Lord, a blessing. The Lord be in my heart and on my lips, that I may worthily and in a becoming manner announce His holy Gospel. Amen. (In the OF, I believe it is a simpler version the priest prays beforehand).

So perhaps you too could lean on God and before you read, ask him to bless you and help you to read them in a way worthily of Him, and to convey them to the congregants in a fruitful way. And then whatever happens - accept you did you best and let it go at that.

Just my two cents.
 
Friend, at times we all make mistakes. God wants us to persevere. Stick with what you are doing. God will help you. Pray and move on. 🙏👍🙏👍🙏
 
We had a homily about humility this weekend. If we think we did great vs if we think we did not, and just who we were wanting praise from.

You pleased God, and that is all that matters. Everything else stems from pride. Go up there, read, and read for God.
 
Thomasbradley312 said:
Ask those other people if they want to read then.
People judge lectors and servers of the altar a lot but then if they are asked if they would be interested they say no. Such typical humanity unfortunately.
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This is pride and vain glory, to compare with others.
 
It just might have been a flare of pride. Ponder this and if true, it is a perfect time to practice humility to counter it.

“Might have been” and “if” are the keys words/phrases.

We tend to love pride and hate humility. Pride arises rather naturally from our concupiscence while we must persevere in our struggle toward humility.

Have a copy of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas á Kempis? Simply excellent.
 
Izzy1 said:
I am a lector in my parish …I’ve read about 8 times before and I’ve always read very well and people have always complimented me afterwards saying that I read very well and so on. Today however idk what happened but I didn’t read well. After reading I felt that I didn’t read well so after I got down from the alter I went outside church and stayed there for the entire mass. I was really embarrassed and almost felt like crying . After mass a few people who I bumped into said that I read okay but was evidently really nervous .
I’m really upset and idk what happened . I feel ashamed 😭😭😭 and I’m planning on leaving the lector’s group because I feel like I’ve let everyone down
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Even priests saying prayers that they say at every Mass, and reading Gospel passages that they are familiar with and have read many times before, will have times where they draw a blank, stumble over words or are distracted or hesitant for whatever reason.
 
Everyone who has ever lectored has messed up, lost their place, mispronounced a word, etc…shake it off and remember why we are there…
 
Every lector has messed up at least once. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Remember if possible to practice the readings ahead of time if possible. Lector workbooks have how to pronounce difficult words or names. Good luck and thank you for being a lector.
 
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