Gospel reading by lay-people?

[mom2three]

For the gospel reading during the First Scrutiny last weekend, they had two lay people and the priest reading…

The priest said the words of Jesus standing behind the altar. A woman said the words of the woman at the well (standing behind the podium where announcements are read) and a man narrated the rest of the reading (standing behind the lectern).

Is this permitted? If not, what should I do about it?

 

[Deacon_Ed]

For the gospel reading during the First Scrutiny last weekend, they had two lay people and the priest reading…

The priest said the words of Jesus standing behind the altar. A woman said the words of the woman at the well (standing behind the podium where announcements are read) and a man narrated the rest of the reading (standing behind the lectern).

Is this permitted? If not, what should I do about it?

While this approach was permitted in the past, it has since been prohibited. Only the Passion narrative (Palm Sunday, Good Friday) may be read in parts. At all other times only a bishop, priest or deacon may read the Gospel.

Deacon Ed

 

[mom2three]

While this approach was permitted in the past, it has since been prohibited. Only the Passion narrative (Palm Sunday, Good Friday) may be read in parts. At all other times only a bishop, priest or deacon may read the Gospel.

Deacon Ed

Thank you! Is there a document to back this up?

 

[John_Lilburne]

If it was part of a Mass, the sharing of this Gospel is clearly forbidden.

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
"109. If there are several persons present who are able to exercise the same ministry, nothing forbids their distributing among themselves and performing different parts of the same ministry or duty. For example, one deacon may be assigned to take the sung parts, another to serve at the altar; if there are several readings, it is well to distribute them among a number of lectors. The same applies for the other ministries. But it is not at all appropriate that several persons divide a single element of the celebration among themselves, e.g., that the same reading be proclaimed by two lectors, one after the other, except as far as the Passion of the Lord is concerned. "

But it is possible to have the scrutinies without the Eucharist. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has “146. The scrutinies should take place within the ritual Masses “Christian Initiation: the Scrutinies,” …”. But then it has the option, after the exorcism, of:
“155. … D. The celebrant dismisses those present, using these or similar words.
Go in peace, and may the Lord remain with you always.
All: Thanks be to God.
An appropriate song may conclude the celebration.”
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 118).

But even then, it would be a liturgical celebration. The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy has: “130. … Outside of the liturgical celebration of the Passion, the Gospel narrative can be “dramatized”, giving the various parts of the narrative to different persons; or by interspersing it with hymns or moments of silent reflection.”

 

[mom2three]

If it was part of a Mass, the sharing of this Gospel is clearly forbidden.

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
"109. If there are several persons present who are able to exercise the same ministry, nothing forbids their distributing among themselves and performing different parts of the same ministry or duty. For example, one deacon may be assigned to take the sung parts, another to serve at the altar; if there are several readings, it is well to distribute them among a number of lectors. The same applies for the other ministries. But it is not at all appropriate that several persons divide a single element of the celebration among themselves, e.g., that the same reading be proclaimed by two lectors, one after the other, except as far as the Passion of the Lord is concerned. "

But it is possible to have the scrutinies without the Eucharist. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults has “146. The scrutinies should take place within the ritual Masses “Christian Initiation: the Scrutinies,” …”. But then it has the option, after the exorcism, of:
“155. … D. The celebrant dismisses those present, using these or similar words.
Go in peace, and may the Lord remain with you always.
All: Thanks be to God.
An appropriate song may conclude the celebration.”
(The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 118).

But even then, it would be a liturgical celebration. The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy has: “130. … Outside of the liturgical celebration of the Passion, the Gospel narrative can be “dramatized”, giving the various parts of the narrative to different persons; or by interspersing it with hymns or moments of silent reflection.”

It was done in the context of a Mass. The elect and candidates were dismissed but the Mass continued as normal after our dismissal. I understand, then, that is not permitted…

So, now what? I’m just a candidate… what do I do about this? What if they do it again for the next scrutiny? Is it even worth it to bring it up?

 

[Cygnus_X1]

At one parish that has daily Mass, the priest has a very difficult time seeing the Book of the Gospels. He introduces the Gospel and then has a lay person read it, and then concludes it by saying “The Gospel of the Lord.” I take it he ought not do this? But if so, what alternative does he have?

 

[Elzee]

We do it one better - our pianist plays loungestyle background music as it’s being read, and the congregation sings a refrain after every few lines.

It’s horrendous.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

At one parish that has daily Mass, the priest has a very difficult time seeing the Book of the Gospels. He introduces the Gospel and then has a lay person read it, and then concludes it by saying “The Gospel of the Lord.” I take it he ought not do this? But if so, what alternative does he have?

I would assume that he has the bishops permission for this special case, that allows him to celebrate Mass.

 

[mom2three]

We do it one better - our pianist plays loungestyle background music as it’s being read, and the congregation sings a refrain after every few lines.

It’s horrendous.

Whoa…

 

[John_Lilburne]

It was done in the context of a Mass. The elect and candidates were dismissed but the Mass continued as normal after our dismissal. I understand, then, that is not permitted…

So, now what? I’m just a candidate… what do I do about this? What if they do it again for the next scrutiny? Is it even worth it to bring it up?

Its your call. You know the people involved. Perhaps asking for an explanation would be less confrontational.

A possible explanation would be along these lines. The 1973 Directory for Masses with Children has:
“47. … Depending on the text of the reading, it may be helpful for the children to read it in parts distributed among them, as is provided for the reading of the Lord’s passion during Holy Week.” This is in Chapter Three “Masses with Children in Which Only a Few Adults Participate”. But it has at the end of Chapter 2 “Masses with Adults in Which Children Also Participate”, n. 19 “Wherever the bishop permits, in addition to the adaptations already provided in the Order of Mass, one or other of the particular adaptations described later in the Directory may be employed in a Mass celebrated with adults in which children also participate.” The 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) endorses the 1973 Directory for Masses with Children:
“32. Special celebrations of Mass should observe the guidelines established for them: For Masses with special groups, cf. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, Instruction Actio pastoralis, on Masses with special groups, 15 May 1969: AAS 61 (1969), pp. 806-811; for Masses with children, cf. Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, Directory for Masses with Children, 1 November 1973: AAS 66 (1974), pp. 30-46;”
Therefore, with the bishop’s permission this manner of doing the readings is permitted, because some children were present."