Is anyone here a reader at Mass?

[mexia]

I’m a reader and have been one in 6 or 7 different parishes (we moved a lot). I remember being terrified the first couple of time I read and it was always that way when I started in a new parish. At times I worried my knees had turned to gelatin since they felt so wobbly.

One thing we do in our parish is invite all new readers to feel free to come to the church with a friend and practice working with the mic so that they become comfortable with it. Only a few have taken us up on the offer but they became comfortable much faster by getting feedback from a friend who would give creative criticism.

I feel sorry for the woman reading the Passion but really, what was she doing up there with loose pages?? That is inappropriate for any reading. Our readers are all provided with appropriately coloured binders any time they have to read using something other than the Lectionary.

This year we are lucky and the CCCB has had hard cover volumes of the Passion Readings published in time for Palm Sunday. We have a copy for each reader: one for the Narrator, one for the Priest and one for whoever is reading the other responses. This new Canadian translation has no provision for the congregation to give responses, allowing us to actually listen instead of following along to be ready to jump in with responses.

You are just the expertise I am looking for having recently become a Lector. and made the mistake of thinking I was through after the second reading so please enlighten me.
So we are on the same page allow me to use Mar 28 as an example. and being a small parish give me the with piano and without please.
So the verse before gospel does the lector read R/.Praise to you etc etc then the pianist plays and verse sung or what exactly is the formula

 

[Phemie]

You are just the expertise I am looking for having recently become a Lector. and made the mistake of thinking I was through after the second reading so please enlighten me.
So we are on the same page allow me to use Mar 28 as an example. and being a small parish give me the with piano and without please.
So the verse before gospel does the lector read R/.Praise to you etc etc then the pianist plays and verse sung or what exactly is the formula

I really don’t know what to tell you since I’m not familiar with what they do in your parish. In mine and in most where I’ve been, the Gospel Acclamation does not fall to the reader but rather to the cantor.

He/she sings “Praise to you…” then the people repeat it. The cantor then sings the verse and the people respond by singing again “Praise to you…”

In Canada, if it’s not sung it’s omitted and I know that that exists as an option in the US.

 

[Jea9]

I’ve been a lector for over 10 years, and love doing it. I can say that many do not prepare themselves. They mis-pronounce words and many do not speak up even when the mic is in their face, and almost all never look up at the congregation, they only look down at their reading, and some still manage to loose their place.

My suggestion is to practice your readings ahead of time. Don’t be afraid of projecting your voice, and use one hand as a guide so that you can look up at the congregation w/o loosing your place.

Make use of the Lectionary guide for Lectors or you can even use the internet.

God Bless you;

Jim

I’m a lector and I pretty much never look up. But the reason is NOT because I’m unprepared. It’s because I find people focusing so much on ME that I then focus on ME and what I’M doing and that’s not the purpose. I’m just a conduit for God’s words and I don’t want to be the focus. I read slowly and I enunciate (usually ) and I’m pretty loud, but the only time I look up is at the end when I say “The word of the Lord”. Now my husband makes great eye contact and still manages to seem humble. I found that I couldn’t do that when watching the congregation. Please don’t judge so quickly that because they are looking down it means that they are not prepared. I know it’s not the case for me.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

. . .

In Canada, if it’s not sung it’s omitted and I know that that exists as an option in the US.

That seems to be the growing practice here also. The old instruction “May be omitted if not sung” always amused me. How could one omit it if it was sung?

 

[PattiDay]

I’m so glad to read this thread and the fears that others have and foibles they’ve lived through. Today was my second time to read. The Deacon asked me two minutes before mass started, so I didn’t have time to get as nervous. If you recall, the names Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego were part of the reading today. Fortunately I had already looked at the readings on our way to mass, so I didn’t trip over the names. Wednesday mass is a good time for a new reader because there aren’t many people. I did have shaky knees and I thought my voice wavered a little, but my sweet husband said it didn’t. At one point I had to stop and take a breath because I felt like a runaway train, just getting faster and faster. As others have said above, it feels like such an honor, and it’s a gift to give to our Lord. I had to keep myself from smiling on my way back to the pew.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I’m so glad to read this thread and the fears that others have and foibles they’ve lived through. Today was my second time to read. The Deacon asked me two minutes before mass started, so I didn’t have time to get as nervous. If you recall, the names Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego were part of the reading today. Fortunately I had already looked at the readings on our way to mass, so I didn’t trip over the names. Wednesday mass is a good time for a new reader because there aren’t many people. I did have shaky knees and I thought my voice wavered a little, but my sweet husband said it didn’t. At one point I had to stop and take a breath because I felt like a runaway train, just getting faster and faster. As others have said above, it feels like such an honor, and it’s a gift to give to our Lord. I had to keep myself from smiling on my way back to the pew.

The nice thing about the Bible is that people like Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego are no longer around to complain if you mispronounce their names. If anyone else complains just tell them that is a subject the scholars disagree on.