Is there a minimum age for readers?

[jwroch]

I have been asked if a 13 year old may be a regular reader at Mass. I know that they can be a reader at youth and children’s Masses but can they be a reader at the Sunday Masses? Is there a minimum age for readers?

Thanks for any help. A reference to any document would be great.

 

[1ke]

Have they been confirmed?

 

[jwroch]

Thanks. I haven’t thought conformation.

 

[Jegudiel]

A 13 year old could become a “regular” reader. Being confirmed is not a prerequisite.

 

[MarkThompson]

I have been asked if a 13 year old may be a regular reader at Mass. I know that they can be a reader at youth and children’s Masses but can they be a reader at the Sunday Masses? Is there a minimum age for readers?

Thanks for any help. A reference to any document would be great.

I would say that it would be rare to find a thirteen-year-old who could reliably do justice to the readings – not impossible, but certainly not common. Having someone who can truly proclaim them well is more important than not slighting a kid’s feelings, particularly when it is a question of being a regular reader rather than as a single occasion.

 

[Phemie]

I would say that it would be rare to find a thirteen-year-old who could reliably do justice to the readings – not impossible, but certainly not common. Having someone who can truly proclaim them well is more important than not slighting a kid’s feelings, particularly when it is a question of being a regular reader rather than as a single occasion.

I agree they are rare, but I have experienced a 9 year old who could proclaim Paul better than 90% of the regular adult readers. Her sister who were 11 and 13 were not quite as good as she was but still better than some of our regular adult readers.

I guess it depends on what the Pastor wants and what the diocese dictates. I’ve never seen any document that required a reader to be confirmed. Canon Law doesn’t mention it. Even if it is a requirement, for 9 years we had 7 and 8 year olds who met that criterion.