I’ve done it. That weekend the reading was from Phillipians, one I had memorized some time ago and loved (“His state was divine, but he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at…”). I simply stood, looked at the audience and let 'er rip. I found that if you look at the audience, they look back at you. By the end, just about everyone was looking up, absolutely riveted.
But - you are supposed to read, not recite. This is wrong.
Far too often I have experienced priests who are very familiar with the Gospel reading (just think of how often they have read them since ordination!) and who like to practice frequent eye contact with the congregation, make mistakes. They start reciting instead of reading, looking up for whole sentences, and then lose their place in the reading. It just messes the reading terribly.
Yes, we should maintain some eye contact - when we go to the ambo, look up. Then say " A reading from _______ ", while looking up. Pause. Then start the reading. Always let your eyes travel ahead of you, so you do not have to pause unnecessarily, or not know where to place emphasis. Keep the forefinger of your right hand traveling lightly down the page while you read, so that when you do look up (at the end of a sentence, or, particularly, the end of a paragraph) you will know exactly where to look for the following words to read. When you have finished the reading, pause, look up, and then say “The Word of the Lord.” (Remember, you are not asking a question, you are pronouncing that what was read is the Word of the Lord. Too often readers allow their voice to inflect upwards, so they are asking a question. Others allow their voices to trail off with this phrase.)
Also - remember: Say the Black, do the Red. Do not read anything in the Lectionary that is printed in red. Things that are printed in red are for your guidance, not to be said. So, do not say “The First Reading”, “The Responsorial Psalm” etc. Just: “A reading from…” You can say “The response to the Psalm is …” More often, I just say the response. After all, at least 99% of those present know exactly what is coming next!
I have been reading, on and off, for more than 20 years. As well as that, I studied Elocution and Theatre and have trained people to read. Yet, before I go up to read I still feel a slight pang and usually ask my Guardian Angel to help me to read well to give Glory to God and so that those hearing me will hear the Word of God proclaimed as it should be.
And, of course, I still sometimes make a mistake - if we are even slightly distracted by anything something can go wrong. It’s not a disaster!
Remember, if you need to clear your throat or cough when you are reading, please turn away from the microphone - I know one reader who has a throat that chronically needs clearing and she has never turned away, even once! It is so irritating!!
Practice - not just in preparation, but in actually doing the readings - will make you more comfortable. But, you should hope never to become totally blase about the whole thing - we are, after all, assisting our brothers and sisters to come closer to God.
(actually it’d be fun to try … mwahahah)
