Lector Or Reader

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Deacon2006

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In our parish the good women who publish the bulletin and read at mass have started calling themselves ministers of the word.

I have always understood that those not installed as lectors were to be called readers. Can someone tell me which document, if one exists, that clarifies the difference between a reader and a lector.

God Bless
 
I don’t know the answer to your actual question, but I have not heard of this (“Ministers of the Word”). It could sound a little pretentious, which is not exactly the spirit we want for this service.
 
How about the Code of Canon Law (1983)

Can. 230 §1. Lay men who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of the conference of bishops can be admitted on a stable basis through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte. Nevertheless, the conferral of these ministries does not grant them the right to obtain support or remuneration from the Church.

§2. Lay persons can fulfill the function of lector in liturgical actions by temporary designation. All lay persons can also perform the functions of commentator or cantor, or other functions, according to the norm of law.

A lector has been instituted through liturgical rite. A reader has not. Otherwise, their funtions are the same.
 
As for the “minister of the Word”, from Ecclesiae de Mysterio
On Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priest:
Practical Provisions
Article 1

§ 3. The non-ordained faithful may be generically designated “extraordinary ministers” when deputed by competent authority to discharge, solely by way of supply, those offices mentioned in Canon 230, § 3[56] and in Canons 943 and 1112. Naturally, the concrete term may be applied to those to whom functions are canonically entrusted e.g. catechists, acolytes, lectors etc.

Temporary deputation for liturgical purposes - mentioned in Canon 230, §2 - does not confer any special or permanent title on the non-ordained faithful.[57]
 
Thank you for your posts but neither of these documents differentiate between the title “lector” and the title “reader”. If a non installed lay person reads are they to be called lector as well because I can’t find a document that calls them readers. Is the title reader used anywhere other then these forums threads?

God Bless
 
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Deacon2006:
Thank you for your posts but neither of these documents differentiate between the title “lector” and the title “reader”. If a non installed lay person reads are they to be called lector as well because I can’t find a document that calls them readers. Is the title reader used anywhere other then these forums threads?
Click to expand...
The US Catholic Bishop’s website doesn’t use lectors but uses “reader” (except in footnotes)
The Reader at Mass

The only difference I can find is that one is instituted, one is not.
 
Well, istm that “Reader” and “Lector” are synonyms-they mean the exact same thing (one is Germanic, the other is Latin). FWIW, outside the Latin Rite, “Reader” is used to denote a minor order, whose equivalent in the Latin Rite is the minor order (pre-VII) or institution (contemporary use) of “Lector.” So i guess when refering to the Latin Rite, there is no difference, but it would be correct to say “Lector” for the insitituted man, and “noninstituted Lector” for the nonistituted person.

In Christ,
Adam
 
Akemnar has a good point. No matter what we call them, I would just like to see more folks volunteering to read at Mass. Sometimes we are without a reader. Some folks are a little shy about standing before the community and reading, but the spirit will assist you, if you have prepared yourself.

May God bless you…hope this thread encourages more people to volunteer to read.

Deacon Tony
 
I think in my home parish, every man, except for two, has read something, either an epistle, a psalm, or the post-communion prayers (keep in mind that this means chanting to us, very, very little is recited). In the absence of an ordained Reader, this can cause some confusion as to who does what, though overall, it does promote more participation.

In Christ,
Adam
 
Well I just ran to the kitchen to take a look at the August schedule and I see that we are referred to as Lectors. Although I think it is not uncommen to use the term reader.

As for being a lector I highly encourage it. I was given the opportunity to proclaim the word for the first time when I was in RCIA, it is common for candidates and cathecumens to help with the Palm Sunday readings.

I narrated the portion of the reading concerning the Passion of our Lord. It was a very powerful experience for me.

Practising the readings really brings the Word alive for me.

I still get butterflies in my stomache before I approach the ambo and have never thought of my self as much of a public speaker, but God wants his word to be proclaimed and I truly believe if you ask him for help he will be there to help you proclaim his word.

God Bless
 
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