Lector Questions

[habu16]

I am an altar server at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Louisville, KY. My mom is a lector there, also. We had an argument over a point of the Mass, which I was hoping I could get an answer for. When a lector goes up to read, they bow. But, who do they bow to? She says that the lector should bow to the altar, since that is where the Eternal Sacrifice is held. I say they bow to the priest, since he is Christ in persona. In our church, the tabernacle is directly behind the priest, with the lectern being to the right side of the church, viewed from the congregation. Or does the lecter bow to the tabernacle?

 

[SHJ-BVM]

Habu,

I was never “formally trained” as a lector, but when I offered to serve and spoke to Father about it, he told me to show reverence to the Tabernacle (since it is visible).

Now I have always genuflected to the Tabernacle, although to my knowledge a profound bow is also acceptable. I hope that others more knowledgeable than I can tell you if just a ‘head’ bow is also acceptable.

 

[amalatt]

I am a lector.

You bow to the altar…not the Priest. You genuflect to the Tabernacle, if Christ is present (it is sometimes empty during the week, check the candle). You do not bow to a Priest, only the altar.

If you cannot kneel before the Tabernacle due to health you are to profoundly bow.

Another point, the lector carrying the book, doesn’t bow. The Word doesn’t bow. Now this last point I haven’t found written anywhere as I have the top two paragraphs. It is how we were trained and it makes sense that the word wouldn’t bow.

 

[Crusader]

amalatt:

I am a lector.

You bow to the altar…not the Priest. You genuflect to the Tabernacle, if Christ is present (it is sometimes empty during the week, check the candle). You do not bow to a Priest, only the altar.

If you cannot kneel before the Tabernacle due to health you are to profoundly bow.

Another point, the lector carrying the book, doesn’t bow. The Word doesn’t bow. Now this last point I haven’t found written anywhere as I have the top two paragraphs. It is how we were trained and it makes sense that the word wouldn’t bow.

First, I’m gonna guess that you’re a reader and not a lector. Lectors are male-only installed ministers.

Second, the word of God (the Bible) is not the Word of God (Jesus Christ.) The reason readers and deacons carrying the Evangeliary do not bow is because they are carrying something, not because the Evangeliary equates to Jesus Christ.

 

[_veritas]

Crusader:

First, I’m gonna guess that you’re a reader and not a lector. Lectors are male-only installed ministers.

Second, the word of God (the Bible) is not the Word of God (Jesus Christ.) The reason readers and deacons carrying the Evangeliary do not bow is because they are carrying something, not because the Evangeliary equates to Jesus Christ.

Agreed.

Additional points to remember about bowing/genuflecting to the tabernacle/altar during Mass –

On entrance into the sanctuary, all ministers/servers/readers must genuflect/solemn bow to the tabernacle, as well as make a bow to the altar if the altar is not in front of the tabernacle (the priest/deacons also kiss the altar).

Those who are carrying items (processional cross, candlesticks, Gospel book, etc) into the sanctuary do not have to make the solemn reverence, they should show some reverence however, in our parish they simply stand still momentarily and do a reverent head bow.

Once the initial reverence is made to the tabernacle, while it is appropriate to continue to acknowledge the tabernacle (say, when a server passes in front of it), the main focus shifts to the altar during the Mass. Whenever one passes in front of the altar, or when the reader is done reading, a bow should be made to the altar.

At Communion time, if Hosts are to be retreived from the tabernacle, then the person (usually–hopefully–the priest) will genuflect to the tabernacle prior to opening it, as well as after Communion when he replaces the Hosts and closes the door. This is the only time during the Mass when reverence to the tabernacle alone is appropriate.

At the end of Mass, the entrance procession does the same things in reverse – bowing/genuflecting to the tabernacle and bowing again to the altar if it is away from the tabernacle. Again, those carrying things do not need to do the solemn reverence, but should do at least a simple head bow.

As far as bowing to the priest goes, you should never make a solemn bow (equal to genuflecting, equal to worshipping) to a priest instead of the altar/tabernacle. However, if you are an altar server it is appropriate to make a slight head bow of acknowledgement to the priest (say, when you are finished handing him the cruets of water/wine, or right after he has washed his hands). I believe it is also appropriate at times to perform a more solemn bow when it is either to bless or to be blessed (ie, the incensing at the Mass), but don’t quote me on that. For that matter, don’t quote me on any of this I think it’s correct, but I don’t have the books in front of me to back it up.

Hope this helps,

+veritas+

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

habu16:

I am an altar server at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Louisville, KY. My mom is a lector there, also. We had an argument over a point of the Mass, which I was hoping I could get an answer for. When a lector goes up to read, they bow. But, who do they bow to? She says that the lector should bow to the altar, since that is where the Eternal Sacrifice is held. I say they bow to the priest, since he is Christ in persona. In our church, the tabernacle is directly behind the priest, with the lectern being to the right side of the church, viewed from the congregation. Or does the lecter bow to the tabernacle?

Just for clarity a Lector is a male who has been instituted into this ministry. You mom is properly called a Lay minister of the Word or simply a Reader. The reader should come from the body of the church and bow to either the altar or Cross. Once Mass begins the tabernacle should not be reverenced when one crosses in front during the Mass. A person should reverence the Blessed Sacrament as the cirborum is removed from or placed into the tabernacle.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

As is often the case, your mother is correct.
You bow to the altar, not the priest. You might also note that the deacon and priest also bow to the altar. This should be your first clue that it is the altar, not the priest that you bow to.

 

[Franciscum]

Br. Rich SFO:

Just for clarity a Lector is a male who has been instituted into this ministry. You mom is properly called a Lay minister of the Word or simply a Reader. The reader should come from the body of the church and bow to either the altar or Cross. Once Mass begins the tabernacle should not be reverenced when one crosses in front during the Mass. A person should reverence the Blessed Sacrament as the cirborum is removed from or placed into the tabernacle.

The reader may also properly be in the sanctuary at the beginning of the Mass. He need not come from the nave.

Catholics do not bow to the crucifix.