Missalettes at Mass?

[Mike_Obergfell]

What is the Church teaching on the use of missalettes at Mass? I think it helps me focus and absorb the word of God. At my parish there is a big push to not follow in the book. The liturgy committee has been wrong on issues before and our pastor is working very patiently and lovingly to not upset people who are well meaning. They claim that the General Instructions of the Roman Missal frown upon it. They also say the the usccb teaches that it is wrong. Who should I believe? Please inform me where I can find further information on this subject.
Thanks

 

[frommi]

Two thoughts…

The first is we are to be ‘hearers of the Word’…so that doesn’t imply reading along…partcularly because we believe the word is being proclaimed ‘here and now’…‘ever ancient, ever new’.

Now…a lot of research shows that some of us learn better visually, some aurally, and some through touch.

I think doing away with missalettes would be a mistake…but I do think they should be limited in their use to those who truly need them…but that also means we need good readers who don’t sound like they have a mouth full of marbles.

 

[SeekerJen]

I think doing away with missalettes would be a mistake…but I do think they should be limited in their use to those who truly need them…but that also means we need good readers who don’t sound like they have a mouth full of marbles.

AGREED!

Personally, I prefer not to use a missalette as I find it distracting. However, I think they should always be available for those who find them helpful.

 

[grotto]

They are very necessary because many people do not hear as perfectly, with understanding, as they do when reading for themselves. Many times people who are reading for everyone, mispronounce words, skip them, or use substitutes of their own choosing. A limitation of who can use a missalette is offensive in its demand of unnecessary conformance to another’s personal opinion. The whole purpose is to draw closer to the Word and take it in, not put
a layer of confusion and distraction in the way.

 

[frommi]

They are very necessary because many people do not hear as perfectly, with understanding, as they do when reading for themselves. Many times people who are reading for everyone, mispronounce words, skip them, or use substitutes of their own choosing. A limitation of who can use a missalette is offensive in its demand of unnecessary conformance to another’s personal opinion. The whole purpose is to draw closer to the Word and take it in, not put
a layer of confusion and distraction in the way.

I think all that was being suggested was some catechesis of what the liturgy of the word is all about…not making people proclaim out loud why they want to use a missalette.

 

[Cavaille-Coll]

There were some who discouraged use of missals at Mass because they didn’t want it to become obvious that they were changing words and rubrics. I follow along in the missal for three reasons. Firstly, I remember and internalize the message better when I can see it in print. Secondly, some lectors have strong accents which make it difficult to follow them, or they mispronounce words – I once heard a deacon at the cathedral proclaim that Peter was surnamed “Caiaphas” instead of “Cephas.” Also, many churches have poor sound systems. Thirdly, there are some local priests that I simply do not trust to read the Gospel or Mass parts as written, so I follow along to know what it really says.

 

[CRW]

What is the Church teaching on the use of missalettes at Mass? I think it helps me focus and absorb the word of God. At my parish there is a big push to not follow in the book. The liturgy committee has been wrong on issues before and our pastor is working very patiently and lovingly to not upset people who are well meaning. They claim that the General Instructions of the Roman Missal frown upon it. They also say the the usccb teaches that it is wrong. Who should I believe? Please inform me where I can find further information on this subject.
Thanks

I search my copy of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal and could not locate a reference concerning the use of missalettes during Mass. I would request a reference from the person who stated that the GIRM frown upon it; I could have missed it. I think some parishes think it is an unnecessary expense. I for one do not.

 

[NewGuyInChurch]

Personally I like to just listen along so that I can really absorb what’s being said. Sometimes I’ll read through the readings and prayers before the start of mass, but I don’t usually read along during. I do see other people who like to read along at the same time though. I was told by our priest that he thinks that there’s a time for reading the Word and a time for listening to it, and his opinion seemed to be that listening along without reading was a good idea because it gives you the opportunity to “hear what you need to hear” if that makes sense. Anyway, not that I’m an expert or anything, but I don’t think either way is any worse than the other in terms of what the “right way” is, but whatever works best for you when it comes to hearing the message that’s intended to be passed along is probably just fine

Sorry for the long-winded post!

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

If there is a complaint about cost, we use Gather Comprehensive. The hymns, the Order of Mass AND the cycle of readings- A, B, & C- are all there.

The book is in a pretty green hardcover, with “Gather” on it in gold.

They are reusuable, and don’t get put in the recycling bin at the conculsion of the month or quarter. If something changes, the ones in the church can be altered to reflect the change through a computer and label paper. As the old ones wear out, they can be replaced with the latest edition.

The hymns: About 35% are Haugen-Haas, but there are about 20% “golden oldies” such as Holy God We Praise Thy Name. That leaves about 45% untested, and some protestant hymns that might work at Mass or other setting. Can’t have everything.

 

[John_Lilburne]

The GIRM does emphasise the importance of everyone listening to the readings.

For example, from the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

“29. When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, proclaims the Gospel.
Therefore, all must listen with reverence to the readings from God’s word, for they make up an element of greatest importance in the Liturgy. …”

“101. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. They should be truly suited to perform this function and should receive careful preparation, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture.”

“360. At times, a longer and shorter form of the same text is given. In choosing between these two forms, a pastoral criterion must be kept in mind. At such times, attention should be paid to the capacity of the faithful to listen with understanding to a reading of greater or lesser length, and to their capacity to hear a more complete text, which is then explained in the homily.”

So I think listening should be encouraged.

I think it is a shame at weddings and funerals when people are given a printed booklet with the text of the readings. People feel they should follow it and sometimes all turn the page over together in the middle of the reading. Its not as it should be, listening to a lector who has taken the time to understand and convey the text.

The USCCB’s Bishops Committee for the Liturgy expressed similar ideas on participation aids in its 1998 Newsletter:
“Its clearly preferable that the word of God be clearly heard by all who participate in the liturgy, for “In the hearing of God’s word the Church is built up and grows”. (GILFM 7) For this reason, the printing of readings and presidential prayers in participation aids is discouraged, unless other circumstances make it impossible for the word to be effectively proclaimed. Even in these instances, however, it is preferable that steps be taken to assure the effective proclamation of the Scriptures rather than resorting to providing a “read along” text to the members of the assembly.” (From usccb.org/liturgy/innews/798.shtml ).

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

I think it is a shame at weddings and funerals when people are given a printed booklet with the text of the readings. People feel they should follow it and sometimes all turn the page over together in the middle of the reading. Its not as it should be, listening to a lector who has taken the time to understand and convey the text…

***If ***the lector has taken the time to understand and convey the text, I would agree; just as all of us should look over the readings before Mass and perhaps meditate on them a bit. At some Sunday Liturgies, the lector is a volunteer who has every good intention, but mumbles and stumbles, and didn’t take the time because of weekend chores and a host of other reasons. One doesn’t know if this is indeed the reading one studied that week. At weddings and funerals, it is often considered an honor position, given to Uncle Momo or some other relative, who might read well, but then again may not really read well and didn’t rehearse.

 

[Beno]

Please give me a Missalette so I can read along with the spoken Word. I can get visually and mentally distracted when listening so it is very helpful when a visual aid is available to focus my attention. Certainly everyone has experienced the readings going by unconsciously as a vocal drone while our minds went elsewhere. Thank God that I had the Missalette to re-read what I had inadvertantly missed.

 

[Godfollower]

The GIRM does emphasise the importance of everyone listening to the readings.

So I think listening should be encouraged.

The USCCB’s Bishops Committee for the Liturgy expressed similar ideas on participation aids in its 1998 Newsletter:
“Its clearly preferable that the word of God be clearly heard by all who participate in the liturgy, for “In the hearing of God’s word the Church is built up and grows”. (GILFM 7) For this reason, the printing of readings and presidential prayers in participation aids is discouraged, unless other circumstances make it impossible for the word to be effectively proclaimed. Even in these instances, however, it is preferable that steps be taken to assure the effective proclamation of the Scriptures rather than resorting to providing a “read along” text to the members of the assembly.” (From usccb.org/liturgy/innews/798.shtml ).

Not to quibble with the USCCB, but I’ve been in many churches in which I can’t understand a word being said (and I have perfect hearing). This is usually a combination of (A) an acoustically bad church (e.g., one of those marble echo-chambers); (B) a poor sound system; and (C) a lector who doesn’t enunciate properly. When that happens, it helps to have a missalette so I actually understand the reading. It’s much the same with the psalm, when the choir is difficult to understand; reading the psalm along with the choir helps me to understand the words.

Obviously the better fix is to redesign the sound system so everyone can hear. Until then, I sometimes wish I could read along.

Of course, this doesn’t help with the homily…

 

[frommi]

Of course…then you go places where parishoners use the missalette as a scorecard to see if they can catch the celebrant ‘screwing up’ so they can run off to the bishop…that’s one of my personal favorite things to watch…

 

[LilyM]

Of course…then you go places where parishoners use the missalette as a scorecard to see if they can catch the celebrant ‘screwing up’ so they can run off to the bishop…that’s one of my personal favorite things to watch…

I’d like to see someone lug the GIRM into Mass one day

I think misalettes can be useful, especially for those new converts (or those who are new to the TLM or the NO) who are still figuring things out. Or, as has been stated earlier, in cases where hearing or comprehension are an issue.

Otherwise, if one is a seasoned and frequent massgoer and can make the time to read the readings beforehand, it’s probably better to watch and listen rather than read.

 

[puzzleannie]

we have a bilingual missalette so that if it is a bilingual Mass, such as on holy days, all have access to the readings and prayers in the vernacular (our pastor uses latin sung prayers on those occassions as much as possible) or as an aid for those attending a Mass not in their first language. We also use it for instruction for those learning how to participate at Mass. My objection is the several cartons of old books taken to recycling several times a year. I wish there was a permanent resource, affordable, binlingual.

 

[Tietjen]

There were some who discouraged use of missals at Mass because they didn’t want it to become obvious that they were changing words and rubrics. I follow along in the missal for three reasons. Firstly, I remember and internalize the message better when I can see it in print. Secondly, some lectors have strong accents which make it difficult to follow them, or they mispronounce words – I once heard a deacon at the cathedral proclaim that Peter was surnamed “Caiaphas” instead of “Cephas.” Also, many churches have poor sound systems. Thirdly, there are some local priests that I simply do not trust to read the Gospel or Mass parts as written, so I follow along to know what it really says.

I agree with Cavaille-Coll. I use the Missalettes at Mass for these same reasons. However, after the readings, I close them. Should the time ever come that my Church does away with Missalettes, I have a Roman Missal that I will bring to Mass. I prefer not to do this however, since the Missal is so much larger than the Missalette. God bless.

 

[Tietjen]

The USCCB’s Bishops Committee for the Liturgy expressed similar ideas on participation aids in its 1998 Newsletter:
“Its clearly preferable that the word of God be clearly heard by all who participate in the liturgy, for “In the hearing of God’s word the Church is built up and grows”. (GILFM 7) For this reason, the printing of readings and presidential prayers in participation aids is discouraged, unless other circumstances make it impossible for the word to be effectively proclaimed. Even in these instances, however, it is preferable that steps be taken to assure the effective proclamation of the Scriptures rather than resorting to providing a “read along” text to the members of the assembly.” (From usccb.org/liturgy/innews/798.shtml ).

I understand the USCCB on the matter. However, what of those (I am one) that find by reading along with the lecture I take in MORE than I would if it were simply read to me? In the past, I have found that I often “wondered” during the readings. Other things would pop into my mind during the reading. Things like what I needed to do before work the next day, or “how can those parents allow their child to behave like that during Mass.” I know, I know, I should be able to control my mind enough to not be distracted. However, I am human and as such, I recognize my weaknesses and have found a way in which to overcome this one particular weakness. If the Church were to come right out and say, “No more Missals or Missalettes” I would of course obey. However, I am not distracted (nor are those around me distracted) by my following along in the Missalette during the readings. I am in fact, MORE focused than I would be if I was left to simply listen. God bless.

 

[Tietjen]

Otherwise, if one is a seasoned and frequent massgoer and can make the time to read the readings beforehand, it’s probably better to watch and listen rather than read.

I like this idea!!! Okay, if I find that one day I am not aloud to read along with the lecture (the readings), I will go this route. Thank you for the suggestion!!! I had not thought of that before. God bless.

 

[February]

Not to quibble with the USCCB, but I’ve been in many churches in which I can’t understand a word being said (and I have perfect hearing). This is usually a combination of (A) an acoustically bad church (e.g., one of those marble echo-chambers); (B) a poor sound system; and (C) a lector who doesn’t enunciate properly. When that happens, it helps to have a missalette so I actually understand the reading. It’s much the same with the psalm, when the choir is difficult to understand; reading the psalm along with the choir helps me to understand the words.

Obviously the better fix is to redesign the sound system so everyone can hear. Until then, I sometimes wish I could read along.

Of course, this doesn’t help with the homily…

After many years of not using a missalette, I have started doing so again. When I was younger, our priest stated that he did not like people following along in the missalette, just waiting for him to mess up (or something along those lines). He didn’t like the fact that we were looking down instead of looking at him. The parish ordered some kind of missalette that didn’t have the readings, etc. in them. However, this priest (God rest his soul) had some personal issues and occasionally yelled at us during his homilies for one reason or another. I was somewhat scared into not using a missalette.

However, sometimes my mind wanders if I am just listening. Sometimes lectors are not always clear. The choir especially is not always clear; I like to know what I am supposed to be singing. I don’t see what is wrong with listening and following along at the same time. I close the missalette after the Gospel.