My experience reading this morning

[Phemie]

I had a rather embarrassing moment this morning when I was unexpectedly called upon to do the first reading. It wasn’t my first time proclaiming this one but it’s the first time that it has hit me so hard. When I got to the part where Sarah speaks I suddenly had a vision of this old woman who has always wanted a child but is resigned to her barren fate suddenly having her greatest wish fulfilled. I was so overwhelmed at the idea that I had difficulty reading the last few sentences without bursting into tears. Had the quavering and choked up voice that is so difficult to control.

 

[robwar]

Funny, the lector at the Mass I was at did get choked up during the second reading. I am sure both of you are ok. I lector too and I remember during the reading during my son’s confirmation and reading the prayers of the faithful and in them there was something about the parents and I felt a quiver in my voice. Sometimes I think we want to always be so posed and yet the verses or prayers we read affect us as well. We are all human and maybe the times where what we are reading have an emotional affect not just on those in attendance but on the lectors themselves. Maybe that emotion touched someone there. That’s how I would look at it.

 

[Catholic1954]

It’s the worse when you read the POF and your sister with breast cancer is on the sick list.

 

[Cara_Serrano]

I had a rather embarrassing moment this morning when I was unexpectedly called upon to do the first reading. It wasn’t my first time proclaiming this one but it’s the first time that it has hit me so hard. When I got to the part where Sarah speaks I suddenly had a vision of this old woman who has always wanted a child but is resigned to her barren fate suddenly having her greatest wish fulfilled. I was so overwhelmed at the idea that I had difficulty reading the last few sentences without bursting into tears. Had the quavering and choked up voice that is so difficult to control.

I am surprised that your parish would call on you “unexpectedly” to read. I’m also a lector and we are always notified ahead of time so we can prepare the reading (and ourselves). I can imagine how difficult it was to read under the circumstances.
Was this an emergency situation?

 

[Phemie]

I am surprised that your parish would call on you “unexpectedly” to read. I’m also a lector and we are always notified ahead of time so we can prepare the reading (and ourselves). I can imagine how difficult it was to read under the circumstances.
Was this an emergency situation?

The person who was scheduled had gone home for Christmas and I was one of the few readers who wasn’t already doing something else at this Mass. I’ve been reading for about 30 years so it’s usually not a problem for me to read cold, so to speak.

Usually they make an effort to find out everyone’s plans before they do up the schedule of readers, EMHCs and gift bearers for the Christmas and New Year period, but last minute decisions to go out of town can require these adjustments.

 

[CatholicZ09]

I am surprised that your parish would call on you “unexpectedly” to read. I’m also a lector and we are always notified ahead of time so we can prepare the reading (and ourselves). I can imagine how difficult it was to read under the circumstances.
Was this an emergency situation?

The sacristan at my parish always looks for someone in the pew to read if the scheduled reader doesn’t show.

Ideally, I like to know in advance when I will read and what I will read, but sometimes I am “on the fly.”

 

[z_0101]

I am surprised that your parish would call on you “unexpectedly” to read. I’m also a lector and we are always notified ahead of time so we can prepare the reading (and ourselves). I can imagine how difficult it was to read under the circumstances.
Was this an emergency situation?

Happens quite often in our parish.
Lector is sick, doesn’t show for some reason, etc…
It’s happened to me so often now that I prepare to read every week… I think I get more out of the Mass too now that I do this…

I also get asked to usher and EMHC when I walk in the door too…

personally, I don’t mind, it’s a privilege to assist at Mass, just wish everyone could see it that way too.

 

[robwar]

The sacristan at my parish always looks for someone in the pew to read if the scheduled reader doesn’t show.

Ideally, I like to know in advance when I will read and what I will read, but sometimes I am “on the fly.”

I’ve been called on when they are short lectors. It happens and the sacristan usually goes to someone they know can read and step in.

 

[Cara_Serrano]

The sacristan at my parish always looks for someone in the pew to read if the scheduled reader doesn’t show.

I didn’t know that was possible. At my parish, they don’t allow people in the pews to read unless they have gone through lector training.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

CatholicZ09;12611837:

The sacristan at my parish always looks for someone in the pew to read if the scheduled reader doesn’t show.

I didn’t know that was possible. At my parish, they don’t allow people in the pews to read unless they have gone through lector training.

The sacristan probably looks for someone they know who is already a “reader”.