Can the readings at the OF Mass be done by the priest alone or is it an absolute requirement that a reader other than the priest read the readings and the responsorial psalms?
Also does it have to be done from the pulpit or can it be done at the altar in an Ad Orientem OF Mass in latin?
Does it also have to be in the vernacular or Latin?
If there is an instituted lector then I would say it is an absolute requirement that he does the readings other than the gospel (barring physical inability and following the approved liturgical books). A man becomes an instituted lector through a special ceremony for this.
From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from
romanrite.com/girm.html :
“99. The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions for the Prayer of the Faithful and, in the absence of a psalmist, proclaim the Psalm between the readings.
In the Eucharistic Celebration, the lector has his own proper office (cf. below, nos. 194-198), which he must exercise personally.”
“101. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture.”
“59. By tradition, the function of proclaiming the readings is ministerial, not presidential. The readings, therefore, should be proclaimed by a lector, and the Gospel by a deacon or, in his absence, a priest other than the celebrant. If, however, a deacon or another priest is not present, the priest celebrant himself should read the Gospel. Further, if another suitable lector is also not present, then the priest celebrant should also proclaim the other readings.”
If an English speaking instituted lector were to be at a Mass in Chinese, but unable to read Chinese, then obviously he would be unable to do the reading.
From the 1981 Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass: “51. … The reader’s ministry, which is conferred through a liturgical rite, must be held in respect. When there are instituted readers available, they are to carry out their office at least on Sundays and major feasts, especially at the principal Mass of the day.” (Lectionary Volume 1 Study Edition, Collins Liturgical Australia, 1983, ISBN 0 00 599764-X, page xxix.)
From the 1963 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy: (at
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html ) “28. In liturgical celebrations each person, minister or layman, who has an office to perform, should do all of, but only, those parts which pertain to his office by the nature of the rite and the principles of liturgy.” Again this highlights the point: a person with the office of lector should perform that office.
For the psalm, from the GIRM: “102. The psalmist’s role is to sing the Psalm or other biblical canticle that comes between the readings. To fulfill this function correctly, it is necessary that the psalmist have the ability for singing and a facility in correct pronunciation and diction.” So it is a different ministry, not the same as the lector’s.
The term “ambo” (rather than “pulpit”) is used for the place from which the readings are proclaimed. From the GIRM:
“
The Ambo
309. The dignity of the word of God requires that the church have a place that is suitable for the proclamation of the word and toward which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word.
It is appropriate that this place be ordinarily a stationary ambo and not simply a movable lectern.”
In a Mass with Only One Minister, the GIRM has: “260. The readings should whenever possible be proclaimed from the ambo or a lectern.” In this Mass there are only two people, the priest and one lay minister. So the lay minister will be proclaiming the first reading to the priest. So, perhaps, instead of using the fixed ambo, facing away from the priest’s chair towards the empty congregation, provision is made to use a lectern that can be positioned facing the priest.
