Prerequisites for readers/lectors at mass?

  • Thread starter Thread starter typewriterman
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
laszlo said:
In Catholic grade schools usually students are the readers on the Mass. The majority of them is not confirmed. These are masses scheduled for the children.

I
Click to expand...
Same in our parish. Those Masses are usually held on Friday mornings. It’s so lovely to hear and see them! Those children obviously feel very proud/honored to be able to read the Word, and they seem to add a special animation and real feeling to it that brings the Word to life in a way that seems to sometimes be lost when a “grown-up” does it. I think, though, that those children must have at least received First Communion. Makes sense, since it’s not always easy reading.

Ah, youth! 🙂
 
I would have no issues with teens ( at least 14 years old/grade 8 or 9 ) doing a reading if they have been trained ahead of time & dressed appropriately.

As long as the young person wants to participate in the Mass in that way, and is not being pressured, I would say go for it.
 
I would never discourage a teen who desires to participate from doing so! If she is trained, reads well, dresses appropriately, and your pastor approves her, then the easy solution is to allow her to read, with the provision that if she does not get Confirmed as expected, then she will no longer be permitted to read. You could be nurturing a vocation to be a religious sister!
 
MissRose and jpjd–

Dressing properly, now there’s a whole other topic for discussion! It irks me to see people dressing for Mass as if they were going to a beach party or a picnic in the woods! Shirts riding up to reveal a midriff, torn jeans, tacky sayings on shirts and skimpy dresses have no place at Mass, much less on a Reader of the Word or any other person fulfilling a leadership role!

I have no real problem with modest jeans in good repair, worn with a modest top that covers the wearer’s midsection completely on a regular congregant. I wear nice jeans occasionally myself when I’m not singing that Mass with the Choir, but anyone who steps up to the Altar in some sort of ministry role should make an effort to dress “nicer” than the regular person. This goes for Gift Bearers and Choir members, too-- and Altar Servers especially!

As an occasional (backup) Cantor, I stick with my dressier clothes. I’d say, wear what one wears to work in those cases, but since I wear scrubs on my job, I choose my better non-scrub clothes. Dress slacks or a longer skirt with a modest blouse work for me; a pair of Dockers slacks and a collared shirt or even a nice golf or polo shirt are fine for men. Both should step up a notch during Feast Days, IMO. Again, this is my opinion, and yes-- I live in a warm climate that gets very hot in the summer. It’s only for an hour or two, and there’s A/C so we won’t sweat to death!

Readers should dress the same way. (Of course, none of this applies to those of us in the Gardening Ministry!)

Okay, rant over… thanks for indulging me! 😉

In peace,

~Spoken4
 
MissRose73 said:
I would have no issues with teens ( at least 14 years old/grade 8 or 9 ) doing a reading if they have been trained ahead of time & dressed appropriately.

As long as the young person wants to participate in the Mass in that way, and is not being pressured, I would say go for it.
Click to expand...
What is appropriate dress? Thanks.
 
I am not sure if I am in the right place, but I also have a question about being a Reader. I am 57 years old, Male and Single. I am currently an Anglican in England who was trained as a Reader and Licensed by our Diocesan Bishop after a three year course of instruction to perform the functions of a Reader in my Parish church which included Reading the Epistle at Eucharist, leading services such as Evensong, Leading the peoples intersessions, occasional giving the Homily or Sermon and assisting the Priest at the distribution of the Eucharist. I have also been an Altar Server, Sunday School Teacher, and Prayer Group Leader, and Cantor for sung services. After a long period of consideration I am now undertaking instruction in the Roman Catholic Church in a church that promotes the TLM. I have discussed my entry to the church with the priest who seems to be of the view that my instruction will not take long given my beliefs and background. One of the things I will miss however is the participation in the Liturgy, and would like to think there might be a role somewhere for me in my new church, but being from an Anglican background feel a bit awkward asking about it. I do know that The Roman Catholic Church does have Readers and Lectors, but I am not sure of how I might be received and have thus kept fairly quiet about my hopes. Maybe there is someone out there who can give me some thoughts about my situation ? Thanks 🙂
 
bridekirk said:
I am not sure if I am in the right place, but I also have a question about being a Reader. I am 57 years old, Male and Single. I am currently an Anglican in England who was trained as a Reader and Licensed by our Diocesan Bishop after a three year course of instruction to perform the functions of a Reader in my Parish church which included Reading the Epistle at Eucharist, leading services such as Evensong, Leading the peoples intersessions, occasional giving the Homily or Sermon and assisting the Priest at the distribution of the Eucharist. I have also been an Altar Server, Sunday School Teacher, and Prayer Group Leader, and Cantor for sung services. After a long period of consideration I am now undertaking instruction in the Roman Catholic Church in a church that promotes the TLM. I have discussed my entry to the church with the priest who seems to be of the view that my instruction will not take long given my beliefs and background. One of the things I will miss however is the participation in the Liturgy, and would like to think there might be a role somewhere for me in my new church, but being from an Anglican background feel a bit awkward asking about it. I do know that The Roman Catholic Church does have Readers and Lectors, but I am not sure of how I might be received and have thus kept fairly quiet about my hopes. Maybe there is someone out there who can give me some thoughts about my situation ? Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...
This is a 3 year dormant thread. We are not supposed to resurrect old threads. What you should do is start a new thread and just copy and paste your comments to the new thread.
 
This is a 3 year dormant thread. We are not supposed to resurrect old threads. What you should do is start a new thread and just copy and paste your comments to the new thread.

opps OK sorry am new in this, thanks for your advice. I have done what you say Sorry !!
 
I didn’t notice it was an old thread. I’ve edited my comment out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top