C
chicago
Guest
I also know a priest who does this. He’s got a photographic memory and can take one look at the page, then put it down and read without reading.
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C
chicago
Guest
You get at a much larger issue and one that actually is worth talking about. If someone does not actually “read” the reading as they proclaim it, are they in the wrong? What if they manage to do so word for word? If everyone is to “listen” without reading along, ought not the “reader” be able to read without reading? What is the whole purpose of this proclamation, anyway? Should it necessarily be a bland “reading” or is the idea more of a passing on of tradition by the relation of a story which has simply been recorded formally for us? Yet if someone puts a little more “oomph” and dramatic sense into it, is that alright? Is it a mere “reading” or a dynamic proclamation of the “good news”? Do we apprecaite the intent of such a liturgical action in all of it’s richness and history? These are the larger questions which are really at play and which get debated to the point that it is hard to come to a clearly agreeable norm, as there are oh so many concerns which must be sorted out… alas imperfectly.
That said, I think that everyone is somehow missing the winky that jmcrae offerred and failing to appreciate some satire in order to make a counterpoint on the theme.
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Distressed
Guest
And it’s wrong too. The priest should be reading from both the Lectionary and the Sacramentary even if he does have the words memorized.
I looked up the definition of ‘proclaim’. One of the definitions was “to declare publicly, typically insistently, proudly, or defiantly and in either speech or writing”. I believe to ‘proclaim’ the reading implies that there is some “oomph” in there. It shouldn’t be a dramatic reading in the sense of a one person play but I think the readers tone ought to be enough to startle the people out of any possible wandering thoughts.
I don’t think we need to limit readers to evangelical preacher converts but I think the energy such preachers put into their biblical reading should be an inspiration for all Catholic readers.
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Mary3
Guest
When I was in RCIA several years ago, our Deacon discussed this topic. His explanation for the ‘no reading along’ during Mass was historical. He reminded us that for over 1500 years, there were very few written copies of the Scriptures, and most people couldn’t read anyway. When they attended Mass, which may have entailed great sacrifice and long travel, they listened to the words with great reverence. They had to try to remember from hearing alone. This moment’s opportunity to hear the Word of God spoken may be one of very few chances they would ever have to hear that particular passage of Scripture.
That made a lot of sense to me. Now, I try to prepare for Mass by reading the Scriptures beforehand, and I leave the missalettes in the pew.
That made a lot of sense to me. Now, I try to prepare for Mass by reading the Scriptures beforehand, and I leave the missalettes in the pew.
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cmom
Guest
I can’t believe there are almost 100 posts over a simple directive: we are to hear the Word of God. The priest is simply passing on the wisdom of the Church since we are to be simply hear-ers and do-ers of the Word. READ all the texts before you go to church, then listening will reinforce it.
If you have some handicap that gives you difficulties, then you read along.
If you have some handicap that gives you difficulties, then you read along.
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OutinChgoburbs
Guest
OK, substantiate your assertion, please. You can’t just say, “He’s wrong” without having something in GIRM, the CCC, etc., to back that up.
I am not saying it’s wrong for people to read along. How do you think I know the priest got it on the money?
Further, it’s my assertion that even though 1500 years ago they had no “books”, they do today. We know so much more how people learn than we did 1500 years ago, different modalities, learning processes, etc. To set the standard to hear only, when not everyone processes through hearing, is not a good idea.
By the same token, if one has a gift of excellent memory and a good speaking voice, one should use it.
BTW- Watch a Vatican Mass next time one is on EWTN. You’ll see people reading along.
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estesbob
Guest
I will be going to Mass in a little over and hour and intend to read along and hold hands during the Our father. smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_1_121.gif
smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb113&pp=ZNxdm801CJUS
smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb113&pp=ZNxdm801CJUS
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jmcrae
Guest
Do you also plan to blow bubble gum during the Consecration, talk loudly on your cell phone all the way through the Eucharistic Prayer (except for the priest’s parts, which you will chant along with him just as though you were concelebrating the Mass), put your feet on the kneelers during the homily, and take flash photographs of your children receiving Holy Communion?
(I mean, if you’re really trying to get us all wound up, here, you might as well go all the way and do it right … 
)In case anyone’s wondering, I’m just kidding, here.
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MikeDunphy
Guest
Same here. I listen more attentively when following along in a missalette or Magnificat than I would otherwise.
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MikeDunphy
Guest
My best friend takes notes so she can think about what was said afterward.
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jmcrae
Guest
You guys all still sound like you think you are going to school when you go to Mass.
Again, it’s not about “learning styles” or what you remember about it afterwards, or whether you learn anything at all.
Rather, it’s about being attentive with the heart, and entering into worship of God at the time. We’re not at Mass to “learn something” - we’re there to worship.
Again, it’s not about “learning styles” or what you remember about it afterwards, or whether you learn anything at all.
Rather, it’s about being attentive with the heart, and entering into worship of God at the time. We’re not at Mass to “learn something” - we’re there to worship.
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MikeDunphy
Guest
My friend doesn’t take notes because she is apathetic about what is being said. We missalette readers don’t follow along because we are indifferent to what is being read. Hearts and heads can be engaged at the same time. For some of us, understanding is an aid to worshipping God, not a hindrance.
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jmcrae
Guest
Still missing the point - I’m sure you’re both very keen.
How about just one time, don’t use any learning aids when you’re at Mass.
Just try it once, and see for yourself the qualitative difference in the experience when you take your rational mind out of the equation; when it’s purely a worship from the heart experience, and you’re not worried about what you’ll remember about it afterwards.
C
chicago
Guest
Well, I’ll comment on that as I’ve done a lot of both (seeing a how I haven’t always had a missellete available to me.) I’ll even add to it that I’ve ben at Masses where the reading or gospel is proclaimed in a foreign language and I don’t understand much of it. So, all in all, I’ll take the misselette to read along, as I find that QUALITATIVELY it helps me to worship better and more intensely.
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jmcrae
Guest
Okay. I guess I will never understand that point of view.
For me, in my experience, sitting and reading a book is an entirely different activity than worshipping God, and I am unable to do both at the same time.
C
chicago
Guest
I think that you’ve hit upon something and gotten to the root of why there are such intense beliefs about this matter. SImply, differnt people relate differently. Everyone speaks from their own perspective of experience, then. And, because we really can’t comprehend personally what others are going through it’s hard to believe that they could possibly have anything to offer on the topic. (Well, not just this topic but so many others, also, when it comes to spirituality). It just seems so “wrong” to our own sensibilities. I think the best we can do is to appreciate the sincerity and truth in what each has to share; respecting the realities in play through our many differences or unique gifts.
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estesbob
Guest
Well it was a disaster. We had a visiting Priest and when he saw me reading along with him at the Gospel he strode down the aisle, ripped the Missal from my hand , tore several pages out of it, stomped on it several times and then kicked it down the aisle all the whle screaming I AM PROCAIMING THE WORD_NOT READING IT!!!Do you also plan to blow bubble gum during the Consecration, talk loudly on your cell phone all the way through the Eucharistic Prayer (except for the priest’s parts, which you will chant along with him just as though you were concelebrating the Mass), put your feet on the kneelers during the homily, and take flash photographs of your children receiving Holy Communion?
In case anyone’s wondering, I’m just kidding, here.
Things got worse. At the Our Father I tried to grab the right hand of the 90 year old Lady next to me . She threw me to the floor and then slowly broke every finger on my left hand. Then she grabbed my right hand and did the same thing all the while screaming "DONT YOU EVER LET ME CATCH YOU IN THE ORENS POSITION. Turns out she was a moderator for CAF and told me I should know better…
I had a feeling this was not a good time to complian about the Choir singing Morning Has Broken.
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jmcrae
Guest
Hey, at least it was an Islamic hymn, not a Protestant hymn - and it must be morning somewhere, eh?
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MikeDunphy
Guest
Ok, so we haven’t had an absolutely perfect meeting of minds here. I can still say I am glad to see someone with a fire-in-the-belly desire to see God worshipped, and not just talked about.
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