Priest Discourages Reading

[estesbob]

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.

That is too bad. I set aside time to woship God at least 5 times a day-4 times by Praying the Liturgy of the Hours(which requires reading a book) and once at Mass. You are missing out on a lot of opportunity to worship if you exclude books from your spiritual life.

 

[jmcrae]

That is too bad. I set aside time to woship God at least 5 times a day-4 times by Praying the Liturgy of the Hours(which requires reading a book) and once at Mass. You are missing out on a lot of opportunity to worship if you exclude books from your spiritual life.

Praying the Liturgy of the Hours by yourself is different that reading along at Mass, though, since you are praying the words that you read; not reading for comprehension, or attempting to learn something.

But yes, I definitely prefer to pray the Liturgy of the Hours in community, too, rather than read it.

 

[chrisb]

Do as I do - get the best of both worlds by reading the readings in Magnificat BEFORE you go to Mass. Then you’re free to listen, being obedient but still getting the benefits of reading the readings

Grace and Peace,

This is what I have don’t since RCIA! Nice to see I’m not alone.

Pax

 

[chicago]

Praying the Liturgy of the Hours by yourself is different that reading along at Mass, though, since you are praying the words that you read; not reading for comprehension, or attempting to learn something.

Perhaps it could be said that those of us who are reading along are really “praying” what is read?

But yes, I definitely prefer to pray the Liturgy of the Hours in community, too, rather than read it.

But, even in community (maybe all the more so in community), isn’t there a certain sense of needing to know what the responses are in order to pray it? And doesn’t this require reading along?

Gee, if I couldn’t read through the prescribed parts in the Office (when I occasionally pray it in community) I’d really be lost. It’s hard enough just following the psalm at Mass without a misselette!

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Perhaps it could be said that those of us who are reading along are really “praying” what is read?

But, even in community (maybe all the more so in community), isn’t there a certain sense of needing to know what the responses are in order to pray it? And doesn’t this require reading along?

Gee, if I couldn’t read through the prescribed parts in the Office (when I occasionally pray it in community) I’d really be lost. It’s hard enough just following the psalm at Mass without a misselette!

Not to mention the hearing impaired, and no, not every Mass has a signer.

 

[AlexV]

Actually, there is no “rule” that says the readings in a Novus Ordo Mass MUST be in the vernacular.

Rome publishes a 3-volume Latin lectionary, and its use needs no special “indult” or permission. It can be used freely by any Roman Rite priest during a Novus Ordo.

It’s important to remember that the vernacular has exactly the same status as Masses offered under the Ecclesia Dei Tridentine permission…indult.

In other words, just about everyone in the USA attends an Indult Mass.

 

[prv]

As a re-vert from evangelicalism, I have so appreciated the Church calendar and daily readings at Mass. I just purchased a 3 year subscription to “Magnificat” and enjoy following along with the readers at daily Mass.

Tonight our priest said he doesn’t like publications like the “Magnificat” because the word of God is meant to be heard not read. He also sated that the Church discourages reading along at Mass. If this is true, I will not continue to bring the Magnificat because I want to be obedient to the Church. It would be sad however because I find that it is a great help to me. Does the Church have an official stand on this?

Hmmm… last week our priest just got off a good homily saying that…uh, the Bible should be read preferibly(sp?) systematically…He quoted from one of the popes,

“To be ignorant of scripture is to be ignorant of Christ.”

 

[SMHW]

Hmmm… last week our priest just got off a good homily saying that…uh, the Bible should be read preferibly(sp?) systematically…He quoted from one of the popes,

“To be ignorant of scripture is to be ignorant of Christ.”

But that sounds as if he’s talking about bible study outside of Mass.

 

[prv]

But that sounds as if he’s talking about bible study outside of Mass.

If you are reading the same scriptures as the ones assigned for the day during the time assigned (the Liturgy of the Word), then I can’t possibly see anything wrong with it, unless, of course, you are reading during the homily----even then, if you are referring back to the readings while the homilist speaks about them, I don’t honestly see anything wrong.

Somebody needs to pull out the GIRM on this one.

 

[jmcrae]

Somebody needs to pull out the GIRM on this one.

It has already been quoted on this thread - it says to listen prayerfully to the Word of God at Mass - not to read along for comprehension because of a learning-styles difference.

 

[jmcrae]

Perhaps it could be said that those of us who are reading along are really “praying” what is read?

But they are citing “learning styles differences” and the need to remember what they “learned” - this isn’t about prayer, for them - they seem to be under the impression that they are at school.

But, even in community (maybe all the more so in community), isn’t there a certain sense of needing to know what the responses are in order to pray it? And doesn’t this require reading along?

At first, yes, but there are only a certain number of responses, and eventually, if you are praying them (instead of reading for comprehension), they soon imprint themselves on your heart, and you find that you know them without reading along.

Gee, if I couldn’t read through the prescribed parts in the Office (when I occasionally pray it in community) I’d really be lost. It’s hard enough just following the psalm at Mass without a misselette!

But if you were to pray them with your heart, you would find that these, too, imprint themselves there, and you would find that you need less and less to rely on the book in this case, too.

 

[Saint_Michael]

This sounds abusrd to me, I always read from my Missal, my understanding of the Mass has increased ten fold from reading along in my Missal. I get much more out of the readings from reading along rather than just listening to the readings.

I don’t know I’ll continue to bring my Missal along and read every portion of the Mass as I get the most out of it that way. Not to mention during daily Mass I can hardly understand the Priest since most are Phillipino or Indian. The homily and readings, and Eucharistic Prayer for Daily Mass may as well be in Latin.

 

[chicago]

…unless, of course, you are reading during the homily

Maybe what the priest is REALLY upset about is people reading the bulletin while he’s trying to talk.

 

[jmcrae]

Couldn’t your understanding of the Mass have increased just as much by reading the Missal outside of Mass?

Don’t you find it a little distracting to be constantly flipping and flipping the pages?

 

[chicago]

But they are citing “learning styles differences” and the need to remember what they “learned” - this isn’t about prayer, for them - they seem to be under the impression that they are at school.

I think you are misunderstanding what is being said. My take is that those of us who are noting the difference in learning styles are suggesting that it helps for the Word to sink in more deeply for us if we are able to follow along by the reinforcement of reading while listening. That’s not simply a matter of studious learning, but one of entering into prayerful understanding.

At first, yes, but there are only a certain number of responses, and eventually, if you are praying them (instead of reading for comprehension), they soon imprint themselves on your heart, and you find that you know them without reading along.

But if you were to pray them with your heart, you would find that these, too, imprint themselves there, and you would find that you need less and less to rely on the book in this case, too.

Oh, see, I disagre entirely. And here is, perhaps, where you just can’t relate to what some of us go through. For instance, what I was talking about is the fact that I often can’t recall a response well. So when it comes to the time for the congregation to reply with our prescribed words, I’m a bit flusterd as to what in the world I’m supposed to say. Then I further end up missing the verses which are being read and can’t particularly receive them well. As such, I’m doing very little praying of the psalm (or whatever it might be), a just kind of going through the motions offering it up, but missing out. It’s not very likely I’m going to be able to “pray them with the heart” if I’m just plain lost in a flurry. Now, hand me a worship aid, and I’m deep into what’s going on as I don’t have to rely upon my own poor memory.

 

[Saint_Michael]

Couldn’t your understanding of the Mass have increased just as much by reading the Missal outside of Mass?

Don’t you find it a little distracting to be constantly flipping and flipping the pages?

Maybe I’ll give it a shot, but I honestly had no idea what anyone was talking about at Mass until I bought a Missal from MTF and began reading along, even with what the Priest was doing.

Daily Mass I’m in a bind because the Priest does the daily readings and the Gospel and I can’t understand anything he says because of the thick Indian accent.

 

[chicago]

Couldn’t your understanding of the Mass have increased just as much by reading the Missal outside of Mass?

Isn’t what the missal is made for use AT Mass?

Don’t you find it a little distracting to be constantly flipping and flipping the pages?

If you know what you are doing/have a little experience (and if you have a missal with markers, in particular) it’s second nature/force of habit that you can do without thinking or getting distracted.

 

[chicago]

Daily Mass I’m in a bind because the Priest does the daily readings and the Gospel and I can’t understand anything he says because of the thick Indian accent.

Print them out from a site like the USCCB’s. I’ve had to do that at times when I attend a daily Mass which is partly in a foreign langauge.

 

[aimee]

Isn’t what the missal is made for use AT Mass?

If you know what you are doing/have a little experience (and if you have a missal with markers, in particular) it’s second nature/force of habit that you can do without thinking or getting distracted.

Well well…I actualy agree with Chicago…

 

[jmcrae]

Isn’t what the missal is made for use AT Mass?

NO, it’s for praying with outside of the Mass, in preparation ahead of time, or for holy reading after the Mass.

It’s also useful for teaching others how to participate at Mass when you’re leading Catechism or RCIA classes.