Priests, deacons, lectors

[japhy]

Fair enough. And thank you very much! I did fail on all accounts, but I did the right thing by resigning being a lector. I am not worthy because of my negligence, and my wife has been trying to persuade me to convert to her faith, Lutheran Church, LCMS, Missouri Synod. This would make our marriage more peaceful as she not only hates the Catholic Church, but hates that I am a Catholic. It’s more important to keep peace in our marriage. Thank G-D!

Um, a simple mistake such as not having the Lectionary at the ambo should not be the reason you resign from being a lector. Do you think God was displeased? Do you think the sacrifice of the Mass was tainted? At a glance, it sounds like you might be scrupulous, making mountains out of molehills. Consider, to the contrary, that the oversight about the Lectionary gave someone an opportunity to help you (by handing you a missalette) and may have even helped to snap people out of their “routine” and made them actually pay attention to the readings!

Seriously, if your first reaction to making a mistake in a ministry is to abandon the ministry, then you should take some time to learn from Moses, perhaps, who tried to convince God that there were all these obstacles and reasons to why he wouldn’t be a good choice to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Really, if everyone abandoned ministry after a simple mistake (that didn’t hurt anyone) God would have very few ministers left on this earth.

Finally, something like this should never be the reason for leaving the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church for another religion. It’s not like the Lutherans never forget their lectionary.

“Why did you convert from the Catholic faith to the Lutheran faith?”

“Well, my wife hates the Catholic Church, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was when the Lectionary was missing from the ambo one day. That was a clear sign from God that I did not belong in that ministry, nor the Catholic Church.”

 

[otjm]

I thought I read that there were about 17,000 permanent deacons in the U.S. Is that really “few?” Or perhaps they’re geographically clustered unevenly.

In 2015, there were 18,082 permanent deacons, 25,868 diocesan priests, and 11,710 religious priests.

Source: CARA.

 

[FrDavid96]

When a priest and deacon are both celebrating Mass, the deacon generally reads the Gospel, right?

Yes. If there is a deacon, he should always proclaim the Gospel.*

What if a lector isn’t present?

 

[Phemie]

An Instituted Lector is the proper one to do these readings. The practice of laypersons who are not Instituted Lectors has always been by way of exception. It’s an example of something extraordinary that has become typical practice.

It’s become typical because bishops have made a conscious decision not to institute lectors, at least not unless they are intending to be ordained to the diaconate.

We have a lot of teaching to do. We had a deacon in our parish for six months. The Pastor didn’t stand up for him to do what deacons normally do during Mass. With the excuse that he was only there for six months, and that it wasn’t worth changing anything, he wasn’t allowed to do anything that a reader would normally do, so, he wasn’t allowed to carry the Book of Gospels in the Entrance Procession and he wasn’t allowed to proclaim the General Intercessions.

It’s the same kind of mindset that has 2 priests sit while 2 EMHCs distribute Communion. I remember how angry everyone got when I suggested that EMHCs needed to stand back when there were concelebrants. “But we are scheduled!” “Yes, and if you are needed, great! But if 2 priests are going to watch you distribute obviously you are not needed.” Guess who won that argument. Right, not I. Not Redemptionis Sacramentum #157 either.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

If you are to be the designated Lector for the Mass; it is your responsibility to see that the Ambo is prepared with the Lectionary & opened to the correct page of readings. This is how our Lectors are instructed by the Deacon.

The practice can vary, however. At my church, the person to whom the preparation of the articles necessary for a given Mass has been entrusted is responsible for making sure the Lectionary is placed on the ambo, turned to the correct page. Should the situation Rasoleil describes happen here, the preparer is responsible for the oversight, not the reader (we do not have Instituted Lectors).

That said, it is never a bad idea for readers/Lectors to make sure the Lectionary is in place before the Mass begins. Ounce of prevention, pound of cure and all that.

Fair enough. And thank you very much! I did fail on all accounts, but I did the right thing by resigning being a lector. I am not worthy because of my negligence, and my wife has been trying to persuade me to convert to her faith, Lutheran Church, LCMS, Missouri Synod. This would make our marriage more peaceful as she not only hates the Catholic Church, but hates that I am a Catholic. It’s more important to keep peace in our marriage. Thank G-D!

I’m sorry your service as Lector has caused such strain in your marriage. Though this particular situation has not happened to me, I have experienced other occasions when I seem to have a choice between being a Catholic and being a wife, so I can empathize. (The Husband is a Protestant.)

Understand, however, that mistakes happen. I have made several errors in the four years I’ve been head sacristan, but I continue to serve nonetheless. Liturgical service isn’t reserved to the “worthy”—thank goodness, as there would be no Mass if it were.

It’s become typical because bishops have made a conscious decision not to institute lectors, at least not unless they are intending to be ordained to the diaconate.

We have a lot of teaching to do. We had a deacon in our parish for six months. The Pastor didn’t stand up for him to do what deacons normally do during Mass. With the excuse that he was only there for six months, and that it wasn’t worth changing anything, he wasn’t allowed to do anything that a reader would normally do, so, he wasn’t allowed to carry the Book of Gospels in the Entrance Procession and he wasn’t allowed to proclaim the General Intercessions.

It’s the same kind of mindset that has 2 priests sit while 2 EMHCs distribute Communion. I remember how angry everyone got when I suggested that EMHCs needed to stand back when there were concelebrants. “But we are scheduled!” “Yes, and if you are needed, great! But if 2 priests are going to watch you distribute obviously you are not needed.” Guess who won that argument. Right, not I. Not Redemptionis Sacramentum #157 either.

I’m so sorry all this happened! But I’m not surprised, sadly enough, and on some level I can relate. There are things that go on here week after week because it has “always” been like that. No Church document illustrating that these things should not be happening will change this. And that is all I will say about that.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

I didn’t think it necessary to start a new thread and gather any more attention than what I’ve gotten so far ( I’ll explain), but I am a lector, and last Saturday was my last day. I have given my notice yet, as I’ve still have to compose myself. I’ll keep it short, becuse it’s emabarassing enough for now. I bowed, went up to the ambo to read, look down to get the lectionary readings, and much to my suprise, no lectioinary. No nothing. I actually thought that it was my imagination, then I had to look again. There wouldn’t be any reason why the lectionary wouldn’t be there, would there? I was so prepared, as I pray, read, study, contemplate every day, starting the day after my previous readings. Well, I wasn’t ready for this, and I’m trying to lighten up here, but it’s so difficult becuse it was so embarrasing to me.
I was disappointed in myself, because, at least in my opinion, I had panicked, esp. with me having to look twice, not being convinced the frist time I didn’t see the scriptures. I don’t think that I was imagining things, but I know that I heard laughter, and that was the most difficult thing for me. Were it not for the fact that this wasn’t about me ( not that I didn’t feel this way), the Mass, of course, I would have thought about just walking off right then and there and not looking back. But it wasn’t about me, so I had to carry on. Anyway, I looked around, hoping that someone would get the idea ( lay ministers, servers, etc.) that I had nothing from which to read. I had to walk off the altar and toward the first pews where the lay ministers, servers, etc. sat, and wasn’t until then then someone offered to give me a missalette.
All I could think of to say before I read was “excuse me” and start reading. Although I was well-prepared, I was just so thrown off, and even reading from the missalette, I felt myself making mistakes when reading. People alter told me that I did well and obviously knew that there had to be no lectionary there.
I’ve already said too much, but because of that experience, I’ve lost the faith and the confidence to ever read as a lector again. Just the idea of me getting up and reading before a congregation just causes me to feel nervous, have alot of anxiety, and feeling of panic.

So sorry for your difficulty. From the outside it sounds like a simple mistake, nothing to get too worked up about. Certainly wouldn’t consider leaving service as a Lector or the RCC about it.

Good luck.

 

[Rasoleil]

Um, a simple mistake such as not having the Lectionary at the ambo should not be the reason you resign from being a lector. Do you think God was displeased? Do you think the sacrifice of the Mass was tainted? At a glance, it sounds like you might be scrupulous, making mountains out of molehills. Consider, to the contrary, that the oversight about the Lectionary gave someone an opportunity to help you (by handing you a missalette) and may have even helped to snap people out of their “routine” and made them actually pay attention to the readings!

Seriously, if your first reaction to making a mistake in a ministry is to abandon the ministry, then you should take some time to learn from Moses, perhaps, who tried to convince God that there were all these obstacles and reasons to why he wouldn’t be a good choice to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt. Really, if everyone abandoned ministry after a simple mistake (that didn’t hurt anyone) God would have very few ministers left on this earth.

Finally, something like this should never be the reason for leaving the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church for another religion. It’s not like the Lutherans never forget their lectionary.

“Why did you convert from the Catholic faith to the Lutheran faith?”

“Well, my wife hates the Catholic Church, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was when the Lectionary was missing from the ambo one day. That was a clear sign from God that I did not belong in that ministry, nor the Catholic Church.”

I won’t address every point that you made, but after much thought and after I have reflected on it, and hearing on the different comments and construction critizism here, I fel much better. The primary thing that embarrased me was that I heard some people laughing and gigling. And the main reason why I didn’t go into a real panic or have an anxiety attack and walk off and run away in shame, because it would be unfair to everyone and absolutely disrespectble top the Mass and God Himself. Of course, no much how much I may have messed up, and no matter how self- conscience, and worrying about my pride being hurt, it ultimately is NOT about me, so the show, so to speak, must go on.
And about the converting to the Lutheran faith remark, it was written out of frustration and anger. My wife and my different faiths has ben major point of contention between us. I may not agree or like her being Lutheran, but I respect and honor her wishes to be Lutheran. However, and the unkindness cut of all is that she absolutely despises Catholism and cetainly does not like me being Catholic, She frequently makes disparaging comments about my faith, and we can never get into a civil discussion about our respective faiths. I am more open minded, and even do much reading and studying on her faith and the Reformation. I do not agree with any of it, but I am open-minded and yearn to study and understand about her Lutheran faith as well as other faiths. But I remain true to my catholic faith, and will never abandon it, and I made that comment earlier out of depression and despair. It’s really depressing when one own’s fault not only despises her spouses faith, but never bothers to give any words of encouragement and having faith it me, and that hurts.
I have taken your advise and suggesions and from now on I will prepare myself for any situation, should another lecter cannot be there for his appointed time for any reason, should I need to fill in ( I already read, study and practice to prepare) so that I would no feel that I would not be ready. I will also plan to and practice as above with the missalette ans well, so that I’ll be prepared should that circumstance occur. I actually did happen once before, but I had no issues, and did rather well. And yes your are right, I do think that I am scrupulus to some extent, or amybe too much, but not to the point of obession. That you for you observation, your opinion, your constructive critizism, your honesty, and your candor. After all, it is not about me, but Christ and the Mass, and to put that much, and too much emphasize on myself, I would be guilty of pride and not show the respect that Christ Jesus deserves, Thnak you for your reponse, I truly appreciate it.

 

[Rasoleil]

So sorry for your difficulty. From the outside it sounds like a simple mistake, nothing to get too worked up about. Certainly wouldn’t consider leaving service as a Lector or the RCC about it.

Good luck.

Thank you so much for your honesty and words of encourgement, even though I felt that I had the right to feel the way I did at the time, and after a few days and having talked to some of my dearest friends and fellow lectors ar church, I have mellowed out and prayed and contemplated on it. Tahnk you

 

[japhy]

I have taken your advise and suggesions and from now on I will prepare myself for any situation, should another lecter cannot be there for his appointed time for any reason, should I need to fill in ( I already read, study and practice to prepare) so that I would no feel that I would not be ready. I will also plan to and practice as above with the missalette ans well, so that I’ll be prepared should that circumstance occur. I actually did happen once before, but I had no issues, and did rather well. And yes your are right, I do think that I am scrupulus to some extent, or amybe too much, but not to the point of obession. That you for you observation, your opinion, your constructive critizism, your honesty, and your candor. After all, it is not about me, but Christ and the Mass, and to put that much, and too much emphasize on myself, I would be guilty of pride and not show the respect that Christ Jesus deserves, Thnak you for your reponse, I truly appreciate it.

You are very welcome. I’m a lector at my parish – it’s part of God’s vocation for me, I think – so I can understand your feelings of frustration, unworthiness, and embarrassment.

Something that sets you apart from many others is that you DO prepare; lots of people don’t prepare for their liturgical ministry! Some lectors, at least from what I hear when they’re lectoring, haven’t ever looked at the text before, and they end up misreading something like “the body is not for immorality” as “the body is not for immortality”! And not only do you prepare, you also know how to remedy the situation. Yes, it took the assistance of someone else, and it took some acclimating, but you soldiered through. You proclaimed the word whether it was easy or difficult.

As for people giggling, I think it’s a natural reaction to something so out-of-the-ordinary. I think that if I were in your position, I would have chuckled a bit, if only to reduce the tension.

I’ll keep you in my prayers, Ras.