Reading the Epistle, Psalm & OT Reading

[DL82]

Is there some kind of restriction on who should read the Epistle, Psalm and Old Testament readings in the Mass?

I remember hearing somewhere of the office of Reader, but don’t know whether one has to be appointed a Reader before being allowed to read in church.

I’d really appreciate anybody’s knowledge on this.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Is there some kind of restriction on who should read the Epistle, Psalm and Old Testament readings in the Mass?

I remember hearing somewhere of the office of Reader, but don’t know whether one has to be appointed a Reader before being allowed to read in church.

I’d really appreciate anybody’s knowledge on this.

Yes you are correct. There is a “Ministry” of Reader. It is a Lay Ministry, and Catholics (male or female) can be trained for and commissioned into the Ministry on a two or 3 year Commission. A Lay “Reader” can also be commissioned “on the spot” as needed for one Mass.

There is the Office or Ministry of Lector which is a Lay person (male) instiruted into the office permanently by the Bishop after a period of preparation. It is also a step on the way to Ordination as a Permanent Deacon or Priest.

 

[DL82]

Yes you are correct. There is a “Ministry” of Reader. It is a Lay Ministry, and Catholics (male or female) can be trained for and commissioned into the Ministry on a two or 3 year Commission. A Lay “Reader” can also be commissioned “on the spot” as needed for one Mass.

There is the Office or Ministry of Lector which is a Lay person (male) instiruted into the office permanently by the Bishop after a period of preparation. It is also a step on the way to Ordination as a Permanent Deacon or Priest.

Br Rich, thanks for this info.

Should I approach my priest about this? We tend to just pick readers on the spot before mass, though they tend to be the same 6 or 7 ‘regulars’ who come to daily mass. I don’t know if any of these are commissioned for this ministry, but the priest is usually vesting at the time and it’s the chaplaincy assistant who picks. This Sunday, I was asked to read, and I obliged.

Is this a liturgical abuse? If we know that there are a number of people who often read, should they be commissioned as Readers, or is it quite normal and acceptable for non commissioned lay people to read from day to day?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Br Rich, thanks for this info.

Should I approach my priest about this? We tend to just pick readers on the spot before mass, though they tend to be the same 6 or 7 ‘regulars’ who come to daily mass. I don’t know if any of these are commissioned for this ministry, but the priest is usually vesting at the time and it’s the chaplaincy assistant who picks. This Sunday, I was asked to read, and I obliged.

Is this a liturgical abuse? If we know that there are a number of people who often read, should they be commissioned as Readers, or is it quite normal and acceptable for non commissioned lay people to read from day to day?

It would seem to me that if there are “regulars” they should be trained according to the standards of the diocese and commissioned for this Ministry. There would be nothing wrong with those who are Commissioned Readers that come to Mass either being scheduled or as they arrive put their name down as being present and available. First to sign up before Mass reads. Same with EMHC’s if needed.

 

[benedictgal]

I don’t know if you do this in London, but, do you have a Church bulletin? Why not ask the pastor to put in a call for folks who are interested in proclaiming the readings? Assemble the group together, along with your pastor, have a training session and then develop a schedule. Then, get a list of everyone’s names, phone numbers, and even email addresses. If the assigned person can’t make it for that Mass, he will have to call someone on the list to substitute. You should also post the schedule and the phone list in the sacristy.

This will certainly alleviate the problem of deputizing someone on the spot.

Most parishes in my diocese work that way. Sometimes, it’s not the most perfect format because you will have the occasional no-show; however, it does take some of the pressure of having to make last-minute choices Sunday after Sunday.

As far as Daily Mass is concerned, why not ask folks what day they would like to read? In my parish, the regulars have an assigned day. Mine is on Fridays. Of course, if I can’t come, I’ll swap with someone else. Either way, we always have someone ready to go.

As far as restrictions are concerned, the only one that I can think of, off-hand, is that whoever wants to proclaim the readings should be in good standing with the Church. This means someone who is in Communion with the Church (meaning no divorce and remaired invalidly, etc). Your pastor can best phrase the announcement in the bulletin. Of course, he can also make an appeal for readers after the Post-Communion prayer.

Remember, it’s all about organizing yourselves.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Is there some kind of restriction on who should read the Epistle, Psalm and Old Testament readings in the Mass?

I remember hearing somewhere of the office of Reader, but don’t know whether one has to be appointed a Reader before being allowed to read in church.

I’d really appreciate anybody’s knowledge on 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.”

So the psalm is clearly different from the other readings. The readings should be done by an instituted lector, if present. Again, from the GIRM:
“101. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. They should be truly suited to perform this function and should receive careful preparation, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture. [footnote 86: Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 24.]”

If there is no instituted lector, the parish priest is responsible for the selection of who reads. From the GIRM:
“107. The liturgical duties that are not proper to the priest or the deacon and are listed above (cf. nos. 100-106) may also be entrusted by a liturgical blessing or a temporary deputation to suitable lay persons chosen by the pastor or rector of the church.[footnote 89: Cf. Pontifical Commission for interpreting legal texts, response to dubium regarding can. 230 § 2: AAS 86 (1994), p. 541.]”

In the USA’s edition of the Book of Blessings there is a ceremony called “Order for the Blessing of Readers”. It is not in the original Latin edition, so it only applies in the USA, not the rest of the world. The introduction makes it clear that this blessing is not the same as the institution of readers. (Book of Blessings, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1989, ISBN 0-8146-1875-8, page 691, n. 1828).

Another blessing that may be suitalble, in the Latin edition, is “Order for the Blessing of Those Appointed as Catechists” (page 161, n. 491).

The liturgical books give a clear direction to use instituted readers when they are present. But a blessed or commissioned reader seems to be just another person who may, or may not, be selected to read by the parish priest.

Can a non-Catholic be selected? Yes. From the Directory on Ecumenism at vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_25031993_principles-and-norms-on-ecumenism_en.html :
“126. Catholics may read lessons at a sacramental liturgical celebration in the Eastern Churches if they are invited to do so. An Eastern Christian may be invited to read the lessons at similar services in Catholic churches.”
“133. The reading of Scripture during a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic Church is to be done by members of that Church. On exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the Bishop of the diocese may permit a member of another Church or ecclesial Community to take on the task of reader.”

Can a priest do the readings before the Gospel? Yes, if a suitable lector is not present (see GIRM n. 59).

 

[jbebeau]

Among the other duties of the reader would be to read the General Intercessions in the absence of a Deacon.

Another point is that Lector and Reader have been used interchangably in the past (Like ambo and lectern). The ICEL translation of the Institution of Reader and Acolytes, uses Reader, but more recent translations use Lector. It can be hard to keep things straight.

The documents of the Church are interesting because they usually assume the presence of Instituted Lectors and Acolytes. When you read the GIRM and it refers to the Lectors and Acolytes it is actually referring to the instituted ministries and not the people who have been delegated or deputied for the task. One must be careful because some of the things that an Instituted Minister is permitted to do, does not by default mean that those who are delagated can do it. In particular Acolytes are permitted to purify the sacred vessels in the absence of a Deacon, or they may assist a Deacon or Priest, a server is not permitted to do this.

I reflected on the ministry of reader and those who fill it in a delegated capacity, sometimes I feel that there isn’t very much respect for the ministry of reader. By this I am not generally referring to people who fill the ministry on a regular basis on Sundays, who are well trained, and well prepared. I am referring to how we treat the ministry at marriages and funerals, where it is treated as another opportunity for a family member to do something. We usually don’t do this with the ministry of server, why do we do so with reader? I think for these occasions, it would be nice to have someone who has a great voice who would be willing to serve this ministry on a regular basis.

Another thing to keep in mind, what about chanting the readings, much like was done at High Mass. It seems that is an art that is lost. On a rare occasion you might see the Gospel chanted, but what about the rest of the readings?

Some other questions that come to mind, should readers be vested? Should Instituted Lectors, when exercising their ministry be vested?

 

[benedictgal]

Among the other duties of the reader would be to read the General Intercessions in the absence of a Deacon.

Another point is that Lector and Reader have been used interchangably in the past (Like ambo and lectern). The ICEL translation of the Institution of Reader and Acolytes, uses Reader, but more recent translations use Lector. It can be hard to keep things straight.

The documents of the Church are interesting because they usually assume the presence of Instituted Lectors and Acolytes. When you read the GIRM and it refers to the Lectors and Acolytes it is actually referring to the instituted ministries and not the people who have been delegated or deputied for the task. One must be careful because some of the things that an Instituted Minister is permitted to do, does not by default mean that those who are delagated can do it. In particular Acolytes are permitted to purify the sacred vessels in the absence of a Deacon, or they may assist a Deacon or Priest, a server is not permitted to do this.

I reflected on the ministry of reader and those who fill it in a delegated capacity, sometimes I feel that there isn’t very much respect for the ministry of reader. By this I am not generally referring to people who fill the ministry on a regular basis on Sundays, who are well trained, and well prepared. I am referring to how we treat the ministry at marriages and funerals, where it is treated as another opportunity for a family member to do something. We usually don’t do this with the ministry of server, why do we do so with reader? I think for these occasions, it would be nice to have someone who has a great voice who would be willing to serve this ministry on a regular basis.

Another thing to keep in mind, what about chanting the readings, much like was done at High Mass. It seems that is an art that is lost. On a rare occasion you might see the Gospel chanted, but what about the rest of the readings?

Some other questions that come to mind, should readers be vested? Should Instituted Lectors, when exercising their ministry be vested?

The psalm is actually supposed to be chanted by the cantor, as well as the Gospel acclamation. Now, the only time I’ve heard the non-Gospel readings chanted was during the EWTN broadcast of the EF yesterday. This was done by the celebrant. Of course, that is how it’s supposed to be done, as far as the EF is concerned.

Now, regarding the General Intercessions, there is an exception regarding who can proclaim them. During the Notre Dame Mass (broadcast on the Hallmark Channel), the cantor chants them. During large Papal Masses (and special Masses presided over by Cardinals–e.g. funeral Mass for the Focolare Foundress), the General Intercessions are proclaimed by several people, in different languages. I suspect this will happen during the Papal Masses here.

DL82, how do you handle the psalms in your parish? Do you have a cantor, and, if so, does he/she sing the psalm and the Gospel acclamation?

Now, if the psalm is said, you shouldn’t preface it by saying “Responsorial Psalm” and then launch into it. The rule of thumb (if it is recited) is to wait about 20 seconds after the faithful have responded “Thanks be to God” and then begin the psalm.

For example, after 20 seconds, say (if this were the psalm of the day), “The Lord is kind and merciful.” The people will repeat and then launch into the verses. That is how we do it at all of our Masses (when the cantor does not show up, or, at Daily Mass).

 

[John_Lilburne]

Among the other duties of the reader would be to read the General Intercessions in the absence of a Deacon. …
Some other questions that come to mind, should readers be vested? Should Instituted Lectors, when exercising their ministry be vested?

Regarding the Prayer of the Faithful, it seems to me that anyone can do this. From the GIRM:
“71. … The intentions are announced from the ambo or from another suitable place, by the deacon or by a cantor, a lector, or one of the lay faithful.”

In the GIRMs desccription of Mass With a Deacon: “177. After the introduction by the priest it is the deacon himself who normally announces the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful, from the ambo.” So for Mass with one deacon, I would say it compulsory that he proclaim the Gospel, optional that he proclaim the intercessions.

About vestments for the Instituted Lector, from the 1981 Introduction to the Lectionary: “54. During the celebration of Mass with a congregation, a second priest, a deacon, and an instituted reader must wear the distinctive vestment of their office when they go to the lectern to read the word of God. Those who carry out the ministry of reader just for the occasion or even regularly but without institution may go to the lectern in ordinary attire that is in keeping with local custom.”

In the USA GIRM it has: “339. In the dioceses of the United States of America, acolytes, altar servers, lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.”

My view is that this is not specific enough to reverse the requirement in the lectionary that an Instituted Lector wear vestments.