I was wondering the same thing. I have never kissed a missalette. They are not blessed or consecrated items as is the Lectionary. I have read a lot of scripture on my computer. When I burn out a monitor, I just trash it.
So, the Scriptures are just nothing, unless someone has sprinkled holy water on them?
Did I say that or even remotely imply that? Of course not. Yet it is the Scripture that is sacred, not the paper it is printed on. Even the Holy Eucharist is nothing but bread unless it is consecrated.So, the Scriptures are just nothing, unless someone has sprinkled holy water on them?
Following on the theme, it is more important that the scripture is printed on our heart than the paper that contains the words.
No, not really for me. The words themselves don’t become an auditory line. I have that inner voice only when writing, not reading.
I have had priests suggest that it is better that the congregation simply listen rather than read along. As Catholics, we are not called to set aside reason. Obedience, in the Benedictine sense means “to listen.” We are bound by conscience. In this case, if it means I better understand God’s Word by seeing it in print while simultaneously listening, than I will bring my own missal that I might hear the Word of God. What is the priest going to do, ask me to leave Mass? Will he not understand if I explain, as has been done throughout this thread, why I read along.wisdomseeker, I have never in all my years in the Church had a Priest tell the congregation to put aside their missal and listen to the Epistle and/or Gospel instead of reading along.
Before Vatican II, everyone used a Missal to follow along with the Mass, as I have said before. This was considered the norm because the Mass was in Latin.
People on this thread who want to use their Missal to follow the Mass are not being angry about it, or disobedient.
And please do not use that old crutch – some Catholics will do as they please regardless of what they are told to do. When a Catholic sees something done amiss they must speak up and try to correct the situation, if indeed, what they saw is wrong.
And, I see no problem with using my Missal to follow the readings, until such time as the lay readers and the Priest start to use megaphones so those in the pews can hear and understand what is being said.
He was inserting personal comments into the Consecration? And this is good? Or have I misunderstood - maybe he told them at some other time not to look at their books during the Consecration?DurIng the Consecration, I heard a priest tell all to stop looking at their books and look at JESUS.
Why not just have total silence while everyone just reads the Missal together?
Do we say Mass, or do we read it? If someone is talking to me, it seems rude to be reading a book at the same time, even if it’s a book of etiquette, with nice things in it to say to the person in reply.
Would you come to dinner and read out, Hi - Mom - I - love - you - thanks - for - the - wonderful - dinner (reading off of a page, and then reading along as she replies, “You’re so welcome, honey; I love you, too!”), or wouldn’t you rather say it from your heart, while looking her in the eye, and listening to her reply with your eyes on her face, and giving her a smile?
I’m not knocking the Missal - it’s a great resource to have, and I read it all the time outside of the Mass, in order to memorize the prayers and review the readings ahead of time, in order to know them well enough that, if the reader has a difficult accent, or even if he is just having a bad day, I can still understand him, because I know ahead of time what he is saying. But, having done that, I can now give him the courtesy of attentive, interested eye-contact.
Even with the Latin Mass, I’d rather read through the Missal ahead of time, and then simply experience the Mass, without spending the whole hour trying to find my place on the page.
I’m honestly blown away by this. If anything, following along as the readings are being read is giving more attention to them, not less. When I’m reading aloud at a group bible study, I’m not worrying about who is looking at me and listening, and who is looking down at their bible, following along. I’m thinking about the scripture being read, and I’m happy to be doing it together with others, no matter where they are looking. Participating in the liturgy doesn’t mean that we make each other feel good by giving them our attention. It means that we enter into the prayers, giving the prayers and readings our attention, as we focus on God as a praying community.Why not just have total silence while everyone just reads the Missal together?
Do we say Mass, or do we read it? If someone is talking to me, it seems rude to be reading a book at the same time, even if it’s a book of etiquette, with nice things in it to say to the person in reply.
Would you come to dinner and read out, Hi - Mom - I - love - you - thanks - for - the - wonderful - dinner (reading off of a page, and then reading along as she replies, “You’re so welcome, honey; I love you, too!”), or wouldn’t you rather say it from your heart, while looking her in the eye, and listening to her reply with your eyes on her face, and giving her a smile?
I’m not knocking the Missal - it’s a great resource to have, and I read it all the time outside of the Mass, in order to memorize the prayers and review the readings ahead of time, in order to know them well enough that, if the reader has a difficult accent, or even if he is just having a bad day, I can still understand him, because I know ahead of time what he is saying. But, having done that, I can now give him the courtesy of attentive, interested eye-contact.
Even with the Latin Mass, I’d rather read through the Missal ahead of time, and then simply experience the Mass, without spending the whole hour trying to find my place on the page.