I recently attended a Mass in a small town with my wifes Grandparents. There was a lot of singing, mostly newer (but still religous) songs. What bothered me was actually 2 things. First, before the reading of each passage a teen who looked to be about the age of Confirmation would read the background to the passage from
lectorprep.org.
…
Am I overreacting or is it something I should let the Archdiocese know about?
I agree with the concern about singing a response after the elevations and suggest writing a letter about it.
But the introductions to the readings are more complicated.
An introduction to the reading is clearly permitted by the priest. From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from
romanrite.com/girm.html :
“31. … In addition, he may give the faithful a very brief introduction to the Mass of the day (after the initial Greeting and before the Act of Penitence), to the Liturgy of the Word (before the readings) …”.
I think the deacon can also do this, based on 2002 GIRM n. 171(d):
“d. Guides the faithful by appropriate introductions and explanations, and announces the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful;”
I also think a lay person, a commentator, can do this. From the GIRM:
“105. The following also exercise a liturgical function: …
b. The commentator, who provides the faithful, when appropriate, with brief explanations and commentaries with the purpose of introducing them to the celebration and preparing them to understand it better. The commentator’s remarks must be meticulously prepared and clear though brief. In performing this function the commentator stands in an appropriate place facing the faithful, but not at the ambo.”
According to the Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, n. 42: “The one presiding is responsible for preparing the faithful for the liturgy of the word on occasion by means of introductions before the readings.
[Footnote 70: See General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 11.]
These comments can help the gathered assembly toward a better hearing of the word of God, because they enliven the people’s faith and their desire for good. He may also carry out this responsibility through other persons, the deacon, for example or a commentator.
[Footnote 71: See ibid., no 68].”
(From Lectionary Volume 1 Study Edition, Collins Liturgical Australia, 1983, ISBN 0 00 599764-X, page xxvii.)
The footnotes here are referring to the 1975 GIRM, not the 2002 GIRM. The passages are similar to 2002 GIRM 31 and 105 quoted above.
Cardinal Arinze wrote on 1 December 2005: “… In the celebration of the Holy Mass, the Neocatechumenal Way shall accept and follow the liturgical books approved by the Church, without omitting or adding anything. …
2. With regard to any admonitions given before the readings, these must be brief. The dispositions of the Institutio Generalis Missalis Romani (nn. 105 and 128) and the Praenotanda of the Ordo Lectionum Missae (nn. 15, 19, 38, 42) must also be followed. …”.
The full letter can be downloaded as .pdf file from the link at the bottom of
catholic-ew.org.uk/liturgy/Newsletter/Volume6/Feb06.html .
A possible ground for complaint would be using at text from
lectorprep.org. According to the Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, n. 38, the priest “as a rule reserves to himself the task of composing comments to help the people to listen more attentively …”. But “as a rule” indicates some flexibility in this.
