The priest didn't READ the gospel

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Sir_Knight

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Yesterday at mass, instead of walking up to the podium to read the gospel, the priest stood in the center isle in front of the altar and recited the gospel reading from memory. After he was done, he continued with the homily.

I never saw this done before. Two questions:
  1. Has anyone ever seen something like this?
  2. Was this valid especially in light of the fact that he didn’t kiss the book after the reading (since there was no actual READING)?
PS: He got the whole thing correct – didn’t miss even one word.
 
Of course he read the gospel… from memory.
Why should his command of the scriptures bother you?

Matthew
 
Not kissing scripture at the end of the reading “concerned” me.
 
Aren’t they ALSO suppose to kiss the gospel after reading it?
 
It sounds more like a prideful performance to me. What difference would it have been for him to stand at the ambo and read it properly, or even recite it from there if he wished to, but appearing to be reading.

Sorry - sounds like he intended this to be a “look at how good I am” performance - which is totally inappropriate. Pride is not an attribute I would like to see in my priest.

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
It sounds more like a prideful performance to me. What difference would it have been for him to stand at the ambo and read it properly, or even recite it from there if he wished to, but appearing to be reading.

Sorry - sounds like he intended this to be a “look at how good I am” performance - which is totally inappropriate. Pride is not an attribute I would like to see in my priest.

~Liza
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You might be making a huge assumption here. I’d be careful about judging people’s motives based on a post on the internet.

However, having said that, I agree that the gospel is to be “Proclaimed”, but I believe the GIRM states that it must be proclaimed from the ambo. There is a story, in the Bible, of Jesus proclaiming a reading in the temple. Being God, He could have recited it from memory, but He read it from the scroll. I think we should follow His example.
 
Why don’t you say something to him about it the next time you see him. You might be able to discern his motivations. There could be any number of reasons why he did this. I think it’s kind of cool myself.
 
Michael_Welter said:
You might be making a huge assumption here. I’d be careful about judging people’s motives based on a post on the internet.
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LOL!! Given the fact that all I have to go by is what the OP tells us, and that we have to give the benefit of doubt that the information is as complete and accurate as they can be about the situation, AND that they have posted it on an internet forum in the first place, pretty much opens this up for my making a judgement call on the situation.

If someone does not want an opinion - don’t post it on a message board.

🤷

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
If someone does not want an opinion - don’t post it on a message board.
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The OP didn’t ask for an opinion regarding the motivations of the priest, but the appropriateness of how the gospel was proclaimed.
 
I think maybe the Priest was wrong in that even if he did know this particular Gospel reading by heart, there is always the chance he might mess up. Isn’t it for this reason that even Priests who have been offering Mass for decades are required to read certain parts from the (book they use - name escapes me)?
 
I don’t think our priest has ever done that. Yesterday he did say his homily in the center behind the altar but that was because the microphone wasn’t working and his voice doesn’t carry well so he thought that that would be easier for everyone to hear.😛
 
I know a priest who has a photgraphic memory. He regularly picks up the book of the Gospels, looks at the reading, then sets it down and proclaims it from memory.
 
Did he say, “A reading from the holy gospel according to…,” and did not used the Gospel book? Then he did not read the Gospel but memorized it.
:hmmm:

Pax
Laudater Jesus Christo
Instaurare omnia in Christo
 
If I recall correctly, he said something to the effect of … *“today’s gospel passage if taken from the book of …”.

*And you are correct, he did not READ it.
 
I think people should quit judging a priest by the externals----I would be more worried if there was no Gospel at all preached…or worse, no homily, or a homily full of heresy. I see no problem here as long as it is the correct Gospel; if there is, let the bishop deal with it. I think a lot of people are too worrisome.
 
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