Two readers on weekdays and three on Sundays and Feasts?

[FrDavid96]

The very confusion on this post is precisely my point. There is no absolute, definitive norm on this. MS #31 does say “the Alleluia before the Gospel” is in the 3rd category (the lowest priority for singing)–there’s no way that could refer to anything else but the “alleluia before the Gospel” not after the Gospel, or not the greeting, or anything else. At the same time, MS #29 says that the “acclamations at the gospel” are in the 1st category (the most likely to be sung). What are these “acclamations”? Are they the part before or the part after? They realy could refer to either or both. But “alleluia” is pretty self-explanatory.

That’s why I’m still of the opinion that either way (either omit or recite) is licit, but the preference, without a doubt, is that it be sung/chanted.

 

[Debra_C]

Obviously, what I have to say is far less authoritative than any documents that havebeen quoted and such, but I must agree with Fr. David. The instructions in various documents do not seem to quite agree, and confusion ensues when one tries to pin this question down.

I myself tend to be a daily mass goer, and often do so even when travelling away from home if I can find one available. At my own parish, some of us that volunteer as readers at daily masses are comfortable singing the alleluia and some aren’t. At least two of us regularly chant the responsorial as well. Those that don’t feel they sing well enough usually read it. This has been acceptable to all our priests. At some other parishes I have observed this same practice. At others, it is omitted by default unless they have a cantor or choir present. And at some I have seen the priest sing it himself if the lector did not. Regardless, I have never left mass with any doubt that I had just received the Lord, both in His word and in the Eucharist.

As for multiple lectors/readers, our priests all seem more comfortable with just one reader. It is distracting to have people moving bac and forth to swap out. THe exceptions have been at our youth mass, where youth group members read, and school masses where children read one reading each, and at the Easter Vigil, where many readings are done. Usually we have at least one or two read by RCIA candidates that are aout be recieved into full communion.