Vesture for Readers?

[Spiller]

Is there any written instruction from the Church that prohibits a non-ordained/instituted reader from wearing a white alb while reading during the Mass?

 

[Phemie]

Is there any written instruction from the Church that prohibits a non-ordained/instituted reader from wearing a white alb while reading during the Mass?

No, the alb is the garment proper to all the baptized. Now, it may well be a diocesan policy that you don’t vest your readers, but it’s not a Church rule.

GIRM says:
194. In coming to the altar, when no deacon is present, **the lector, wearing approved attire, **may carry the Book of the Gospels, which is to be slightly elevated. In that case, the lector walks in front of the priest but otherwise along with the other ministers.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

Oh that some would wear an alb!!!

 

[John_Lilburne]

Is there any written instruction from the Church that prohibits a non-ordained/instituted reader from wearing a white alb while reading during the Mass?

No, I don’t think so.

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“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.”

The alb seems to be an option for any lay minister, at least in the USA.

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 up to the ambo 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 ambo in ordinary attire, but this should be in keeping with the customs of the different regions.” (The full document is at ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWLECT.HTM ).

A little harder to interpret. What is the distinctive vestment of an instituted reader? Is it intended that the non-instituted readers be distinct by wearing ordinary attire? Could someone require a distinctive vestment by instituted readers which is not an alb?

Another confusing sentence from the 2002 GIRM: “336. The sacred garment common to ordained and instituted ministers of any rank is the alb, to be tied at the waist with a cincture unless it is made so as to fit even without such.” Is the alb somehow limited to instituted ministers? But “instituted ministers of any rank” seems contradictory. Instituted lectors and instituted acolytes are very specific rank.

The Conference of Bishops seem to have a particular role in deciding: “The materials, form, and colour of the liturgical vestments” (GIRM n. 390). Does this mean they can stop some of the baptised wearing the alb? I am not sure. As far as I know, none have done so.

 

[Spiller]

Oh that some would wear an alb!!!

Pardon? I was going to suggest to my pastor that our readers be vested in albs as more than a few dress like slobs – including shorts now and then. I just didn’t want to suggest something that wasn’t allowed.

 

[Phemie]

Pardon? I was going to suggest to my pastor that our readers be vested in albs as more than a few dress like slobs – including shorts now and then. I just didn’t want to suggest something that wasn’t allowed.

I think that’s exactly what OutinChgoburbs meant by his exclamation – that it would be great if some who present to read were forced to wear an alb instead of what they seem to think is appropriate.