Women as lectors

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I see something greater for women than going and by virtue of their baptism proclaim the Word at mass as a reader, a deputy, to a bunch of sleeping people who can’t cross the aisle and be Christian to their consolidated member.

While St. Joseph was out doing his carpentry work to support the family unit, Mary was inside feeding, clothing, singing, PROCLAIMING to Jesus Himself who then went out and SAVED the sad souls of this world. This was a full time job for Mary even more demanding and more important than cutting a few logs into chairs. Unfortunately, our society of today has demeaned this very important role of motherhood, and thus Mary herself. What sin is that?

Why is it that women are drawn into over-task themselves? It’s because motherhood is a lowly station in life. Is it possible to do both jobs …run the church AND run a family AND have a job that pays weekly…ALL with excellence? I don’t think so. This is one of the reasons why our society is in crisis.

Women proclaim the Word to their children every minute of every day…not just one time per week behind a lectern. Women proclaim the Word in everything that they do—which is a good plenty of stuff-- outside of the four wall of a church building.

Tell the Pope for me…I really don’t need the “status” of being a Lector. I am one already as assigned by God, Himself, and this evangelistic status is more important than any this prop proposes, as if it were more special. It is like apples and oranges. And the church does not need this controversy muddying the spring waters of this synod.
 
Or maybe formalizing the current role is a better way of looking at it. Women have been serving as lectors for years, but formally speaking they are merely temporarily deputized as lectors, only men can be “installed on a stable basis in the ministries of lector and acolyte.” The Synod has approved (191 to 45) a proposal to formally admit women to the ministry of lectors. The Pope has to agree for it to take effect. Details here:

whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2008/10/from-aula-one-last-surprise.html

I didn’t know that women were technically only temporary lectors, and think its great that the Church is formalizing their role in this ministry.
 
TMC said:
Or maybe formalizing the current role is a better way of looking at it. Women have been serving as lectors for years, but formally speaking they are merely temporarily deputized as lectors, only men can be “installed on a stable basis in the ministries of lector and acolyte.” The Synod has approved (191 to 45) a proposal to formally admit women to the ministry of lectors. The Pope has to agree for it to take effect. Details here:

whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2008/10/from-aula-one-last-surprise.html

I didn’t know that women were technically only temporary lectors, and think its great that the Church is formalizing their role in this ministry.
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Are they going to be instituted lectors?
 
japhy said:
That appears to be the proposal offered by the Synod to the Pope: to open the institution of lector to females as well.
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I don’t think I’ll hold my breath waiting for it to happen. Considering how few dioceses bother to institute Lectors, outside of those men who are preparing for ordination, I don’t see what the point is.
 
My prediction is that it will be approved as an indult, and the U.S. bishops will quickly start instituting both men and women lectors.
 
Phemie said:
I don’t think I’ll hold my breath waiting for it to happen. Considering how few dioceses bother to institute Lectors, outside of those men who are preparing for ordination, I don’t see what the point is.
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Oh, no…no, no, no! Once this is smelled out, they’ll be coming out of the woodwork to be “instituted.” I don’t oppose the idea of itself, but I predict some problems…but there are always problems.
 
JKirkLVNV said:
Oh, no…no, no, no! Once this is smelled out, they’ll be coming out of the woodwork to be “instituted.” I don’t oppose the idea of itself, but I predict some problems…but there are always problems.
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[Edited]

My opinion is that we should do away with the notion of “permanent” lector altogether and reserve it for those who are on track for ordination.

There is a very clear agenda behind why the last 30 years VERY VERY few laymen have been instituted as lectors.

Spinelessness abounds.
 
LMP said:
I see something greater for women than going and by virtue of their baptism proclaim the Word at mass as a reader, a deputy, to a bunch of sleeping people who can’t cross the aisle and be Christian to their consolidated member.

While St. Joseph was out doing his carpentry work to support the family unit, Mary was inside feeding, clothing, singing, PROCLAIMING to Jesus Himself who then went out and SAVED the sad souls of this world. This was a full time job for Mary even more demanding and more important than cutting a few logs into chairs. Unfortunately, our society of today has demeaned this very important role of motherhood, and thus Mary herself. What sin is that?

Why is it that women are drawn into over-task themselves? It’s because motherhood is a lowly station in life. Is it possible to do both jobs …run the church AND run a family AND have a job that pays weekly…ALL with excellence? I don’t think so. This is one of the reasons why our society is in crisis.

Women proclaim the Word to their children every minute of every day…not just one time per week behind a lectern. Women proclaim the Word in everything that they do—which is a good plenty of stuff-- outside of the four wall of a church building.

Tell the Pope for me…I really don’t need the “status” of being a Lector. I am one already as assigned by God, Himself, and this evangelistic status is more important than any this prop proposes, as if it were more special. It is like apples and oranges. And the church does not need this controversy muddying the spring waters of this synod.
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POST OF THE CENTURY!!!👍
 
Dicerning said:
[Edited]

My opinion is that we should do away with the notion of “permanent” lector altogether and reserve it for those who are on track for ordination.

There is a very clear agenda behind why the last 30 years VERY VERY few laymen have been instituted as lectors.

Spinelessness abounds.
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Another translation of Proposition 17 is at ncrcafe.org/node/2228 :
“Proposition 17: Ministry of the Word and women
The synod fathers recognize and encourage the service of the laity in the transmission of the faith. Women, in particular, have an indispensable role on this point, above all in the family and in catechesis. In fact, they know how to arouse hearing of the Word and the personal relationship with God, and how to communicate the meaning of forgiveness and evangelical sharing.
It’s hoped that ministry of lector can be opened also to women, so that their role as announcers of the Word may be recognized in the Christian community.”

The practice of very few laymen being institute suggests that many bishops do NOT recognize or encourage the service of the laity in the transmission of the faith. The excuse I think most bishops would give is that would discriminate against women. The synod suggests that excuse be removed.

So the synod is endorsing instituted ministers. Some lay people should be selected, trained and supported in this ministry. Giving the practice, it is surprising they did this. But I think it highlights how negative the consequences are of having Instituted Lectors on the books, requiring it of seminarians, but having a widespread practice of pretending they do not exist.
 
Does anyone else here see this as quite an evil thing to even entertain? My wife reads at Mass yet she sees the break with the faith this incurs and how this is a betrayal of the truth of our faith.

Why not formalize the p

This would be a terrible, terrible thing for the Pope to allow as it would be yet another break with the faith of our Fathers and yet another part of the destruction of the Catholic faith.

It would push the Orthodox further away, the other groups such as SSPX away and affect the Latin Church’s relation with the rest of the Catholic Church all in the name of innovation and appeasing the culture of today.

I called my diocese to see why they do not institute Acolytes\Lectors and they said it is because it is exclusive. There is an agenda of rebellion to the faith not to preserving it’s truth. There is an agenda of destroying the Male Ordained Priesthood and not fostering vocations.

Yet those who hate the Male Priesthood do not say this, they just want to “help oppressed women”, and call those who oppose innovation names, such as misogynists, old fashioned or pharasaic.

It is truly a shame that our faith continues to be attacked from inside and outside the Church. But of course it always will be that way.

In Christ
Scylla
 
scylla said:
I called my diocese to see why they do not institute Acolytes\Lectors and they said it is because it is exclusive.
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So it stands to reason that should the pope change canon law to make it non-exclusive, then the bishops will start instituting lectors.
 
Just_Lurking said:
So it stands to reason that should the pope change canon law to make it non-exclusive, then the bishops will start instituting lectors.
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Yes, our Diocese is one of the worst in the nation in terms of vocations and instead of looking toward Christ it seems we have turned toward people to please cultural desires of pleasure.

Instead of doing the good thing of instituting Lectors, it seems many Bishops have decided to not put Christ first and put people first. Why not institute Lectors\Acolytes and do like the Lincoln Diocese in putting forth a Christian culture that fosters vocations?

I agree that if the Pope changes canon law then those Bishops who have been depriving their Dioceses of instituting Lectors will fill the positions with more people who support the women’s ordination movement.

God Bless
Scylla
 
Dicerning said:
Looks like the world synod of bishops has asked the vatican to open up the former minor priestly order of Lector to Women.

If hope this does not happen.
  1. I hope that the ministries are Lector and Acolyte are done away with altogether except for those who are on their way to Holy Orders.
  2. My diocese would have a field day with it if the pope approves women into this ministry.
    Right now around here The title Lector and Acolyte are not even mentioned and the VAST majority of Catholics in my diocese haven’t a clue that such ministries exist. If the request is granted I guarantee you that the flood gates of propeganda on the issue would be opened and the diocesan newspaper would be having an expose’ on the job of a lector.
This would be followed by hordes of women attending fast track seminars and little mini ordinations of lectors everywhere.

Its a bad idea in my liberal diocsese…it would get way out of hand and people would be severely misled.

Ok I gave my opinion any comments.
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I didn’t know women “couldn’t” be lectors. I have always been one myself… It’s never been not allowed at any parish I attend.
 
Little_Katie said:
I didn’t know women “couldn’t” be lectors. I have always been one myself… It’s never been not allowed at any parish I attend.
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ACTUALLY, you are NOT a Lector, for that is a specific term with VERY specific meanings. You are a Lay Reader. Similar job, very different duties. (An actual lector displaces whatever lay readers are present, and reads the Epistle and Old Testament Lesson at any mass where there is not another Lector present; in the Ordinary Form, until you have three, they all have to read.

Unless, of course, your bishop publicly acclaimed you a Lector while you were vested in Alb, cincture and amice, invoked the holy spirit, and then handed you a lectionary… in which case, your bishop would be ignoring canon law. If it didn’t look like an ordination, you are not a Lector.
 
I can’t believe Pope Benedict XVI would even entertain this innovation. Instead of this, the Pope should think long and hard about revoking Pope Paul VI’s decision to rid of the Traditional minor orders. Whats next? Female priests and Bishops?
 
Aramis said:
ACTUALLY, you are NOT a Lector, for that is a specific term with VERY specific meanings. You are a Lay Reader. Similar job, very different duties. (An actual lector displaces whatever lay readers are present, and reads the Epistle and Old Testament Lesson at any mass where there is not another Lector present; in the Ordinary Form, until you have three, they all have to read.

Unless, of course, your bishop publicly acclaimed you a Lector while you were vested in Alb, cincture and amice, invoked the holy spirit, and then handed you a lectionary… in which case, your bishop would be ignoring canon law. If it didn’t look like an ordination, you are not a Lector.
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lol, I’m surprised. The parishes I have been in have always just called us readers lectors… guess people aren’t that educated!! Learn something new every day.
 
Little_Katie said:
lol, I’m surprised. The parishes I have been in have always just called us readers lectors… guess people aren’t that educated!! Learn something new every day.
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That term problem seems to be limited to the English language. I don’t see other languages having a different term for the ministry based on whether one is instituted or not.
 
Phemie said:
That term problem seems to be limited to the English language. I don’t see other languages having a different term for the ministry based on whether one is instituted or not.
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It also seems to be limited to Catholic online discussion groups. I don’t see any official Church documents that use the different English words to distinguish between being instituted to the lay ministry vs. being temporarily deputed to the role.
 
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