READING AT HOLY MASS
When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to His people, and Christ, present in His word, proclaims the Gospel. Therefore, the readings from the Word of God are to be listened to reverently by everyone, for they are an element of the greatest importance in the Liturgy.
General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], no. 29
General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM], no. 29
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TO PROCLAIM AND NOT JUST READ GOD'S WORD
Reading at Mass is a greater privilege than reading in the normal sense, because God's Word is being spoken aloud, it's being proclaimed. So to read at Mass is not what we normally call reading. A person who proclaims God's Word at Mass is known as Reader or Lector. The lector must believe what they proclaim, that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God, and so treat it in such a way, with deep respect, and preparation for the effective proclamation of God's holy word. The first lector was Jesus. He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and He reads: The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord (Luke 4: 16-30). The lector is the person who proclaims the first or second reading at Mass on a Sunday or Solemnity. This person also may lead the Psalm (in the absence of a choir or soloist) and also read the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass (in the absence of the deacon). |
PRAYER FOR LECTORS
Praise to you, Lord God,
king of the universe,
and all glory to your name.
I praise you and thank you for calling me
to proclaim your word to your beloved people.
Open the hearts of all who worship with us,
so that they may hear your voice when I read.
Let nothing in my life or manner disturb your people
or close their hearts to the action of your Spirit.
Cleanse my heart and mind,
and open my lips so that I may proclaim your glory.
All praise to you, heavenly Father,
through the Lord Jesus in the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.
Praise to you, Lord God,
king of the universe,
and all glory to your name.
I praise you and thank you for calling me
to proclaim your word to your beloved people.
Open the hearts of all who worship with us,
so that they may hear your voice when I read.
Let nothing in my life or manner disturb your people
or close their hearts to the action of your Spirit.
Cleanse my heart and mind,
and open my lips so that I may proclaim your glory.
All praise to you, heavenly Father,
through the Lord Jesus in the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.
BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE SCRIPTURE READINGS
Make the Scriptures from the Liturgy of the Word part of your daily prayer life. Even if we're not proclaiming God's Word as a Lector at Mass that day, it's still a good thing to prepare to hear the word which will be spoken, heard and prayerfully digested at the mass. If you don't have a missal there are online resources, in particular from Universalis, see below.
Can't find the daily or Sunday readings?
Try this link: https://universalis.com/europe.england/0/mass.htm
Make sure you find the English (UK/England) translation.
REMEMBER - prayerful preparation leads to prayerful participation.
Make the Scriptures from the Liturgy of the Word part of your daily prayer life. Even if we're not proclaiming God's Word as a Lector at Mass that day, it's still a good thing to prepare to hear the word which will be spoken, heard and prayerfully digested at the mass. If you don't have a missal there are online resources, in particular from Universalis, see below.
Can't find the daily or Sunday readings?
Try this link: https://universalis.com/europe.england/0/mass.htm
Make sure you find the English (UK/England) translation.
REMEMBER - prayerful preparation leads to prayerful participation.
THE ROLE OF LECTOR OR READER:
41 In proclaiming the word of God from Sacred Scripture, readers exercise their responsibility in mediating the presence of Christ. God speaks to the assembly through them, and the impact of God’s message will depend significantly on their conviction, their preparation, and their delivery.
42 The richness in the quantity and in the variety of readings in the Lectionary challenges those who are called upon to proclaim the Scriptures at Mass. Each of the individual sacred authors reflected on the meaning of God’s action in history from their own perspective. They employed various literary forms to convey the message of salvation, ranging, for example, from narratives and the poetry of the psalms to prophetic oracles and parables, from theological expositions to apocalyptic visions. A reader will proclaim the word of the Lord more fully and more effectively if he or she has an awareness of the literary form of a particular reading or psalm.
41 In proclaiming the word of God from Sacred Scripture, readers exercise their responsibility in mediating the presence of Christ. God speaks to the assembly through them, and the impact of God’s message will depend significantly on their conviction, their preparation, and their delivery.
42 The richness in the quantity and in the variety of readings in the Lectionary challenges those who are called upon to proclaim the Scriptures at Mass. Each of the individual sacred authors reflected on the meaning of God’s action in history from their own perspective. They employed various literary forms to convey the message of salvation, ranging, for example, from narratives and the poetry of the psalms to prophetic oracles and parables, from theological expositions to apocalyptic visions. A reader will proclaim the word of the Lord more fully and more effectively if he or she has an awareness of the literary form of a particular reading or psalm.
- Both to assist the assembly to appreciate the genre and context of the different passages of Scripture and benefit from a different voice, it is better to have a different reader for each reading.
- The responsorial psalm should be sung by a psalmist or cantor, but, if necessary, may be led by a reader.
- When there is no deacon, a reader may carry the Book of the Gospels before the presiding priest in the entrance procession and lay it on the altar.
- When there is no deacon, the reader may, from the ambo, announce the intentions in the General Intercessions.
WANT TO READ AT MASS?
We are always looking for new lectors to read at Mass both on a weekday and Sundays.
Please get in touch with the priests if you can help with this rewarding ministry.
We are always looking for new lectors to read at Mass both on a weekday and Sundays.
Please get in touch with the priests if you can help with this rewarding ministry.
