Readers & Commentators

Readers are called to proclaim God's Word when the church assembles for Liturgy and prayer.

Any member of the parish may become a reader. Initial training is provided and instructional meetings are held occasionally.

Please contact Frank Radicella at 444-0740 or by e-mail readers@annunciationparish.org

Useful web site for hearing words that you might have difficulty pronouncing: http://netministries.org/bbasics/bbwords.htm

Print the January 2012 Readers Schedule

The Word Becomes Flesh

Undoubtedly God's Word has its own power and can do what God has sent it to do. But God chose to work through human instruments to play his song of love to the world. He used a Moses who seemingly had a stuttering problem and a Jeremiah who was the most reluctant prophet to come along. He called a Peter who, in his early days, spoke without thinking and a Paul who spoke exactly what he thought. Now you, as a reader, are one of those God has Chose.

This call is not something to be taken for granted. The fact that you have been speaking for 15, 25, 45, 65, or more years does not mean that you will automatically be a good reader. The call to be a reader is something that demands preparation. No one should get up to read to the community gathered for worship without this preparation. While it can happens occasionally an assigned reader is ill or does not show up, the normal situation should be, the reader knows when they will be reading. In becoming a reader, you are accepting the responsibility to do your best, to practice to make frequent self-evaluations, and to continually look for ways to improve.

The ministry of a reader is a wonderful work. Through you God's living Word continues to be proclaimed to his people, to the young and old, the troubled, the hopeless, the happy, the content, to those in need of challenge and to those in need of comfort. Your task is like that of the sower who generously casts the seed on the earth; perhaps only a few seed will take root at any one time, but that is certainly something.

As a reader, you are asked to find the middle ground between uninvolved reading and amateur theatrics. You are asked not to let this task become a matter of routine for you - a quick look at the text and a reading that is functional at best. To be a reader is to be given an opportunity for your own personal growth in Christ Jesus. By immersing yourself in his Word, you will not only proclaim it more ably to others but also grow in your own knowledge and love of the God.

Special Notes:

  • The Gospel should not be carried out during the recessional at the conclusion of Mass! It should remain on the altar.
  • Father Greg requests that we wait until the congregation is seated and silent prior to approaching the ambo before the first and second reading. The approach for the Prayers of the Faithful will remain the same as it was before before: We will approach the ambo while the last of the Creed is recited.
  • The new microphone is a boundary microphone, intended for conference rooms, so it is super-sensitive. Please switch the microphone power on and then off before and after you use it. Otherwise, the microphone will pick up the celebrant's voice from the other side of the sanctuary.

Current Reader Schedule

The Lector at Mass

General Principles

Reading and Explaining the Word of God

When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the gospel. The readings of God's word must therefore be listened to by all with reverence; they make up a principal element of the liturgy. In the biblical readings, God's word addresses all people of every era and is understandable to them, and a fuller understanding and efficacy are fostered by a living commentary on it, that is to say, by the homily, understood as an integral part of the liturgical action (GIRM 29).(1)

Vocal Expression of the Different Texts

In texts that are to be delivered in a loud and clear voice, whether by the priest or deacon or by the lector, or by all, the tone of voice should correspond to the genre of the text, that is, accordingly as it is a reading, a prayer, an instruction, an acclamation, or a liturgical song; the tone should also be suited to the form of celebration and to the solemnity of the gathering. Other criteria are the idiom of different languages and the genius of peoples. (38).

Silence

The liturgy of the word must be celebrated in such a way as to promote meditation. For this reason, any kind of haste which impedes recollection must be clearly avoided. Brief moments of silence are appropriate during the liturgy. Such moments should be suitable for the gathered assembly, in which the Word of God is taken into the heart by the fostering of the Holy Spirit, and its response is prepared through prayer. Such moments of silence are opportunely observed after the first and second reading, and then, at the completion of the homily (56).

Scripture Readings

  • In the readings, the table of God's word is laid for the faithful and the riches of the Bible are opened to them. Hence, the arrangement of the biblical readings must be observed, whereby the unity of each Testament and of the history of salvation is demonstrated; nor is it permitted that the readings and responsorial psalm, which contain the word of God, are substituted by other, non-biblical texts (57).
  • In the celebration of the Mass with a congregation, the readings are always given from the ambo (58).
  • By tradition, the office of reading the Scriptures is a ministerial, not a presidential function. The readings should be delivered by a lector, the Gospel being proclaimed by the deacon or by a priest other than the celebrant. If, however, a deacon or other priest is not present, the priest celebrant proclaims the Gospel. Further, if a suitable lector is not present, then the priest celebrant also delivers the other readings. After each reading, whoever does the reading proclaims the acclamation. Responding to it, the gathered people honor the word of God which they have received with faith and grateful hearts (59).
  • The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the gospel reading. He may also announce the intentions for the General Intercessions and, in the absence of the psalmist, sing or read the psalm between the readings. In the celebration of the Eucharist, the lector has specific duties which he alone ought to perform, even though ordained ministers may be present (99).
  • In the absence of an instituted lector, other lay people may be designated to proclaim the readings from the Sacred Scriptures. Such designated lectors must be truly qualified and carefully prepared for this office, so that the faithful will develop a warm and lively love for Sacred Scripture from listening to the reading from the sacred texts (101).

Liturgy of the Word

  • After the opening prayer, all sit. The priest may, in a very few words, introduce the faithful to the liturgy of the word. Then the lector goes to the ambo and proclaims the first reading from the Lectionary already placed there before Mass; all sit and listen. At the end, the lector makes the acclamation, The Word of the Lord, with all responding, Thanks be to God.
  • Then a brief period of silence may be observed as appropriate, so that all may meditate on what they have heard (128).
  • The psalmist or the lector sings or recites the psalm verse and, as a rule, the congregation makes the response (129).
  • If there is a second reading before the Gospel, the lector proclaims it from the ambo with all listening and making the acclamation at the end, as above (128). Then, as the occasion allows, a brief period of silence may be observed (130).

Functions of the Lector

Introductory Rites

  • In the procession to the altar, when no deacon is present, the lector, wearing the appropriate vesture, (2) may carry the Book of the Gospels elevated slightly. In that case, the lector walks in front of the priest, otherwise with the other ministers (194).
  • Upon reaching the altar, the lector makes a profound bow with the others.(3) If the lector is carrying the Book of the Gospels, the lector goes to the altar and places the Book of the Gospels on it. Then, the lector takes up a position in the sanctuary with the other ministers

Liturgy of the Word

  • At the ambo the lector proclaims the readings that precede the gospel reading. If there is no psalmist, the lector may also sing or recite the responsorial psalm after the first reading (196).
  • After the priest gives the introduction to the General Intercessions, the lector may announce the intentions from the ambo when no deacon is present (197).
  • If there is no opening liturgical song or communion song and the antiphons in the Missal are not said by the faithful, the lector may recite them at the appropriate time (198).

Liturgy of the Eucharist

  • At the conclusion of the Mass, the lector does not process with the Book of the Gospels. The Lectionary is never carried in procession. The lector may join in the procession at the end of Mass in the same order as in the procession to the altar.

Notes

  1. All subsequent citations are from the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, unless otherwise noted.
  2. GIRM, no. 339: …lectors, and other lay ministers may wear the alb or other suitable vesture or other appropriate and dignified clothing.
  3. Ibid., no. 274. If, however, the tabernacle with the Most Blessed Sacrament is present in the sanctuary, the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers genuflect when they approach the altar and when they depart from it, but not during the celebration of Mass itself.
  • © 2010, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops