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GUIDELINES
FOR LECTORS
The Holy Spirit first recalls the meaning of the salvation event
to the liturgical assembly by giving life to
the Word of God,
which is proclaimed so that it may be received and lived.
[Catechism
of the Catholic Church, 1100]
Welcome
to one of the key ministries in our Parish.
The proclamation of the Word of our Lord is an important
responsibility, and so we thank you in advance for your commitment to
performing this ministry.
General
Comments: You are a member of the liturgical team for the meaningful
celebration of the Eucharist. In
the spirit of this teamwork, there are certain things you should be prepared
to do to insure a smooth celebration.
-
Arrive
early. 15 minutes before
Mass is about right. You
will be surprised at how quickly those minutes go by when preparing for
the Mass. There are many
things to check and review.
-
The
congregation takes various cues from you in the performance of your
ministry. Your appearance
signals to the congregation the reverence with which you accept this
ministry and approach your responsibility, thus influencing their
reverence. So please dress
appropriately. Your familiarity
with the Lectionary and other materials on the ambo prevents the
congregation’s distraction. Your
reading preparation – correct pronunciation of names and
places, appropriate pace, varied tone depending on the reading,
and volume of your voice (the microphone doesn’t solve the
issue of a reading voice of low volume) – all of these serve to truly
proclaim the Word of God in a meaningful and accepting manner for the
congregation, allowing God’s Word to infuse them with the Spirit.
This is especially important as our congregation does not have
Missalettes or other reading aids.
As a final thought here, I offer you Paul’s observation on the
power of the Word [Romans 10:17]:
Faith
comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through
the word of Christ.
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Be
prepared to help out in other ways as required.
There is not always a Sacristan or altar server present.
-
In
the event you cannot meet a scheduled assignment, please try to find a
replacement. If after
calling 5 or 6 other ministers, you are unsuccessful, or if there is a
last minute emergency, please inform the Rectory so the Presider isn’t
surprised. E-mail seems to
be a convenient way to maintain contact with your fellow lectors, as
well as with the Rectory.
Specific
Instructions For Lectors:
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Prayerfully
prepare, meditate on, and practice your readings.
The workbook has pronunciation keys and suggestions for the
reading of the Word. It
also has an explanatory note that places the readings in a context that
promotes your own meditation of them. (There is a workbook in the
Sacristy for the current year. Be
sure to read the note on the front cover if you use it!)
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Before
Mass, make sure you have the correct readings marked,
and review them in the Lectionary to make sure there are no surprises. Review and make sure the Reading Notes and the Prayer of the
Faithful are at the ambo, as well as a copy of the weekly “Words.”
Ask about pronunciation of names for whom we will pray if you
aren’t sure. Make sure
the microphone is working and positioned as you prefer.
Check with the choir for how certain parts of the Mass will be
handled. If
you have any questions, ask the Presider.
THE
MASS
-
If
there is no music, lead the congregation in the recitation of the
Entrance Antiphon as the Presider processes to the altar.
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The
Liturgy of the Word occurs following the Opening Prayer.
-
As
the Presider sits down, approach the ambo.
Do not rush to start or complete the readings.
Let everyone get settled and quieted down.
-
Begin
with the Reading note: “In our {first/second} reading, [content
of note].”
-
Then
start the reading with, “A
reading from….” (The
reason for this order is so there is a clear indication of when
the actual Scriptural reading starts.
It is sometimes easy for the reading note to be taken as part of
the Scripture selection.) It
is not necessary to state the chapter and verses.
Please make sure you are familiar with and fully state the
correct citation for the reading. In some cases, there are multiple books, such as Paul’s
letters to the Corinthians, Kings, or Samuel.
Let’s make sure we get the citation correct.
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At
the end of the reading, a momentary pause is appropriate before saying, “The Word of the Lord.”
(NOTE: This verbiage
is a recent change to the Roman Missal on which the Lectionary is based.
Try to mentally recall this when you are the lector as the
current Lectionary reflects the previous formulation.)
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You
may be seated behind the ambo during the Responsorial Psalm, if it is
sung. Check with the choir
on their intent. If not
sung, you will also lead that Psalm.
Again, do not rush. Each
reading and the Psalm are unique, separate elements of the Liturgy.
Pause as appropriate. Introduce
the Psalm with, “The
Responsorial Psalm today is from Psalm [the
number].”
It is not necessary to mention specific verses.
-
The
“Alleluia” proclamation prior to the Gospel should be sung. Check with the choir before Mass. Be prepared to lead the congregation in the recitation of the
accompanying verse. If
there is no music, check with the Presider on how to handle it as it
should be omitted if not sung per rubrics of the Mass.
Return to your seat as the final “Alleluia” is sung.
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Come
forward for the Prayer of the Faithful during the last part of the
Creed. A good prompt is,
“We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.”
Wait for the Presider to make the introductory prayer, then
proceed. Remain at lecturn
until the Presider finishes the Prayer.
-
If
there is no music, then lead the congregation in the recitation of the
Communion Antiphon after the Presider and the Eucharistic Ministers have
received the consecrated hosts and are receiving the consecrated wine.
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At
the end of Mass, clean up the ambo.
Re-mark the Lectionary to the first reading for the next person. Make sure all the papers are there. And be ready to help if necessary in setting up and preparing
for the next celebration in other ways, especially in the absence of a
Sacristan.
Final
thoughts:
-
Practice
is essential,
especially if you have readings with unfamiliar names of persons and
places -- to include those
for whom we pray in The Prayer of the Faithful.
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Don’t
rush your reading. Adopt a
befitting pace for the intent and language flow of the reading.
Have volume to your voice. Pausing
a few seconds for reflection at the end is appropriate.
-
Be
ready to assist the Presider as necessary.
This leads to…
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Stay
flexible. Some of the most
unexpected things happen during Mass.
-
And,
finally, remember that the congregation wants you to succeed. They come to Mass assuming you are prepared to help them
apprehend the Word of the Lord. There’s
no reason to be anxious. So
relax and enjoy the grace of the Holy Spirit working through you as you
proclaim the Word to your listeners.
At the end of the Mass, I hope you are joyful and can
join with Paul and his companions Silvanus and Timothy who wrote
to the Thessalonians:
We
too give thanks to God unceasingly that, in receiving the word of God from
hearing us,you received not human word but, as it truly is, the word of
God,which is now at work in you who believe.
[1
Thessalonians 2:13]
My
wish for you is that you will realize the fullness of the Holy Spirit
in your soul and in your life as a result of this commitment to the Word of
God. On behalf of the
congregation, thanks again for your reverent participation in this most
significant ministry!
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