THE LECTOR AT MASS

Reading and Explaining the Word of God When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people.

Vocal Expression of the Different Texts Texts are to be pronounced in a loud and clear voice.

Silence The Liturgy of the Word is to be celebrated in such a way as to favor meditation, and so any kind of haste such as hinders recollection is clearly to be avoided. In the course of it, brief periods of silence are also appropriate, accommodated to the assembled congregation; by means of these, under the action of the Holy Spirit, the word of God may be grasped by the heart and a response through prayer may be prepared.

Scripture Readings In the readings, the table of God’s Word is spread before the faithful, and the treasures of the bible are opened to them.

In the celebration of the Mass with the people, the readings are always read from the ambo.

The function of proclaiming the readings is by tradition not presidential but ministerial. After each reading, whoever reads it pronounces the acclamation, and by means of the reply the assembled people give honor to the Word of God that they have received in faith and with gratitude.

The lector is instituted to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, with the exception of the Gospel. He may also announce the intentions for the universal Prayer and, in the absence of a psalmist, recite the Psalm between the readings.

In the celebration of the Eucharist, the lector has his own proper function which he himself must carry out.

In the absence of an instituted lector, other lay people may be deputed to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, people who are truly suited to carrying out this function and carefully prepared, so that by their hearing the readings from the sacred texts the faithful may conceive in their hearts a sweet and living affection for Sacred Scripture.

The Liturgy of the Word The reader reads from the ambo the readings that p recede the Gospel, in the absence of a psalmist, the reader may also proclaim the Responsorial Psalm after the First Reading.

In the absence of a Deacon, the reader, after the introduction by the Priest, may announce the intentions of the Universal Prayer from the ambo.

If there is no singing at the Entrance or at communion and the antiphons given in the Missal are not recited by the faithful, the reader may read them at an appropriate time.

The Concluding Rites 
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.