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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Regarding Lectors	Martin	Friday, May 21, 2010
Question: Dear Brother - Back in February 26, you corrected me when I used the word "Lector" when I should have used the word "reader" and I thank you. However, now I have another question. Since you said that the Office of Lector is appointed to the Bishop to men only is this an office that is a step towards becoming a deacon? Or can any man be appointed a lector, assuming they meet the necessary requirements? If it's only those that are in the process of becoming deacons, what happens if they descern that they are not called to the deaconite but have already been appointed to the Office of Lectors? Will they then be considered readers only? Thank you in advance for the clarification.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Martin: Before Vatican II the offices of Lector and Acolyte were among the minor orders. After Vatican II seminarians were installed into these offices on their way to Holy Orders. While many Bishops still reserve these offices to seminarians, in the 1983 Canon Law any qualified Catholic man may be installed by the Bishop into the office of Lector or Acolyte: Can. 230 ß1 Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the Episcopal Conference, can be given the stable ministry of lector and of acolyte, through the prescribed liturgical rite. This conferral of ministry does not, however, give them a right to sustenance or remuneration from the Church. ß2 Lay people can receive a temporary assignment to the role of lector in liturgical actions. Likewise, all lay people can exercise the roles of commentator, cantor or other such, in accordance with the law. ß3 Where the needs of the Church require and ministers are not available, lay people, even though they are not lectors or acolytes, can supply certain of their functions, that is, exercise the ministry of the word, preside over liturgical prayers, confer baptism and distribute Holy Communion, in accordance with the provisions of the law. While any layperson can perform the "role" lector or acolyte when there are not enough priests, deacons, and installed officers, in most cases such a shortage is not necessary to exist. In my opinion, the reason many Bishops will not install non-seminarians in these offices is that they fear the wrath of the laity who have come to think they have a "right" to volunteer for those tasks during the Mass. No one has a right. Of course, if Bishops were to install sufficient numbers of Lectors and Acolytes then woman would never be reading the Scripture or assisting in the distribution of the Eucharist during the Mass. This is the way it is suppose to be. But, political correctness has many running scared to do the right thing. And, of course, "hell hath no fury than a woman scorned." What we need are some bishops who have courage. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Regarding Lectors

Martin

Friday, May 21, 2010

Question:

Dear Brother - Back in February 26, you corrected me when I used the word "Lector" when I should have used the word "reader" and I thank you.

However, now I have another question. Since you said that the Office of Lector is appointed to the Bishop to men only is this an office that is a step towards becoming a deacon?

Or can any man be appointed a lector, assuming they meet the necessary requirements?

If it's only those that are in the process of becoming deacons, what happens if they descern that they are not called to the deaconite but have already been appointed to the Office of Lectors? Will they then be considered readers only?

Thank you in advance for the clarification.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Martin:

Before Vatican II the offices of Lector and Acolyte were among the minor orders. After Vatican II seminarians were installed into these offices on their way to Holy Orders.

While many Bishops still reserve these offices to seminarians, in the 1983 Canon Law any qualified Catholic man may be installed by the Bishop into the office of Lector or Acolyte:

Can. 230 ß1 Lay men whose age and talents meet the requirements prescribed by decree of the Episcopal Conference, can be given the stable ministry of lector and of acolyte, through the prescribed liturgical rite. This conferral of ministry does not, however, give them a right to sustenance or remuneration from the Church.

ß2 Lay people can receive a temporary assignment to the role of lector in liturgical actions. Likewise, all lay people can exercise the roles of commentator, cantor or other such, in accordance with the law.

ß3 Where the needs of the Church require and ministers are not available, lay people, even though they are not lectors or acolytes, can supply certain of their functions, that is, exercise the ministry of the word, preside over liturgical prayers, confer baptism and distribute Holy Communion, in accordance with the provisions of the law.

While any layperson can perform the "role" lector or acolyte when there are not enough priests, deacons, and installed officers, in most cases such a shortage is not necessary to exist.

In my opinion, the reason many Bishops will not install non-seminarians in these offices is that they fear the wrath of the laity who have come to think they have a "right" to volunteer for those tasks during the Mass. No one has a right.

Of course, if Bishops were to install sufficient numbers of Lectors and Acolytes then woman would never be reading the Scripture or assisting in the distribution of the Eucharist during the Mass. This is the way it is suppose to be. But, political correctness has many running scared to do the right thing. And, of course, "hell hath no fury than a woman scorned."

What we need are some bishops who have courage.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum