Lector s Preparation for Reading Guidelines It is important to note that the mass scripture readings are equal in importance, and reverence, as the Holy Eucharist. Parishioners come to mass to be fed, inspired, taught, and comforted in various ways. These ways include the Eucharist, the readings, the homily, the music, being part of the community & being with fellow parishioners. The readings serve as the main source for the homily. It is vital that we, as lectors, treat our ministry with the reverence, preparation and effort it deserves. Reading is communicating. The purpose of communication is to bring someone else to understand what you want to tell them. This implies that you want to tell them something. If you don t have anything to say, this is not communication, it is simple distraction. You will quickly lose their attention and the message will not get across. For listeners to understand what you are reading, you must: - understand yourself what you are telling them - you must take the time and care to understand it so that it makes sense to you. - you agree with what you are reading and believe it. If you do, then you can share it with your listeners. Below are some guidelines which should be implemented in preparing oneself to do a scripture reading at mass: AT HOME: 1. We need to start preparing for our reading weeks in advance of our turn to read. 2. Pray for guidance & understanding 3. Locate the passage in the Bible 4. We must read the text over and over, to the point where we can almost know it by heart. This will enable us to look up from the book when reading to make eye contact with the community, to make the message more direct and 1
personal. We should avoid keeping our head down the whole time we are reading. 5. Practicing the readings at home, by reading out loud dozens of times, which will help us to confidently and accurately proclaim the Word. 6. Read the verses a bit before and a bit after the reading, and also the intervening verses. 7. Using a lector s workbook (which provides the background & context of the message, along with pronunciation of difficult words) is a key tool to use. Workbooks will be made available to us. 8. Read any background notes on the sacred writer and book. 9. Read the comments in your Bible. 10. Look up any difficult words in a dictionary. 11. Check pronunciation of names. 12. Practice deep-breathing and relaxation 13. Consult with another lector you have confidence in to listen to your rehearsal of your reading in the weeks ahead of your turn. Be open to any advice or suggestions they may have. We are all here to help each other serve to the best of our abilities. UPON ARRIVAL AT CHURCH: 1. Be at church well ahead of time (at least 20 minutes). 2. Check the microphone to make sure it is working properly. 3. Verify that the lectionary is ready at the proper page. 4. Go through the readings in the lectionary, and get used to the font of the words, as well as the composition of the sentences and paragraphs. 5. If the readings have 2 versions, please check with the presider as to which version will be used. 6. Check out what the other liturgical team members expect of you. 7. Use some of this time to deep-breathe yourself into a relaxed, calm, poised attitude. 8. Pray that all members of the liturgical team may carry out their ministry well, and ask the Lord to help you to speak the Word clearly and accurately. Pray that the Holy Spirit can work through your voice to allow the Word of God to touch the ears and hearts of the parishioners in your presence. 2
9. Let go and let God. The Spirit will sustain you Comprehension True communication is not just a matter of mouthing words correctly. It also involves transferring the mood and meaning of the message to the mind of the listener. The lector must be well versed in what the writer is trying to say in the message. The workbook, study notes in a bible, or scripture study web sites will provide these important details. We need to determine the tone of the message being put across. Is the writer angry? Loving? Tender? Stern? Caring? Joyful? We must research any words which we come across that may be difficult to pronounce or understand, and learn to handle them effectively. Punctuation Punctuation is the use of periods, commas, question marks, quotation marks, colons, semicolons, and exclamation points, to help make the meaning of the message clearer. They are aids to the reader to assist him/her in a good oral proclamation. Following these visual signposts can help one achieve better comprehension, speed, timing and expression. Suggestion: As a general guideline, the timing of pauses suggested by the different punctuation marks is as follows: comma silently count: 1 semi-colon " " 1-2 colon " " 1-2 bracket " " 1-2 period " " 1-2 question mark " " 1-2 exclamation point " " 1-2 end of paragraph " " 1-2-3 3
Written punctuation is an aid to help the reader. One is not strictly held to it. If, after prayer and practice, one finds a different phrasing helps to convey the message more clearly, as he/she perceives it, then by all means feel free to use it. Expression & Eye contact: If you are to put meaning and feeling into your proclamation, you cannot read in a monotone fashion. This will quickly cause members of the congregation to tune you out. The meaning of the message may be lost. Expression makes the difference! Expression cannot be written. When you tell something fascinating to a friend, you look your friend straight in the eyes. So when you read, do it as well! When you tell a friend something tragic or sad, your voice lowers. When you tell your friend something happy, your voice livens up. This is being alive! Make the text present here and now. Be real! Parishioners will understand words if they hear them clearly. But expression will add meaning and life to your words. Words are dead, expression is alive! We need to read the text as if we are the writer who is physically addressing his listeners in real life. The bible is a timeless book, and the message is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. In proclaiming the Word, we should be getting into character to a degree, without overdoing it. We must put the appropriate level of passion and feelings into our readings. Diction: Words are made up of vowels, consonants and syllables. We need to enunciate our vowels in full round tones, articulate our consonants clearly and distinctly, and include all the syllables. It is important not to add extra sounds or syllables known as word whiskers. These include sounds/words such as: and-uh, so-ah, well-um. Be conscious of them and ensure they are eliminated from your proclamation. Speed 4
You know what happens when you drive your car too fast? There is danger of losing control, isn t there? The same thing can happen when, through nervousness or habit, we read too quickly. We are in danger of losing control, of stumbling, of making mistakes. It is less likely that the Assembly will truly receive God s message. They may not be able to listen to that fast a pace. It may tire then, and they may tune us out. Usually we read much more quickly than we think. Very rarely do we hear of a reader who speaks too slowly. Volume & Microphone A key factor in any communication is volume. If the listener cannot hear the message, true communication does not take place. It is the responsibility of the Reader/Lector to make sure his/her volume is sufficient for the situation. Too little volume suggests timidity, nervousness, and makes the assembly nervous as well. Too much volume sets up a listening barrier, irritating the assembly, because no one likes someone shouting. An excellent proclamation can be ruined by improper use of the microphone. Ensure you stand at an appropriate distance from the microphone, and adjust its angle to suit you properly. Body Language, Dress, Posture: People see us as well as hear us when we are at the ambo. Our dress, posture, and gestures, all speak volumes, even before we open our mouths. What we wear as a minister of the Word also reflects the importance or dignity we attach to that Word, and should be in keeping with it. Our physical appearance is important. We must groom and dress ourselves in an appropriate manner. Men must (at a minimum) wear a dress shirt and dress pants. Men and ladies must refrain from wearing jeans, T shirts and running shoes. Our posture is important. Posture should be erect and dignified, not just for appearance, but also for good breathing. The more casual our posture, the more casual the message appears. Non-verbal communication is conveyed by smiles, frowns, nodding the head up and down for affirmative emphasis, or back and forth sideways for negative emphasis. These can be used to provide a truer proclamation. 5
Using subtle gestures to enhance the reading is good, but keep gestures to a minimum. Too many gestures can become a distraction. Remember, this is proclamation, not a theatrical dramatization. Eye contact If we really want to get a message across to another person, we look them right in the eye. The eyes are the windows of the soul. Our witness is made believable to the people in the pews when they can see our faith in our eyes. So, good eye-contact is essential to a good proclamation. We should be able to establish eye contact during our introduction, at the end of every paragraph, and especially at the end when we say: The Word of the Lord. (When we should be pausing anyway to let the assembly reflect on what has just been read) Look at the people, but be careful not to be focused on just one person or section of the church. What we are really saying is; All of you present here listening, what I have just read to you, I truly believe to be the inspired Word of God. Reading of the prayers of the faithful & death announcements: When reading out the death announcements, it is critical that the names of the people are properly pronounced and clearly spoken. If you are unsure of the pronunciation of some of the more complicated names, please find a parishioner of that particular ethnic background who can help you. Remember that there are people in the congregation whose heart is just waiting for their loved one s name to be announced and subsequently be prayed for. By messing up the name, we lose the preciousness of the moment. Pause after saying the name clearly and distinctly. 6
Don t rush through the list, out of respect for the departed. Allow the name of the person to settle for a short while. A short formula to follow in preparing to proclaim God s Word Just remember the 5 P s PRAY For guidance in preparing, and strength to proclaim well. PREPARE - Well and ahead of time. Liturgically Scripturally Technically PRACTISE Silently and aloud, and preferably in front of a mirror. PERSEVERE Rome wasn t built in a day, and one reading does not make a skillful Reader/Lector PROCLAIM With faith and skill, with meaning and feeling, so that your proclamation will touch the hearts of the listeners and move them to respond more fully to God s Word. What is the difference between a good reading and a TRUE PROCLAMATION? When God is my only concern, when God is the center of my interest, when all my prayers, my reading, my studying, my speaking, and writing serve only to know God better and to make him known better, then there is no basis for anxiety or stage fright. Then I can live in such a state of preparedness and trust that speaking from the heart is also speaking to the heart. (Most of the notes are taken from The Readers at Liturgy and was written by: Molly Callaghan). Novalis 7
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