Reader’s “Rubrics” T he following guidelines for readers reflect current liturgical practice at St. Francis Xavier parish in Parkersburg, WV, for Eucharistic celebrations on Sundays and Holy Days; the guidelines accord with the General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) as implemented in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.  They begin with discussion of the meaning and importance of this ministry, give specific instructions for readers during the Mass, and conclude with a list of additional suggestions or requirements that will help readers maintain the dignity and meaningfulness of the liturgy.  Separate instructions are given for first and second readers since two readers are preferable; on occasion, one reader may need to serve both functions.  Also note that the role of each reader may change if a deacon is participating in the Mass.    What is a reader?--Some reflections on this ministry   ·         Through Baptism, we are all called to be a “holy people and royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:9), whose right and privilege it is to participate in Christ's own ministry.  How we do so varies from person to person, but the most important way is “conscious, active, and fruitful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist” (GIRM, Intro. 5).  Since the Eucharist is the “action of the whole Church” (GIRM, Intro. 5), all of us have an “individual right and duty to contribute” (GIRM, 58). Some are called to do so in a more particular way through liturgical ministries, such as that of reader.   ·         Many times, the word “reader” is used interchangeably with “lector.”  “Lector” is derived from the Latin word “legere,” which means “to read,” so on one level there's little apparent difference. But it may be more appropriate to reserve the use of “lector” for those who, like seminarians, have been formally installed as such by the Ordinary of the diocese under rules established after Vatican II.  This distinction in no way diminishes the importance of readers who have not been officially installed as lectors.   ·         From the Church's beginnings, Christians have gathered to hear the Word of God, a practice which originated with Jewish worship (Jesus himself “lectored” in the synagogue at Nazareth as he began his ministry in Galilee (Luke 4:16-20)), and as a result there have always been individuals especially entrusted with reading the Word of the Lord at liturgical celebrations.   ·         What are the functions of a reader?  A reader's ministerial function is to proclaim God's word to His people during the Liturgy of the Word to help them come to a deeper love of God and a fuller Christian life.  “Proclaim” is a key description of the reader's role.  It means to communicate God's word in a way that helps listeners focus on the Word itself, not on the reader.  Through the reader's proclamation, God is speaking to His people (note the present tense).  It is not just a recital of past events; the living Christ is in our midst (GIRM (29, 55)).  The Liturgy of the Word is really a form of prayer:  the assembly hears the Word, reflects on its meaning, and responds to its call.  For these reasons, being a reader is both a privilege and a responsibility.    ·         What are the qualifications for readers?  GIRM lists two that are fairly general:  readers are to be “truly suited to perform this function” and “should receive careful preparation.”  In general, “truly suited” means individuals who are confirmed Catholics living in communion with the Church and who are able to proclaim the readings in a manner that expresses the dignity of scripture.    ·         “Careful preparation” varies from parish to parish.  It can mean informal one-on-one training with someone who “knows the ropes” or it can be much more formal. St. Francis Xavier is developing a program, of which these guidelines are a part, that focuses on technical skills, biblical formation, liturgical formation, and spiritual formation.   What specifically does a reader do during Mass?--The “mechanical” details   First Reader   Procession and Introductory Rite   ·         Arrive 15 minutes before the Eucharist and sign in (the sign-in sheet is located in the sacristy).   ·         If the celebrant chooses to process with the Book of the Gospels, process immediately preceding the celebrant with the Book slightly elevated (in no case is the Lectionary to be carried in procession).  If the celebrant chooses not to process with the Book of the Gospels or if a deacon is serving with the celebrant, take your normal seat in the congregation, preferably close to the ambo.   ·         Upon reaching the bottom of the altar stairs, stand to the celebrant’s left, but do not make a profound bow or genuflect with the celebrant when you are carrying the Gospels.  After the celebrant makes his bow or genuflection, ascend the altar steps, place the Book of the Gospels in its stand with the front cover facing the congregation, make a profound bow to the altar, and move to your place in the congregation, preferably close to the ambo.      Liturgy of the Word   ·         After the collect of the day (or after the dismissal for the Children's Liturgy of the Word), wait for the congregation to be seated, approach the altar, make a profound bow before entering the sanctuary as a recognition of the centrality of the altar (no genuflection or sign of the cross is necessary), go to the ambo, and announce the first reading.    ·         Proclaim the first reading of the day, and after a slight pause, say, “The word of the Lord.”  After the congregation answers, “Thanks be to God,” leave the ambo, make a profound bow to the altar, and resume your place in the congregation so that the cantor can lead the responsorial psalm for the day.   Second Reader   ·         Arrive 15 minutes before the Eucharist and sign in (the sign-in sheet is located in the sacristy). Take your place in the congregation, preferably close to the ambo.   Liturgy of the Word   ·         When the cantor finishes the responsorial psalm, approach the altar, make a profound bow before entering the sanctuary in recognition of the centrality of the altar (no genuflection or sign of the cross is necessary), go to the ambo, and announce the second reading.   ·         Proclaim the second reading of the day, and after a slight pause, say, “The word of the Lord.” After the congregation answers, “Thanks be to God,” place the lectionary at the side of the ambo (off the reading desk), leave the ambo, make a profound bow to the altar, and resume your place in the congregation.   ·         If there is no deacon serving with the celebrant, go to the ambo after making a profound bow to the altar before entering the sanctuary, and be in place by the end of the Creed.  After the celebrant introduces the Prayer of the Faithful, read the petitions of the Prayer of the Faithful from the notebook located on the ambo shelf.  After the last petition, which usually commemorates the deceased or the mass intention, turn toward the celebrant and wait for him to conclude the Prayer of the Faithful.   ·         After the Prayer of the Faithful and the congregation is seated, announce the purpose of the day's second collection, leave the ambo, make a profound bow to the altar, and return to your place in the congregation.   Recession   ·         At St. Francis Xavier, readers do not recess with the celebrant and the altar servers.   Are there any additional suggestions/requirements,“tips” for effective reading, or specific “do's and don'ts”?--These are offered in no particular order   ·         For reader training and qualification or questions about these guidelines, you should contact John Swales (304.422.7644) or the pastor or his associate.   ·         The reader schedule for Sundays and Holy Days is prepared quarterly based on readers' availability and preferences (please try to be flexible).  The schedule is posted to St. Francis Xavier's website (www.stx-pburg.org); hard copies are also made available at Mass when they're published.  If adjustments to previous scheduling are needed, you should contact Barbara Halfhill directly.   ·         If for any reason you are unable to read as scheduled, it is your responsibility to find a substitute, either on a one-time or an extended basis.  There are regular substitutes posted to the readers' schedule, or you can make arrangements with another qualified reader.  The celebrant should not be expected to find a substitute at the last minute.     ·         It's vitally important for readers to prepare themselves through prayer, familiarization with the day's readings, checking pronunciation, etc.  Resources are readily available online or through books aimed at helping readers prepare.  St. Francis Xavier parish maintains a copy of Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word in the sacristy for readers' use.  The Workbook is especially useful for determining the essential meaning of the day's readings, gives suggestions for words and themes to emphasize, and even provides a key to pronunciation of biblical names.  A separate pronunciation guide is also available in the sacristy.   ·         If you are reading the petitions of the Prayer of the Faithful, make sure that you know the mass intention (prayers for deceased parishioners are marked by a + in the bulletin) and that you know how to pronounce the parishioners' names, whether deceased or living.  When in doubt, ask someone!   ·         Dress appropriately; after all, it is the Lord's banquet.  This means no jeans, shorts, t-shirts, low-cut blouses, flip-flops, or spaghetti straps.  Perhaps the best standard of dress would be “business casual” at a minimum.  For greater feasts, more formal attire would be appropriate.   ·         When you arrive, check with the celebrant to make be sure there are no changes or additions.  If necessary, place the lectionary on the ambo, make sure the notebook for the Prayer of the Faithful is in place on the ambo shelf, turn on the ambo light, and adjust the microphone.  Return to the sacristy and make sure the sound system is on (only one button is necessary:  power on).   Tips for Effective Readers   ·         A general note about liturgical “pacing”:  each part of the Eucharistic liturgy has a beginning and an ending, and it is important to allow an appropriate pause between each part to give the assembly time to absorb what's passed and prepare for what's coming.  A good example is the responsorial psalm.  Some readers want to make sure they're ready at the ambo immediately after the psalm so as to keep things moving.  The intention is laudable, but the psalm is as much a “reading” as the Old Testament lesson or the Epistle for the day, so a “beat” or two before the second reading is appropriate.  This is not so much a matter of letting a specified number of seconds elapse as it is being sensitive to the assembly's need to reflect on the psalm before listening to the second reading.         ·         After announcing a reading, count “1-1000, 2-1000” (i.e., two seconds or so) before beginning to read.  Don't rush.  Speak into the microphone but don't crowd it.  Be aware of your speed, inflection, and eye contact.  Readings should not be memorized but “proclaimed” (see above).  Above all, read it like you mean it!   ·         One problem readers face today is that people are not used to being read to and may not know the background or context of the readings.  The goal of the reader should be to help listeners overcome these problems.  Know your readings!   ·         The least helpful thing a reader can do is to speak in a monotone.  Readers should avoid this by freely using variations in pitch, speed, pauses, emphasis, etc. to put life into the reading.  At the same time, these variations should flow from the reading itself and be aligned with the type and the meaning of the text.   ·         Readers should be careful about going too fast.  No one can speak as fast as he or she can read, so don't try.  If it sounds to you as though your speed is OK, it's probably too fast.  If you find yourself out of breath, it's too fast.   ·         A common fault is even spacing between words or a fixed rhythm which produce a sing-song effect.  Vary the pacing for a  more meaningful reading.  Don't be afraid to increase tempo or slow it down to emphasize points.  Use pauses for emphasis.   ·         Don't put too much emphasis on pronouns.  It's the nouns and verbs that are important.   ·         Make sure you carefully and clearly pronounce the little words:  a, an, the, of, and, you, etc.  This is one of the things that helps make meaning clear.  In everyday speech, many people skip, slur, or smudge these little words.    ·         In standard American speech, the indefinite article “a,” as in “a reading from...,” is not a long “a” (like “ay” in “day”); it is short (like “uh”).   ·         The reader's speaking style should be clear and audible, and delivery (phrasing, emphasis, etc.) should be appropriate to the text; some scripture is poetic in form, or prophetic, or simple narrative.  Therefore, adjust your reading to reflect these different forms.  Your demeanor should reflect them as well.  Nothing is more confusing to listeners than a joyful text read with a somber face.  Lastly, don't be afraid to be too dramatic if the text calls for it.   ·         Try to look up at the congregation occasionally.  Don't keep your head down all the time.  The best times for looking up are at the ends of paragraphs or sentences.  As you read, get the next line or sentence in your mind, then look up and say it from short-term memory.  With practice, this is easier than it sounds.    ·         It's OK to follow your place in the book with your hand; this will prevent you from losing your place when you look up at the congregation.   ·         Prepare by reading aloud.  This will help you figure out the meaning of the text, establish the proper speed and rhythm, get the punctuation and pauses right, and fix the reading in your mind because it is going in both your ears and eyes at the same time.   ·         Speak up.  The microphone is not speaking, you are.  Many people get too close to the microphone and speak softly.  Stand further back and speak loudly and clearly.  You will command much more attention and your voice will have much better tone and timbre.  Plus, it will help prevent “popping” your “p's” and “t's.”  If the microphone is too sensitive, you can prevent “pops” by pronouncing “p” more like “b” and “t” more like “d.”   “Do's and Don'ts” for Readers   DO DON'T Prepare beforehand Prepare at the last minute (e.g., in the sacristy five minutes before Mass). Read thoughts and ideas. Read just the "words." Make your voice convey a message. Speak in a monotone (the Word of God is not the label on a cereal box!). Read to people. Read at people. Try to understand the feeling, purpose, and intention of the biblical author. Take the punch out of a reading (thinking that it sounds “holier). Try to understand what kind of literature you are reading: poem, statement of law, story, fable, faith witness, song, psalm, historical narrative, letter, mystical encounter, or prophecy. Approach each reading as if all scripture were mere narrative. Read slowly! (Remember, people listen more slowly than they read.) Read at your ordinary speed. Emphasize key words and phrases Read as though each word is equally important Come to a definite conclusion. Ramble. Ask someone for assistance with difficult names and meanings. Slur, skip, or muffle words you do not know. Not be afraid to stop and begin anew if you make a mistake. Use the machine-gun tactic (i.e., never slowing down or pausing). Read your passage aloud in practice. Try to read “cold.” Speak up. Expect the microphone to do more than amplify your voice. Space yourself properly from the microphone. Allow your voice to explode into the microphone. Listen to yourself. Be unaware of what you're doing, or be so aware that you hurry through a reading. Pronounce your words clearly. Speed through words and give a blurred sound. Look at your audience. Glue your eyes to the book. Take in breath through your nose. Gasp through an open mouth. Check the lighting and the visibility of the book before you begin. Hold the material in front of your face. Have your material organized before you begin. Give the appearance of being unorganized (even if you're not). Wait until people are listening. Read to a community that is doing something else at the time (e.g., standing, sitting, answering, etc.) Stand up straight with both feet on the ground. Slouch over the pulpit or stand askew. Use facial expressions to give more life to your reading. Read in a “dead-pan” fashion. Create an experience, an encounter with the Word.  Have the people remember what they heard. Be a bore or draw attention to yourself in a way that interferes with the congregation's encounter with God's Word.  You are there for God and His people, not yourself!