Questions: The Ministry of Reader

The Office of Worship regularly is asked questions about the qualifications of readers for Mass. In particular, people seem to want to know if children may read, if one must be Confirmed to read, and if a person must be Catholic to read at Mass.

Liturgical documents are relatively silent when it comes to requirements for a reader. They generally make a distinction between an instituted reader and other readers or lectors. The Ministry of Reader is one of the instituted ministries on the path to Ordination (the other is Acolyte). Prior to being ordained deacons, men are installed first as readers and then as acolytes. Because they are connected with Ordination, these ministries, in their instituted form, are reserved to men.

In the absence of such instituted readers (which is all of the time in most places), the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (no. 101) says:

"In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. They should be truly suited to perform this function and should receive careful preparation, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture."

The Twelfth Synod of Bishops on the Word of God (2008) spoke strongly about the desire to train and form both men and women for this important ministry. (For more information on this see the November-December 2008 issue of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Divine Worship Newsletter.)

Liturgical documents do not require that readers have received the Sacrament of Confirmation (although it is certainly desirable), nor do they set a minimum age. The idea is that the reader possesses the skills of public proclamation as well as a love for Scripture (not just reading it, but living it!).

Non-Catholics often are asked to read during Wedding and Funeral Masses. Is this permissible?

The US Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship offers this answer (written in the first person by one of their officials) on their website:

Paragraph 133 of the Directory [for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism published in 1993 by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity] addresses the question of a non-Catholic fulfilling the ministry of reader at Mass. The Directory makes clear that normally "during a eucharistic celebration in the Catholic Church" the readings are to be proclaimed by a Catholic. The Directory goes on, however, to allow that "on exceptional occasions and for a just cause, the bishop of the diocese may permit a member of another church or ecclesial community to take on the task of reader.

The intentions of the General Intercessions are proposed by "the deacon, another minister, or some of the faithful," (Lectionary for Mass, Introduction, number 30.) I would suggest that the principles established by the Directory for the proclamation of the readings could be applied to the General Intercessions: ordinarily, the intercessions at Mass are proclaimed by a Catholic. As in paragraph 133 of the Directory, however, the bishop may allow a non-Catholic proclaim the General Intercessions according to his own pastoral judgement.

Keep in mind that the above guidelines are for use at Mass. Other liturgical celebrations (Weddings Outside Mass, for example), do not require special permission. It's also good to remind brides and grooms or others involved that reading Scripture is not just "one more job" that can be awarded as an honor to friends. It is an important ministry and ideally the person should exercise this function in their own church.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee's Office for Worship has a wonderful brochure about the ministry as well as numerous other excellent resources.

Finally, the Book of Blessings offers this beautiful prayer for the Blessing of Readers (no. 1844):

Everlasting God,
when he read in the synagogue at Nazareth,
your Son proclaimed the good news of salvation
for which he would give up his life.

Bless these readers.
As they proclaim your words of life,
strengthen their faith
that they may read with conviction and boldness
and put into practice what they read.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.