Today was an auspicious day for my husband and his classmates. They were instituted as Lectors, the second rite on the journey to ordination. What is a Lector? A lector is the person who proclaims the readings at Mass and other liturgical celebrations. As an instituted lector he is considered the ordinary minster for reading. While lay people often read at Mass, they are not the ordinary minister but the extraordinary one.
This is from The General Instruction of the Roman Missal:
"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 Prayer of the Faithful and, in the absence of a psalmist, proclaim the Psalm between the readings."
The Mass took place at St. Vincent de Paul Seminary and Bishop Robert Lynch, D.D.form the diocese of St. Petersburg was the celebrant. Each man knelt in front of the Bishop, placed his hands on the Scriptures while the Bishop said, " Take this book of holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the word of God, so that it may grow strong in the hearts of his people."
It was very beautiful to see not only the four men who will become permanent deacons, but the twenty-three men who will become priests, do this. It restores hope in the future of the Church and reminds me that the Holy Spirit is still moving.
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