Choosing readers (lectors) for your Catholic
wedding
Who will proclaim the Scripture readings during your wedding
ceremony? The priest or deacon who witnesses your marriage will proclaim
the Gospel reading. The responsorial psalm is usually led by a cantor
(song leader), or simply recited by a reader if a cantor is unavailable.
That leaves you to find readers (also called lectors) for the first and
second readings. Here are some tips for choosing your readers:
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Keep in mind that whoever you choose will be doing more than just
"reading"; that person will be proclaiming the Word of God. James M.
Schellman summarizes the implications of this sacred task perfectly:
"Above all, the readers must understand and believe that they are
performing a real ministry of presence and communion. They must accept
that the Lord is active and present to the assembly through their
proclamation, that the Lord longs to speak and be heard in the biblical
word they enunciate. It is a word for this assembly, here and now, and
each of its members is called to hear and respond to that word...." (See
the full article in America magazine at the link below.)
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Because the role of reader is a sacred task, you will probably want to
choose a person of faith as your reader. Ideally, that person will also
be a good public speaker. The Church has this to say about readers at
weddings: "The proclamation of the Word of God is to be made by suitable
and prepared lectors. They can be chosen from among those present,
especially witnesses, family members, friends, but it does not seem
appropriate for the bride and groom to be lectors. In fact, they are the
primary receivers of the proclaimed Word of God" (Preparation
for the Sacrament of Marriage #68).
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The readers should be willing to prepare for
their role by practicing the readings, even before the wedding
rehearsal. At the wedding rehearsal, they should practice the
reading with the sound system on. For readers who have not received
formal training to be a lector, "The Ministry of Lector" by
theologian Peter P. Kenny offers some excellent background and
practical advice, as does "The Lector at Mass," an official guide
from the U.S. Catholic bishops (see links below).
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If you can't find suitable readers among your friends and family, the
staff at your parish should be able to recommend good, trained lectors
who you could ask to read at your wedding. Some parishes require the use
of formally trained lectors at weddings.
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Finally, the readers should read from the lectionary, not a sheet of
paper or notes. The priest or deacon witnessing your marriage can help
you locate your readings in the lectionary.
Choosing Scripture readings
Unless you are
celebrating your wedding on a Sunday or on a holy day of obligation, you
have the option of choosing the Scripture readings for your wedding.
A list of wedding readings provided by the Rite of Marriage
Choosing wedding readings from the Lectionary for Mass
Other websites
The Lector at Mass
A complete guide to the role of the lector during the Mass, with
reference to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, from the U.S.
Catholic bishops.
The Ministry of Lector
If you are asking someone who is not a trained lector to read at your
wedding, you should consider directing them to this excellent practical
resource. Theologian Peter P. Kenny offers a brief introduction on what
it means to be a lector; some background points on what it means to read
within the liturgy; and concrete techniques for public reading.
The Ministry of the Lector
AmericaMagazine.org. James M. Schellman opens up the spiritual dimension
of the ministry of the lector in this excellent reflection piece.
Biblical Words Pronunciation Guide
Provides a phonetic pronunciation guide for hard-to-pronounce biblical
words, plus a .wav file that will play the pronunciation for you.
