Proclaim The Word: A Series Of Talks For Readers/Lectors
On the evening of 27th November 2024 Fr Adrian Graffy delivered the first of a series of talks designed for Readers (Lectors) and entitled ‘Proclaim the Word’. This first talk was called ‘He stood up to read’ (Lk 4:16) and took as its starting point the account of Jesus, as a lay reader, proclaiming the Scriptures in the Nazareth synagogue.
Fr Adrian also referred to other relevant New Testament texts and then traced the history of the ministry of reader from Justin Martyr, through the Middle Ages, to the Reformation and beyond.
The 20th century developments, with the contributions of St Pius X and Pope Pius XII, led to a climax with Sacrosanctum Concilium, the 1963 document on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council.
Finally, Fr Adrian explained the decision of Pope Francis that lay women and men should be instituted as readers on a stable basis throughout the Catholic Church.
This short talk gave a panorama of a fascinating history which will help readers to understand the origins of their ministry and its importance in the Church of today, as they assist people to come to know and understand the Word of God in the Scriptures.