4Ps: Prayer,

Practice,
Preparation and
Proclamation
By: Ciedelle Honey Lou Sumaljag Dimalig
  Practical Preparation for Lectors

 Practical Preparation for Lectors is a basic resource for liturgical ministers. This

resource provides guidance to empower lectors who proclaim the Word of God so that

during the liturgical celebration, “the Bible ...from being a written word from the past

becomes what it is: God's addressing us here and now” (Spirit of the Liturgy, Ratzinger

p.72).
 PRAYER, PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION

 “The Word of God … proclaimed in the Liturgy is always … a living and effective word
through the power of the Holy Spirit. It expresses the Father’s love that never fails in its
effectiveness towards us … Christ is present in His Word, as He carries out the mystery of
salvation, He sanctifies humanity and offers the Father perfect worship...When God
communicates his word, he expects a response, one, that is, of listening and adoring “in
Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). The Holy Spirit makes that response effective, so that what
is heard in the celebration of the Liturgy may be carried out in a way of life: “Be doers of the
word and not hearers only” (Jas 1:22) … As [the faithful] listen to the word of God
proclaimed in the Liturgy, they strive harder to commit themselves to the Word of God
incarnate in Christ. Thus, they endeavor to conform their way of life to what they celebrate
in the Liturgy, and then in turn to bring to the celebration of the Liturgy all that they do in
life.” (Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, #4, 6)
 PRAYER ( PAG- AMPO)

 “It is out of the Word of God handed down in writing that even now 'God speaks to his

people ... The word of God proclaimed in the celebration of God's mysteries does not only

address present conditions but looks back to past events and forward to what is yet to

come...The working of the Holy Spirit is needed if the word of God is to make what we

hear outwardly have its effect inwardly … the Spirit brings home to each person

individually everything that in the proclamation of the work of God is spoken for the good

of the whole gathering of the faithful.”(Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, #7, #9)
PRAYER
 Pray and meditate on the Scripture Readings. Be open to what the Holy Spirit is saying.

Consider:

 What strikes you as you read the text?

 What feelings or images are evoked by the text?

 What is the message of the text?

 What is the Spirit telling you?

 What response is the Spirit calling for from me? From the community?

 Are we being called to conversion, to repentance, to forgiveness, to belief, to God and

neighbor?
PRAYER :

 When praying and practicing, make the message of the Spirit your own. Your heartfelt,

faithful response will be conveyed through your proclamation. The Spirit will affect the

open-hearted faithful assembly and enable each person to hear the unique message that s/he

needs to hear. Their response will affect some change in the community’s members that

conforms them to Christ.

PREPARATION:

 “It is Christ himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in the Church…It

is not enough that the biblical passages are read in the vernacular, if they are not also

proclaimed with the care, preparation, devout attention and meditative silence that

enable the Word of God to touch people’s minds and hearts.” (John Paul II, Mane

Nobicum Domine, 13)

 PREPARATION:

1. Read all of the texts for that day’s Liturgy of the

Word: the readings, the responsorial Psalm, the

alleluia verse and the Gospel.

Understand and pray about the content, purpose and message of the passages. Consider: How

does the Psalm respond to the first reading? How is the Gospel message connected to the other

readings? What is the theme of the day and the meaning or message that is conveyed?
2. Understand the readings in their Biblical

context.

Your understanding of the day’s Scripture passages can be enhanced by reading the verses

in the Bible that surround the designated text. Biblical commentaries are helpful tools for

the Lector’s deeper understanding.

3. Understand the readings in their
Liturgical context.

(Readings can be found at http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/1998USL.htm ).

Become aware of how this particular reading relates to the Scriptures that are read on

the weekdays and Sun-days prior to and following the reading you will proclaim. The

readings generally are complimentary or continuous, and reflect the Liturgical year.

Consider: How does this passage make clear the theme of the surrounding days and

the Liturgical year?

4. Become familiar with the Lectionary.

Read the introduction at the beginning of the first volume. In particular,

Chapter 4 “The General Arrangement of Readings for Mass” and Chapter
5 “Description of the Order of Readings” can help the Lector understand
the choice and order of the readings throughout the liturgical year. The
3-year cycle of readings for Sunday Mass also can be found in the New
American Bible. This is the Bible translation used in the Lectionary. The
Lectionary can be found on-line at http://catholic-
resources.org/Lectionary/Introduction-1981.htm.
 Understand the text’s literary genre or style and
5.
consider its appropriate mood or tone.

The proclamation of a gifted Lector should be in keeping with the tone of the passage.
The Biblical author chose a particular literary style or genre to help convey a specific
purpose, message or theme with an appropriate mood or tone. Consider: Is the passage
part of a narrative (story)? Discourse (explanation or argument)? Ex-hortation
(persuasion)? Poetry (with metaphor and parable)? Is the tone joyful, ex-ultant or awe-
inspiring? Encouraging or consoling? Is there repetition or opposition of thought?
Practice proclaiming the text with the appropriate tone or mood in mind.
PRESENTATION:

Practice and Proclamation

 “A speaking style on the part of the readers that is audible, clear, and

intelligent is the first means of transmitting the word of God properly to the

congregation.”

(Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass, #14)

PRESENTATION: PRACTICE AND
PROCLAMATION
 Know the message of the Sacred Scripture and why it is important. When
proclaim-ing, focus your attention and energy on the intention of God’s Word.
When the Lector consciously puts God's Word first, his/her demeanor will
reflect an attitude of service for God's Word and His people.
 Your vocal presentation can help convey the message of the Scripture.
 Practice by reading the Scripture conversationally. This may help convey the
sense of the text.
 When practicing and proclaiming, speak more slowly than you would in
normal con-versation.
PRESENTATION : PRACTICE AND
PROCLAMATION

 Enunciate so that the assembly can understand all the words of God that you

proclaim.

 Pronunciation guides can be found in dictionaries and in your Lector’s

handbook. If you aren’t sure how to pronounce particularly difficult names of

places or people, then ask the celebrant, deacon or another liturgical minister.
PRESENTATION: PRACTICE AND
PROCLAMATION

 Proclaim the Scripture expressively, not dramatically.

 Vocal variety helps to engage the listener. Avoid a monotone voice.

 Strive for a subtle variation in volume (loud or soft), pitch (high or

low), tempo (fast or slow) intonation (the rising and falling cadence of
the voice), rhythm (the recur-rent alternation of sound and silence
that can provide emphasis) and inflection. (Raise your vocal energy at
the beginning of a new or significant thought or phrase.
 The end of a sentence often calls for a downward inflection. Questions
usually end with an upward inflection.)
 Some words are more important than others. Emphasize important words by
saying them more slowly.
 Misreading the text can occur. If you misplace a word or mispronounce it,
just ig-nore your error and continue reading unless the sense of the text has
been changed. If your misreading has significantly altered the meaning of the
text then correct it immediately by re-reading the word, phrase or sentence
so that the intended mean-ing is evident.
 Manage anxiety. One’s desire to do well may heighten anxious feelings. Your

con-fidence level will improve with preparation, practice and prayer. Use the

energy as-sociated with your anxiety by focusing yourself and your energy in

the humble ser-vice of the Holy Spirit.

PROCLAIMING FROM THE AMBO

 When proclaiming God's Word, Lectors praise and glorify God and engage in an

act of loving service for His faithful. The Lector provides the voice for the

Holy Spirit to make known the Word of God. So that the faith community

hears God's Word, the reader does not distract his fellow believers from the

Holy Spirit's message. You are a servant of God's Word. Your manner,

appearance and proclamation should draw attention to the Scripture

readings, not detract from them.

 When standing at the ambo, the Lector's stance should project a sense of the importance

of the proclamation. Be aware of your posture: stand straight, both feet flat on the

floor and shoulder-length apart, maintaining a secure but relaxed stance. Fidgeting,

repeatedly shifting your weight and inappropriate attire can be distracting.

 Your relaxed hands can rest gently on the ambo or Lectionary. Discreetly and

unobtrusively using your finger to mark your place when you read can be helpful. If

necessary, adjust the height of the microphone.

 Managing Pauses While Reading
Lectors can help their faith community connect to the Word of God by managing
pauses. Taking a breath while reading can create a brief pause. A Lector can use this
brief interlude to re-focus his attention and energy on humbly serving God and
community through his/her proclamations. Pauses convey meaning. Properly placed
pauses can convey the message, mood and weight of the text. Brief pauses can
separate, emphasize, and conclude important thoughts, phrases or statements.
 Managing Pauses while reading

Momentarily pausing at key points in the reading can help the assembly
understand the text by creating a brief interlude for a message to “sink in” and
be processed by the listener.
Pause according to the sense of the phrase or the sentence. Listening to
yourself read the passage aloud can help you sense when it is appropriate to
pause. Punctua-tion marks, commas, periods, etc.) can help you decide where
to breathe. Mark your text when a pause is appropriate. Practice pauses.
 Carefully manage the length of your pauses before and after a reading.

Briefly paus-ing before beginning the first reading's introductory words can

allow time for the as-sembly to sit, get comfortable and get ready to listen. A

pause at this time also cre-ates a brief moment of expectation which invites

the congregation's attention. Paus-ing at the end of a reading invites a

moment of silent reflection. Always pause at the end of the reading, before

saying “The Word of the Lord”

 Engage the Assembly by Establishing Eye Contact

The proclamation of God's Word should affect a response from the community.

The Lector can use eye contact with the assembly to invite their engagement,

personal involvement, and response to the Words proclaimed. Eye contact can

be used to emphasize important phrases.

 Effectively engage the assembly by making eye con-tact with different areas

of the congregation – look slightly above the congregation, look towards the

people in the back, and look slightly right or left of center. Engage the whole

assembly. Make eye contact at the beginning of the passage and at the end of

some sentences. While practicing, decide where in the reading it would be

natural to make eye contact.

CLOSING PRAYER