Learning to Speak Spanish May Make Me a Better Lector

I have a great appreciation and love for my service as a Lector in my Parish. A while back I wrote this post regarding Lectors and service.

Three weeks ago I wrote this post about learning to speak Spanish.

At the time I did not see a connection between the two, but I do now. That's what I'd like to share with you here.

Something that has become very clear to me is that in the Spanish language (and I understand many others as well) there is a much more precise pronunciation of words and syllables. Much more precise. In fact, it has become clear to me just how lazy one can become speaking only English.

Hailing from the New Orleans metropolitan area for the first 38 years of my life has formed in me an extra "lazy" pronunciation. We have a very "laid-back" pronunciation (accent). Oh, and sorry Texans, but living here for the past 8 1/2 years has not really been much help either.

This has become evident, almost painfully so, as I have completed a little more than 3/4 of the first level (there are five levels) in the Rosetta Stone course. The course affords me the opportunity to hear myself speak the language. Oh brother!

It becomes even more obvious when I attempt to speak with friends whose native language is Spanish. Many times they correct my pronunciation of words that I "thought" I had achieved the proper pronunciation for. I am pretty hard on myself, so it's difficult to learn that what I accept from myself is not really acceptable.

However, this type of correction is exactly what I need and want and why I appreciate the honesty of my friends for helping me with this. You see, I am truly motivated to do this correctly and not just "get by" or accept something that is less than what I am able to achieve.

Just "scratching the surface" to explain a bit, there are 29 letters in the Spanish alphabet, not 26. (Oh, I understand that as of 2010 this has been "changed" in some locations to 27 letters, but I believe that it is more accurate to stick with the 29. Yes, yes, I know that even that was disputed by some. And yes, I have gone beyond the RS course in my studies.) Even the letters which correspond with the English alphabet have their own names and pronunciations.

Last week I came up in the rotation for service as Lector. This means that I began preparing right around the time I began to realize these things about my pronunciation in Spanish. So as I was preparing, I thought to myself, "You already take this service very serious, but perhaps you need to concentrate harder on a more exact pronunciation of the syllable during your readings."

I did, and I was pleased with the result. I will continue to include better pronunciation in my prayer and preparation. I am happy that this is a "side benefit" or result of my learning to speak Spanish.

Now I really need to get the rolling r sound down with those "rr" words!

Reverence: Catholic Cataclysmic Failure

The past several decades of incredibly bad catechesis, combined with an ever-compounding  failure of Catholics to properly form themselves and thus their children, have effectively caused an inability for many to decipher (much less to be able to explain) what makes the Catholic Church "different" from other Christian ecclesial Communities.

The effects of such have been cataclysmic, and NO, I am NOT over-reacting!

This past Monday, in "Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: Necessity or Convenience", I stated:

I like to post articles which draw attention to a more reverent attitude toward the Liturgy, the Sacraments, and especially the Eucharist.

Because of the aforementioned reasons, many find this conversation "difficult", and many refuse to enter into it (the discussion) or even consider availing themselves of well-documented Christian history, which is more accessible (and affordable for sure) than ever through today's technology.

That said, I believe the items below "draw attention to a more reverent attitude toward the Liturgy, the Sacraments, and especially the Eucharist":

Fr. Z responds to a question about women lectors in which he states

"because the lectorate has always been a step to Holy Orders, women reading in the sanctuary can be seen by some as a step to the ordination of women to the priesthood."

Of course, a less damaging yet still wrongful misunderstanding can also be concluded via male lectors who clearly are not "officially instituted" as a "step to ordination". See the full post here.
-------
Max Lindenman writes

I've only served as an EM on an emergency basis; it was all I could do to remember to wipe the chalice. I had no idea how much on-the-spot legal analysis the job can potentially involve. 

...and then links to an Ed Peters piece regarding the canons governing reception, distribution  and withholding of Communion.
-------
Adoremus in Aeternum, A Catholic Gathering shared a most excellent article by John Vennari "The Day the Host Dropped" which includes a look at some Christian history

First of all, Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that “out of reverence for this Sacrament, nothing touches it but what is consecrated.” Thus, he said the sacred vessels of the altar are consecrated for this holy purpose, but also, the priest’s hands are consecrated for touching this Sacrament. And St. Thomas said that it is therefore not lawful for anyone else to touch it, except to save it from desecration. (Summa, III, Q. 82. Art. 3)

...as well as how we treated the Eucharist not so long ago

1) From the moment the priest pronounces the words of the Consecration over the Sacred Host, the priest keeps his forefinger and thumb together on each hand. Whether he elevates the chalice, or turns the pages of the missal, or opens the tabernacle, his thumb and his forefinger on each hand are closed. The thumb and forefinger touch nothing but the Sacred Host; 

2) During Holy Communion, the altar boy holds the paten under the chin of those receiving Communion, so that the slightest particle does not fall to the ground. This paten is cleaned into the chalice afterwards; 

3) After Holy Communion is distributed, the priest scrapes the corporal (the small linen cloth on the altar) with the paten, and cleans it into the chalice so that if the slightest particle is left, it is collected and consumed by the priest; 

4) Then, the priest washes his thumb and forefinger over the chalice with water and wine, and this water and wine is reverently consumed to insure that the smallest particle of the Sacred Host is not susceptible to desecration.

Disclaimer: Any links to or references to persons or organizations which may advocate schismatic ideologies or tendencies or in any way lend to an insinuation of anything other than complete fidelity to the Holy See and/or Magisterium are NEVER intended to represent me or my beliefs in any way. NEVER.
-------

On a personal note, my son Brandon and my Faith Formation class will all be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time tonight. Please say a prayer for these and all children. Thank you, and God's blessings be with you and your families.

Lectors; A Serious Call to Service

The word lector is Latin for "one who reads". However, in the liturgical sense of the word, "reader" is lacking at best. Being a lector is a serious call to service, a call to serve God and the people of God. It is not to be taken lightly or without some understanding of what the Church prescribes for such service.

I will avoid a prolonged accounting of the history of the lector as a minor order, but will point out that the Catholic Church still considers the lector to be "instituted" for service.(1)

In the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, I find this particular instruction speaks to the care with which this service is to be attended to:

In the absence of an instituted lector, other lay people may be deputed to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture, people who are truly suited to carrying out this function and carefully prepared, so that by their hearing the readings from the sacred texts the faithful may conceive in their hearts a sweet and living affection for Sacred Scripture (GIRM 101)

Wow! There is much to process there:

• "deputed" - as in being given a responsibility
• "proclaim" - as in declaring insistently, praising and glorifying publicly
• "carefully" prepared - as in not waiting to the last minute, as in praying before practicing, as in arriving to Mass early, as in wearing the appropriate attire, etc.

and that

• "the faithful may conceive in their hearts a sweet and living affection for Sacred Scripture" - as in the lector has a great responsibility to cooperate with God's Grace and the Holy Spirit in being so effective that the people of God are moved to also cooperate with God's Grace and the Holy Spirit, preparing them more efficaciously to receive the Word of God in their hearts and subsequently the Eucharistic feast as well.

In the readings, the table of God's word is laid for the faithful and the riches of the Bible are opened to them. (+)

When the Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself is speaking to his people, and Christ, present in his own word, is proclaiming the gospel. (+)

---------------

(1) based upon GIRM 99

(+) From Roman Missal Formational Materials provided by the Secretariat for the Liturgy of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2010.