Does your priest...

[SirTimothy]

Our previous locum, and I'd really prefer it if they didn't. When they address the congregation and God from memory it seems so much more personal and directed to God than when they are closely reading from the book

Timothy

[gtsecc]

both ?
they have it memorized and they read it anyway
we have a daily mass

[IowaLutheran]

Our previous locum, and I'd really prefer it if they didn't. When they address the congregation and God from memory it seems so much more personal and directed to God than when they are closely reading from the book

Timothy

Have you ever spoken in public? I have had several jury trials and although by the time I try a case I know it inside and out I still like having my notes in front of me when I give my opening and closing arguments. Same with when I preach occasionally or serve as the assisting minister at worship.

I guess what I am saying is that I am more comfortable speaking in public than 99% of the rest of the population and I still like to have my notes in front of me. I look directly at the audience/congregation as much as I can but I still look at my notes just to make sure I am on track.

So if a priest needs to read the liturgy to get it right, fine. I'd rather see that than see a priest freeze up and lose his place.

[SirTimothy]

There's a difference between knowing it and having it there, than gazing at the liturgy constantly and referring to it. Especially for communion--the liturgy is exactly the same every week (with a few slight variants, but in ordinary time...) why not look at the people or look upwards rather than looking at the liturgy. Of course, I don't know the meaning of the word stage fright, having spoken in public and sung in public since the tender age of... umm... 3?

Timothy

[Fish and Bread]

I don't think having a perfect memory should be a prerequisite for the priesthood. Some people's brains work in such a way that they can grasp concepts well but have difficulty memorizing anything word for word. I still to this day have to read the Nicene Creed each week out of the BCP to get it exactly right when we recite it as a parish. I could discuss the theological *meaning* of the Nicene Creed ad infinitum for pages and pages, but the actual wording I sometimes need a reference to look down at. That's just one example of how people's brains can work differently when it comes to memorization. One of my pet peeves is that few seem to recognize this -- I can remember early on in school having a heck of a time with a few things that required memorization like spelling and so forth, but teachers always just assumed I wasn't trying hard enough because I seemed to grasp concepts so well and got straight As in most subjects at that age.

So, I think it's very possible that when a priest reads the Eucharist liturgy out of the BCP that he/she may simply not be *able* to memorize it completely. Yet, that same priest may be a wonderful shepard and give incredible sermons. Let's cut our ministers a little slack, it's a hard job being a parish priest. :)

Also, I think it's worth thinking about this: Would you rather have the priest read the liturgy out of a book or risk a priest forgetting his/her lines and saying something incorrectly? Personally, I prefer the book approach. :)

John

[SirTimothy]

Oh, certainly. But for 'The Lord be with you', the opening lines of the liturgy should be addressed to the congregation, IMHO. We've had priests that have, and priests that haven't.

Timothy

[AveMaria]

A bit of both - they seem to know it by heart but they do refer to the book, but not read directly out of the book.

[Father Rick]

the liturgy is exactly the same every week (with a few slight variants, but in ordinary time...) Yes... but it's those slight variants that get you every time!!

[PaladinValer]

Both for both my parishes.

[UberLutheran]

Parts of the liturgy are memorized, parts are read; the Gospel lesson is usually memorized and while the Book is brought out to the congregation (and the pastor accompanies it), she recites the week's Gospel lesson from memory and presents it much like a mini-sermon.