The Beauty of an Ancient Ministry

The History & Contemporary Role of Ordained Readers (East) & Instituted Lectors (West) - Written by Anthony Mathison

When I was instituted as a Roman Lector ("Reader") in the seminary, I remember it often being a half-hearted joke: "Congratulations: the Church says you can read!" I chuckled but it also saddened me. As one who assiduously prepared for my institution as a Lector, this was far more about simply being able to read at Mass – which frankly non-instituted lectors do the bulk of anyway.

Yet, being a Lector/Reader is so much more than simply a task in the liturgical assembly (although it does find its crown there). It is, put simply, a way of life. An identity rooted in Baptism. In 1 Cor., St. Paul writes: "And in the Church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues." (12:28). Similarly, he writes in Ephesians: "And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherd and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ."

Now, this is an early stage of the Apostolic Era, so we shouldn't expect all these ministries to have survived the death of the last Apostle. And, indeed, it seems most didn't...at least the more charismatic, miraculous types. Yet, before their deaths, the Apostles chose worthy men to carry on their ministry beyond the unique Apostolic function as revelators & witnesses of the Risen Christ (1 Clem. 42:4–5, 44:1–3, c. 80 A.D.). This is precisely when we see evidence of what later were called "minor orders" (porters, exorcists, lectors/readers, acolytes, subdeacons, etc.). Not ordained by laying on of hands (χειροτονία) like deacons, priests, or bishops; but nevertheless closely tied to their ministry & in service to the community.

Moreover, contrary to some post-modern scholars, there is ample evidence that the (by then far less common) charismatic roles spoken of in the verses above were taken up by these new "minor orders." The Reader/Lector, for example, was ordained by laying on of hands in many Eastern texts with the mention of the "gift of prophesy" and of "the work of an evangelist." Clearly, the Reader was understood not simply as a mechanical reader of the Bible during worship, but rather one carrying on the Apostolic missions of prophetic witness by their word & example, as well as catechetical instruction of the faithful.

Furthermore, in the ancient Greco-Roman world and farther East, the ability to read wasn't purely utilitarian. Yes, many were illiterate, but both the written word & the ability to accurately read it were seen as almost mystical realities. Few know, for example, that Greek libraries were probably as loud as modern cafeterias. Why? Because the enunciation of a written word gave it power (δύναμη; ενέργεια). The Reader who proclaimed the Word of God well did likewise, and was honored by the community as such. He was even, at least in the East, given the title "Reader" to remind & humble him. And, to be honest, far more people could read in the 1st-5th centuries than many folks realize! Ancient graffiti proves that beyond any doubt, lol!

Lastly, one of the ways persecutors of Christianity (and Judaism) sought to eradicate the Faith was to seize and destroy Christian holy books. The ordained Reader, after the deacon and priest, was the primary "keeper" of the Scriptures. In times of persecution, many would carefully hide Holy Writ. When told to produce the scrolls or codices, many Lectors went to their deaths – often quite painfully – to protect the Bible. We owe much of our access to the Bible to these heroic men who would rather die than betray the written Word.

To conclude, in the Roman Rite, when a man (or woman as of 2021) is made an instituted lector of the Church, he or she is prayed over by a bishop (usually) and then given a copy of the full, canonical Scriptures with the ancient command:

"N. Take this book of Holy Scripture and be faithful in handing on the Word of God, so that it may flourish more in the hearts of mankind. Amen."

[Christian Latin: "N. Accipe librum Sacrae Scripturae et Verbum Dei fideliter trade, quo magis in cordibus hominum vigescat. Amen."