Proclamation of the Word
When we read the Sacred Scriptures in the Church, God speaks to His people, and Christ, present in His Word, proclaims the Gospel.
The proclamation of the Word of God is truly a service to the Church. Readers bring the living Word of God to the liturgical assembly. The ministry of the Word should be treated seriously and with great dignity.
Proclaiming the Word is a calling from the Holy Spirit. Do you feel the Holy Spirit calling you?
How is it done?
This ministry in the Church requires a person who is of excellent character and serious about the practice of their faith. The reader must believe that Sacred Scripture is the Word of God and have deep respect for God’s presence in that Word.
The Word of God is not merely read during the liturgy. It is proclaimed, yet not with a theatrical show. Effective proclamation involves the delivery of the message with clarity, conviction, and appropriate pace. It demands the ability to evoke faith in others by demonstrating one’s faith. Proclamation is a special ministry that presupposes faith. It also rouses faith in those who hear the Word proclaimed.