The Lectern and The Liturgy of The Word

photo lectern at Catholic Hythe

The Lectern is the stand from where the Liturgy of the Word is proclaimed and sermons (homilies) given. At Catholic Hythe we have a team of trained lay lectors who proclaim the Word of God at Mass; the Gospel reading and sermon are said from the lectern by the priest or deacon. At Sunday Mass (and on Holy Days of Obligation) there is a first reading from the Old Testament, a psalm, a second reading from the New Testament (non-gospel) and the Gospel reading. On weekday Mass there is just one first reading, Psalm and Gospel. All the readings used in the Liturgy of the Word are taken from the Catholic Church Lectionary.

There is a profound relationship between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist in the Catholic Mass. "The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures as she venerates the Body of the Lord, in so far as she never ceases, particularly in the sacred liturgy to partake of the bread of life and to offer it to the faithful from one table of the Word of God and the Body of Christ" (Vatican ll 'Dei Verbum' On Divine Revelation, chapter 21).
(From chapter 21 'Dei Verbum' - continued) "She (the Church) has always maintained them (scriptures), and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is living and active" (Hebrews. 4:12) and "it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thessalonians 2:13)."