WHITE PAPER #3
Emotion and Proclaiming
(“Feeling” vs. “Theatrics”)
Eugene M. (Gene) Hayes
Lector Trainer (Retired)
Webmaster
www.lectorsproclaim.org
Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially those who belong to the family of believers.
This passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians is the basis of our thinking about how
proclamations are effectively delivered. To proclaim something, particularly a passage from
Scripture, requires more than oral reading with expression. It requires demonstrating through
our vocal efforts that we, personally, believe what is being proclaimed – how we feel,
understand, and want our listeners (the audience/congregation) to feel and understand the
passage. “Feeling” involves our emotions: “understanding” involves our appreciation of the
message in the proclamation for the PERSONS involved. Bring the two together and the impact
of Scripture on a person can be awesome.
We as lectors are also very human. We are at the same time sensitive to physical and nonphysical circumstances in our lives. “Proclamation” is the combination of thinking (ideas),
understanding (how we experience the “ideas” in our own living), and “expression” (how those
ideas are conveyed with conviction about their meaning for us and our “audience”). That
conviction always involves our emotions.
And THAT is the ministry of a Scripture Proclaimer (Lector or Gospel Proclaimer)!
Some might say that to show emotion is a theatrical device and that as such it has no place in
Church. Is that really so? Pope Francis doesn’t seem to think so:
Dear brothers and sisters, being the Church, to be the People of God, in
accordance with the Father’s great design on love, means to be the leaven of God
in this humanity of ours. It means to proclaim and to bring God’s salvation to this
world of ours, so often led astray, in need of answers that give courage, hope, and
new vigor for the journey…. We must go out through these doors and
proclaim the Gospel (emphasis added by E.M.Hayes)
Pope Francis, General Audience, June 12, 2013
I’ve underlined part of the text above to emphasize “courage” “hope” and “new vigor” -- three
words that require some emotional involvement to convey their meaning effectively. Vocally,
this means that the words or phrases used to describe the significance of what’s happening need
to be expressed differently from other words or phrases also in play as the scene, idea, or
circumstance is described. They need to help the listener “hear and feel” the courage or hope or
vigor the author wants the listener to become aware of via the text. The lector’s task is to make
those words come “alive” for the listener.
You must at least make an attempt to work out for yourself what “emotion” is and how you can
express it. Notice that I emphasize “you” rather than a more generalized description of how to
say a word or phrase. As a lector, you – a person of faith – are attempting to influence the minds
of the persons in front of you. [In that action you are Jesus’ Disciple.] Those listening to you are
just like you in their faith in Christ; and, they want to make their faith stronger, more important,
and/or more of an influence in their lives – just like you! They are sinners just like you! Your
ministry is to help them grow closer to Jesus – through the words printed on the lectionary page
and the use of your vocal chords -- and nothing else (other than the help of the HOLY SPIRIT)
== to move the words from the page to the minds of the listeners. There is no space for
“theatrics” as a result!
Some people might conclude that they are not a good lector candidate as a result of what I just
wrote. That is absolutely WRONG! In my 30+ years as a lector-trainer I can count on one hand
the number of times when I encountered someone who should not be a lector. Oh, it wasn’t
because of any weakness on their part. A person is not a good lector-candidate if they are
looking for personal aggrandizement or recognition, if they first seek the favor of others, or if
they “know” it all and want to impress others with this knowledge. I have asked a lector to leave
the ministry if their attitude reflects pure self-centeredness. I have released lectors-in-training
because they have come to me and asked to be released (and then stated their reason to me -which is almost always the sense that they are not worthy of the ministry). A few have returned
to lector-candidacy several years later with a much changed attitude (and are fine lectors to this
day)!
Being an effective Scripture proclaimer is a life-long commitment involving Scripture study,
vocal practice, and the search for criticism from yourself and others. There is always something
new to learn. There is always some change in ourselves that is underway that needs attention
and examination. There is always the need to grow in our skills AND in our faith life.
Nearly every author I’ve ever spent some time with says the same thing. First of all, the lector is
a storyteller. Since humans were first active on earth they have told each other stories. If you
have children then you know how important storytelling is in their young lives! But, even as we
mature we still tell stories of what we consider important for others to know about us as we live
our daily lives. We are NOT mere “intellectual” beings. We are BOTH intellectual and sensual.
Lectors need more self-confidence about the sensual (emotional) side of who they are (with little
if any regard for what others may think of us as a result).
Finally, the following is an example from a text we proclaim [Genesis 1: 3-6] (its text layout is
modified somewhat from what is printed in the lectionary page) -- the lectionary format. We call
this change the “proclamation format”. Our website: Lectorsproclaim.org includes BOTH
versions of each Scripture reading proclaimed at the weekend’s Mass (Lectionary Format and
Proclamation Format) so that you can see the differences as well. You can also download and
print the formats for any of the “readings”.
The intent of the “proclamation format” is to help you appreciate HOW the words go together
(and WHY); how fast or slow the words should be said (pace); when the voice should be raised,
lowered, or express a word in a certain way (pitch and volume). The “feeling” part comes from
what you sense the words mean for you in your life as you “proclaim” the words (i.e., put the
pieces together for your audience).
Proclamation Format of text
In the beginning
when God created the heavens and the
earth
and the earth was without form or shape,
with darkness over the abyss
and a mighty wind
sweeping over the waters,
Then
God said:
Let there be light.
and there was light.
Suggestions to keep in mind
These lines are proclaimed in an ordinary,
storytelling mode.
No particular emotion is called for. Watch
your pace, though! Let the listener begin to
“see” the setting/picture.
Very short pause.
Be expectant with “Then”
Slight volume increase for “said”
Commanding; assertive, volume up
short pause before; awe, total (surprise!).
The mind says “What happened?”
God saw that the light was good.
Not quite matter-of-factly! Be impressed
and/or excited. Short pause
God then separated the light from the
darkness
God called the light “day,”
and the darkness he called “night.”
Softly; God is a loving God.
Emphasize “day” in a loving way
Maybe a bit of fear here (“night”)?
Evening came,
And morning followed
-- the first day
Back to storytelling mode. You are simply
reporting that the day is over. May want to
pause between “followed” and last 3 words.
Although we seldom get into the business of highlighting the work of others, here are two items
that may interest you. The first, available upon request from LectorsProclaim.org, is no longer
in print. But, we have the right to copy and distribute it at no cost to you.
Merely send us an email and ask us to send you a copy of:
Eugene A. Walsh, S.S., Life-Giving Energy in Celebration--Telling the Story.
We’ll email you back the seven page document.
The second item is a book titled StoryTelling, Step by Step. You can look it up on Barnes &
Noble or other book distributor.
Marsh Cassady, PhD
Paper, $17.10 [this is a recent price]
156 pages, 5½” x 8½”
ISBN 0-89390-183-0
[If your parish were to order several copies of this book at the same time you may
be able to get it for a bit less per copy.]
About the Author
Marsh Cassady earned both his M.A. and Ph.D. at Kent State University. He has been a
college professor, high school teacher, newspaper writer and musician. His main
attention, however, is the theatre. He has directed and acted in more than 100 plays. He
also gives workshops on fiction writing and playwriting. His other books include
Playwriting Step by Step and Acting Step by Step.
“I especially like the guiding path Cassady set for his readers. The author
presumes the reader is a novice in the art of storytelling ... The stories are
intriguing and entertaining — but that’s not all; the stories are part of a lesson
plan and exercise that allows the reader to grow and mature ...”
— Lou Ruoff, Catholic pastor, storyteller, and author of
No Kidding, God, Where Are You?
Both of these authors stress the need to involve your listeners in the story and how to do it.
While Cassady covers the whole spectrum of storytelling (one man shows, dramas, plays, etc.),
his book is exceptional for lectors since it focuses on the “how” of telling a story. He also helps
the reader understand the “why” he says what he says.
Walsh, a Catholic priest (deceased), concentrates on the liturgy of the Mass and the role lectors
have in it.
I hope the above has been helpful. I hope, too, that you will be encouraged to try to include
more emotion in your proclamations. With the help of the Holy Spirit and with Jesus standing
beside you at the ambo you will find yourself relaxing and unafraid to express what you
genuinely feel and believe about the passage you are proclaiming. You’ll soon sense joy and
satisfaction for a job well done! Although rare, you may even have members of the congregation
come to you after Mass to tell you how much they enjoyed your “reading”. What else would be
more rewarding than that kind of reaction from a listener!