Of course, if it appeases your sense of cynicism.
Since shortly after my coming into full communion I opined that the liturgical culture of the Roman rite is “pre-printing press.” You learn the words by hearing, not by reading along.
In my parish, our missals do not include the scripture readings, just the liturgicl prayers. Personally, I find it easier to close my eyes during the readings thus eliminating any and all distractions. Try it.
The Mass, even the LOTH ... these are not classes; we are not studying.
While 'study' may not be the best word, you are no doubt reflecting on the prayers, no?
Study should be a part of every adult Xtian's life. But the Mass and the offices ain't it.
Agreed but let's be realistic. The majority of mass attendees go no further than what they heard on Sunday. They rarely pursue it any further. I teach religious education at my small parish. On a whim, I asked some of the children if they were familiar with the Genesis stories of Noah and the ark, Joseph and his brothers, Daniel in the lions' den ... and was met with blank stares. How sad ... truly sad! These are wonderful stories, filled with inspiration. Most alarming, though, was that they did not know the 10 Commandments. The grandmother brings the children to church; I've never met the parents. I've commissioned grandma to work with them at home.
My mother raised us as Southern Baptists. We were in church two or three times a week. In my adulthood, I got into a very limited discussion of religion with Mom. She became very agitated with me when I told her the Trinity was not composed of Jesus, God, and Mary. Lord knows how many hundreds of sermons she had sat through.
As a certified geezer, I don't always hear so good. But I USUALLY know what's being read after the first few words. I preached on almost the same lectionary for a LONG time. But the NAB, which often paraphrases rather than translates, sometimes throws me for a loop.
I have multiple attitudes about the readings at Mass. One is certainly that its like speed lectio divina. What is God saying to me right now?
Another is like watching the pitch at a ball game. The homilist is the batter. I can't wait to see what he's going to do with it!
It is terrifying how ignorant some people are about the basic stories of Scripture! You know my story and my inclinations: Episcopal altar boy from the age of 7. It was the one thing I was good at as a kid. And I DID listen. And I was a lay reader from the age of 11 ... 58 years ago!
So I had the desire and the opportunity to learn, and to learn to love the Bible. I went off on my Naaman the Syrian rant the other day, and the vice president of our province said that I had a gift.
I don't know about that, but I do know I just LOVE it! It's wonderful! It just frustrates me sometimes. I want to get up and say, “Do you clowns get how AWESOME that reading was?”
At least we tertiaries bump into the Psalms twice a day. And I see how they creep into people's minds. But when I'm Pope tertiaries will have to do Matins as well as Lauds and Vespers. The Bible is so great!