Gospel

At the reading of the Gospel, the celebrant intones, The Holy Gospel according to St. ______ the ______ chapter, whereupon the congregation responds, Glory be to thee, O Lord. During this response, the celebrant makes the sign of the cross with his right thumb, on the opening word of the Gospel reading, and then on his forehead, lips, and breast, and says privately, “The Lord be in my heart and on my lips” (this is an abridgment of the longer formula). For the reading of the Gospel, he holds his hands palm to palm but apart, as if framing the Gospel reading between them. Following the reading, he takes the Book, still opened, in both hands, raises it chin high, and intones, The Gospel of the Lord, whereupon the congregation responds, Praise be to thee, O Christ, as the celebrant kisses the open Book, and replaces it.

5 comments:

Fr BFE said...

I'm curious about the use of the use of chant tones for the Gospel. Is this practice being recovered anywhere?

Anonymous said...

I prefer to announce the Gospel on most Sundays and Feast days in the following manner:

"A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. _______, the ______ Chapter."

At the Feast of the Nativity I modify the announcement:

"The beginning of the Holy Gospel according to St. John, the First Chapter."

On the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord I modify the announcement:

"The conclusion of the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the Sixteenth Chapter."

In this I believe I agree with Father Petersen. The Gospel begins on Christmas day (not Christmas Eve) and ends on Easter Sunday. These days are therefore further set apart as our highest feasts with these singular honors.

Fr BFE said...

Most interesting. "The conclusion of the Gospel" on Easter, is there any authority on this?

Brian P Westgate said...

It would seem that "The conclusion of the HOly Gospel according to St. Mark" should be the intro on Ascension. FWIW, the St. Andrew Daily Missal has the regular "Continuation of the Holy Gospel" for both Pascha and Ascension.

Fr BFE said...

Interesting. So again, does anyone have an authority on "the conclusion of the Gospel"? When or whether it is said?

Fr. BF Eckardt, Editor-in-chief, Gottesdienst