Placement of the Book of the Gospels
Date: June 18, 2023
Author: Fr. Edward McNamara, LC
Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology and director of the Sacerdos Institute at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum university.
Question: In my diocese, when the Book of the Gospels is carried at the entrance procession the deacon places it at a little lectern beside the altar. Is this right? I thought the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states that the Book of the Gospels is placed on the altar. Also, can you enlighten me on the practice of carrying lighted candles for the reading of the Gospel during Easter season? In my diocese many priests believe that with the presence of the paschal candle the altar servers should not carry candles for the Gospel. Is this correct? -- G.O., Orlu, Nigeria
Answer: The GIRM gives several indications. We will use the formulation for a Mass without a deacon as this covers most situations. To wit:
“117. […] On the altar itself may be placed a Book of the Gospels distinct from the book of other readings, unless it is carried in the Entrance Procession.”
However, if the book is carried in the procession it states:
“122. When they reach the altar, the Priest and ministers make a profound bow. The cross adorned with a figure of Christ crucified, and carried in procession, may be placed next to the altar to serve as the altar cross, in which case it must be the only cross used; otherwise, it is put away in a dignified place. As for the candlesticks, these are placed on the altar or near it. It is a praiseworthy practice for the Book of the Gospels to be placed on the altar.”
This is further mentioned in describing the functions of the reader:
“194. In the procession to the altar, in the absence of a Deacon, the reader, wearing approved attire, may carry the Book of the Gospels, slightly elevated. In that case, the reader walks in front of the Priest but otherwise walks along with the other ministers.
“195. Upon reaching the altar, the reader makes a profound bow with the others. If he is carrying the Book of the Gospels, he approaches the altar and places the Book of the Gospels upon it. Then the reader takes his own place in the sanctuary with the other ministers.”
“133. If the Book of the Gospels is on the altar, the Priest then takes it and approaches the ambo, carrying the Book of the Gospels slightly elevated. He is preceded by the lay ministers, who may carry the thurible and the candles. Those present turn towards the ambo as a sign of special reverence for the Gospel of Christ.
“134. At the ambo, the Priest opens the book and, with hands joined, says, The Lord be with you, to which the people reply, And with your spirit. Then he says, A reading from the holy Gospel, making the Sign of the Cross with his thumb on the book and on his forehead, mouth, and breast, which everyone else does as well. The people acclaim, Glory to you, O Lord. The Priest incenses the book if incense is being used (cf. nos. 276-277). Then he proclaims the Gospel and at the end pronounces the acclamation The Gospel of the Lord, to which all reply, Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. The Priest kisses the book, saying quietly the formula Per evangelica dicta (Through the words of the Gospel).”
The above formulations “may be” and “it is praiseworthy” etc. would indicate that there is no strict obligation to place the Book of the Gospels upon the altar, but it would seem to be the strongly preferred and even the default option. If it is not placed on the altar, the ambo would appear to be the natural place.
Nothing in the norms indicates that it be placed on a lectern beside the altar at this moment; there does not seem to be any sound theological case for doing so. Indeed, placing the Gospel on the altar is done to underline the intimate connection between the table of Christ’s word and the Eucharistic table.
However, when describing the rites of veneration and the procession with the Book of the Gospels in No. 133, only the procession from the altar is foreseen. It would, therefore, appear to be necessary to place it on the altar if one wishes to have a solemn procession.
After the proclamation of the Gospel, GIRM 175 only has indications for when there is a deacon present, saying, “Lastly, the Deacon may carry the Book of the Gospels to the credence table or to another suitable and dignified place.” This could perhaps include a visible place for the Book of the Gospels such as a special lectern, but, if used, the book is brought there with no special ceremony. The reasons why no such indications are given for priests who proclaim the Gospel are because the homily should immediately follow the proclamation and there are no intermediate ceremonies foreseen.
With respect to the omission of the use of gospel candles during Easter season we could say that this is not a rule. In fact, the omission of the candles is specified only during the Easter vigil Mass itself, because on this night the Easter candle itself suffices to honor the risen Lord in his Gospel.
The fact that the liturgical books specify that only on this night Gospel candles are not used implies that they should be used on all other solemn occasions; always recalling that that these candles, like incense, are recommended but are not obligatory elements of the celebration of Mass and hence, may always be omitted.
We can also point out that, during the rest of Eastertide, the Easter candle and those that accompany the Gospel have different symbolic values.
The Easter candle represents the risen Christ and, while it is often placed near the ambo, this is not the only possibility. The other possibilities are at the center of the sanctuary or next to the altar. Because of this, the Easter candle is not necessarily or primarily associated with the Gospel.
The candles that accompany the Gospel are a means of honoring and emphasizing the centrality of the Gospel in salvation history and as the high point of the Liturgy of the Word.
As the Second Vatican Council's dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum points out, these liturgical honors also establish a certain parallel with the honors attributed to the Blessed Sacrament, which is also accompanied by lighted torches and incense. This serves to underline the presence of Christ in the liturgical proclamation of the Word, though without detriment to the unique nature of the substantial real presence of the Eucharist.
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