Book of the Gospels

I have been on the road for much of the last couple of months, which gives me an opportunity to see how other parishes "do" liturgy - I'm always keen to pick up ideas.  My own parish does not have a Book of the Gospels - the Gospel being read from the Lectionary, as with the other readings.  However, two of the parishes that I visited do and I noticed one key difference been the two.

Both parishes had a deacon who held the Book aloft during the Entrance Procession and who proclaimed the Gospel.  Both parishes had a simple but dignified procession of the Book of the Gospels to the Ambo (the correct term for what is commonly referred to as the lectern).  But it was after the Gospel had been proclaimed where they differed: In one parish, the Book of the Gospels was processed to a stand/lectern where it was placed, open, facing the congregation; whereas in the other it was simply closed and placed, unceremoniously, on a table adjacent to the Ambo, on top of other books.

In the wake of the Satanic Verses controversy, I seem to recall watching Salman Rushdie interviewed on TV.  In the interview he described how he was raised as a child to respect books - all books.  As such, if one fell to the floor he would pick it up and kiss it, as a sign of respect, before carefully placing it back in its place.  Such was the reverence with which books, and what they represented, were held in his family.

The Book of the Gospels contain the words, teaching and actions of Emmanuel, God Incarnate among us.  After the proclamation of the Gospel the priest peaches a homily, breaking open for us the depths of the very Word that we have just heard.  It seems to me just a little too casual, I would almost go as far as to say disrespectful, to place it on - in effect - a book shelf, out of sight.  Far better to give it a place of honour, open at the day's reading and facing the Assembly.  If nothing else, it is a visual reminder that we are to take the Gospel with us out into the world.

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