(3.4) The Proclamation of the Gospel
Liturgical Prayer and Action
While Alleluia is being sung, the priest or deacon takes the Book of Gospels from the altar to the lectern.
The priest will then pray:
Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel (GIRM).
Or
If the deacon is reading the Gospel:
Deacon will ask for blessing and say:
Your blessing, Father.
Priest will give blessing and say:
May the Lord be in your heart (GIRM).
Deacon will then make the Sign of the Cross and say:
Amen.
The priest or deacon will then address the assembly in similar way to the Greeting:
Priest says:
The Lord be with you.
We say:
And with your spirit.
Priest says:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.
We say:
Glory to you, O Lord.
The priest or deacon will then make the Sign of the Cross to his forehead, mouth and chest while we also make similar Sign of the Cross. This action is done in order to enlighten our thoughts, words and our heart so that we may be worthy of hearing the Gospels.
At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest concludes as:
The Priest says:
The Gospel of the Lord.
We say:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Origin and Meaning
The Proclamation of the Gospel is the most important part of the Liturgy of the Word. It is the reading of the Sacred words of Jesus Christ and Christ himself is present in these words. It is done in every mass and read only by the priest or the deacon.
The Gospel is the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and contains the good news of the life, teachings, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the inspired word from God, written by people who are witnesses to Christ or have been followers of the Apostles.