Today\u2019s Question: Gospel Procession<\/strong><\/p>\n What are your thoughts? What does your community do, and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n Moderator\u2019s note: \u201cNon solum\u201d is a feature at <\/em>Pray Tell for our readership community to discuss practical liturgical issues. The title comes from article 11 of the Vatican II liturgy constitution <\/em>Sacrosanctum Concilium: \u201cTherefore there is to be vigilance among holy pastors that in liturgical action <\/em>not only<\/em><\/strong> are laws for valid and licit celebration to be observed, but that the faithful should participate knowingly, actively, and fruitfully.\u201d (Ideo sacris pastoribus advigilandum est ut in actione liturgica <\/em>non solum<\/em><\/strong> observentur leges ad validam et licitam celebrationem, sed ut fideles scienter, actuose et fructuose eandem participent.) May the series contribute to good liturgical practice \u2013 <\/em>not only<\/em><\/strong> following the law, but especially grasping the spirit of the liturgy!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Gospel procession is one of the most flexible parts of the Mass, and thus open to many creative possibilities. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3813,285],"tags":[2560],"class_list":["post-22460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-non-solum","category-pastoral-theology","tag-non-solum"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/strong>The Gospel procession is one of the most flexible parts of the Mass, and thus open to many creative possibilities. It may range from an elaborate procession with the Book of the Gospels<\/em> reminiscent of the little entrance in the Eastern rites to a simple procession by the priest from his chair to the ambo in the absence of the Book of the Gospels<\/em>. Other practices include a procession of the Book of the Gospels<\/em><\/strong> with candles and incense from the altar to the ambo. On special occasions I have also seen the Book of the Gospels<\/em> processed with candles and incense to the middle of the nave, though this is not envisioned by the rubrics. Mass with a Deacon adds even more options for the Gospel Procession. Regardless of how the procession is done, it seems that as soon as the music of the Gospel Acclamation has finished the priest or deacon should say “The Lord be with you.” This requires coordination between the music ministers and whoever is proclaiming the Gospel, as well as, a certain attentiveness on the part of the priest or deacon. Above all, as with many parts of the reformed liturgy, more creativity is allowed in the Gospel Procession than we have become accustomed to.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n