Part 6:
As it Appears in St. Bede Sunday Bulletin, January 27,2002 The liturgy is "an orchestration of word and silence, chant and gesture, procession and
attention, that we are to know, wonderfully by heart".1
Notice that the
lector now comes from the assembly rather than sitting in the sacristy. In our Baptism we are all called to ministry. Our lectors are responding to that call and come forth from the assembly and return to
the assembly when finished with the Second Reading where they rejoin their family.The Gospel acclamation is begun by the music ministers. "It is the joy of the alleluia that causes the presider and assembly to rise
out of their seats to greet Christ in the Gospel". 2
Procession and GestureThe presider joyfully lifts the Book of the Gospels from the altar like a precious jewel and shows it to the assembly. Servers, with candles emphasizing the presence of
Christ, (at times the incense bearer), and the book bearing presider process into the assembly to the ambo. At the last refrain the Book is set down on the ambo open so that immediately upon the cessation of the
music the greeting "The Lord be with you!" is given. The presider has reflected upon the readings during the week, consulted resources and prayed for guidance as part of his preparation of his homily. The
assembly honors those preparations and fully realizes the impact of their attentiveness and their facial expression in the delivery of the presider's message. This attentiveness calls forth a preacher's best. 1. From
Gather Faithfully Together 2. From Modern Liturgy, Volume 28, Page 9. |