Introduction to and conclusion of the Gospel of the Passion

[gwyn]

Hello everyone,

When the accounts of Our Blessed Lord's Passion are read on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, how should they be introduced and by whom?

Also, at their conclusions, who would pronounce the versicle "The Gospel of the Lord"? Would it be the Celebrant (who is reading Christ), the Narrator (a layperson) or the Deacon (the voice of Pilate and other single voice parts)?

Thanks for any guidance.

Gwyn.

[Southern Comfort]

(1) The opening dialogue "The Lord be with you...." is omitted completely.

(2) The reading begins straightaway with "The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to..." by the narrator or, if only one person is reading the Passion, whoever it is that is reading (priest or deacon unless exceptional circumstances such as extreme frailty dictate otherwise). There is no people's response to this announcement.

(3) The closing dialogue "The Gospel of the Lord..." is omitted completely.

(4) Incense and candles are not used, and there is no signing or kissing of the book.

[gwyn]

Thanks S.C..
Sorted.

[mcb]

This is the official line:

The Lord's passion is narrated without candles or incense. ... The greeting before the gospel reading and the signing of the book are omitted. ... At the end the words This is the Gospel of the Lord are said, but the book is not kissed. [Ceremonial of Bishops, 273]

[John Ainslie]

This is the official line:

The Lord's passion is narrated without candles or incense. ... The greeting before the gospel reading and the signing of the book are omitted. ... At the end the words This is the Gospel of the Lord are said, but the book is not kissed. [Ceremonial of Bishops, 273]

This accords with the ruling from the Liturgy Office for the concordat cum originali licenses. Both the initial 'The passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to...' and 'The Gospel of the Lord' at the end should be said by the priest or deacon; there is no response to the initial statement, but 'Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ' follows at the end.

[gwyn]

Thanks everyone, you've been most helpful.

[Southern Comfort]

Once again we see what happens when different agencies of the Vatican do not communicate with each other. The Lectionarium is quite clear that there is no "The Gospel of the Lord" at the end of the reading. Heigh-ho. The Ceremonial of Bishops takes precedence in this instance.

[quaeritor]

Once again we see what happens when different agencies of the Vatican do not communicate with each other.

. . . and why us ordinary layfolk are confused! - I've been "fixing" ceremonies on and off since 1956 and I've never come across a "Ceremonial of Bishops" - it's not exactly the kind of book you find lying round on someone's coffee table - and even if I did know it existed, I would assume it contained stuff for ceremonies celebrated by Bishops (seems reasonable, doesn't it?) and I would not think to second guess the Missal by checking everything against this alternative source - and how would I know if it was "at the same release" or "update" as the current Missal? - or what to do if (when) they disagree?

Remarks about celebrations in breweries come to mind.

Oh dear! - Grumpy again!

Q