… At the end of the Gospel, after he proclaims “This is the Gospel of our Lord” and the assembly responds “Thanks be to God” the Priest processes with the Book of the Gospels to a stand in front of the Ambo where it remains through out Mass. During this procession the congregation remain standing and sing the Alleluia from the Gospel Acclamation. We checked with our Diocese Liturgy Director and was told that this is proper. I have seen this at other Dioceses, and even saw it at a Papal Mass last week on EWTN. My problem is that I can find nothing in the Liturgy Documents that state that this is allowed. Can anyone help with this?
At the end of the Gospel the correct response is “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ” (not “Thanks be to God”).
My understanding is that singing the Alleluia after the Gospel is wrong. It is sung before the Gospel. During Lent it is called the “Verse before the Gospel” so I hope it is clear that the “verse before the Gospel” should not be after the Gospel.
But if it is being sung at a papal Mass perhaps there are rules I am not aware of. Perhaps the Roman Gradual or Simple Gradual has something. Perhaps the Introduction to the Book of the Gospels.
But this would surprise me. I have noticed that in papal Masses the liturgical books are not followed (for example from the 2002 GIRM n. “101. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture.”).
What should happen at the end of the Gospel? From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from
romanrite.com/girm.html :
“134. … . Then he proclaims the Gospel and at the end says the acclamation Verbum Domini (The gospel of the Lord), to which all respond, Laus tibi, Christe (Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ). The priest kisses the book, saying quietly, Per evangelica dicta (May the words of the gospel). …
136. The priest, standing at the chair or at the ambo itself or, when appropriate, in another suitable place, gives the homily. When the homily is completed, a period of silence may be observed.”
For Mass with a Deacon:
“175. … When the reading is concluded, he says the acclamation Verbum Domini (The gospel of the Lord), and all respond, Laus tibi, Christe (Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ). He then venerates the book with a kiss, saying privately, Per evangelica dicta (May the words of the gospel), and returns to the priest’s side.
When the deacon is assisting the Bishop, he carries the book to him to be kissed, or else kisses it himself, saying quietly, Per evangelica dicta dicta (May the words of the gospel). In more solemn celebrations, as the occasion suggests, a Bishop may impart a blessing to the people with the Book of the Gospels.
Lastly, the deacon may carry the Book of the Gospels to the credence table or to another appropriate and dignified place.”
There can be singing of the response “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ” but not anything else. If anything, silence is encouraged:
“
Silence
45. Sacred silence also, as part of the celebration, is to be observed at the designated times.
[footnote 54: Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 30;
Sacred Congregation of Rites, Instruction Musicam sacram, On music in the Liturgy, 5 March 1967, no. 17: AAS 59 (1967), p. 305.]
Its purpose, however, depends on the time it occurs in each part of the celebration. Thus within the Act of Penitence and again after the invitation to pray, all recollect themselves; but** at the conclusion of a reading** or the homily, all meditate briefly on what they have heard; …”.
But the 1981 Introduction to the Lectionary seems to deliberately omit “after the Gospel” as a time for silence:
“28. … Proper times for silence during the liturgy of the word are, for example, before this liturgy begins, after the first and second reading, after the homily. [footnote 57: See 1975 General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 23]”.
This 1975 GIRM n. 23 had: “23. Silence should be observed at the designated times as part of the celebration. Its function depends on the time it occurs in each part of the celebration. Thus at the penitential rite and again after the invitation to pray, all recollect themselves; at the conclusion of a reading or the homily, all meditate briefly on what has been heard; after communion, all praise God in silent prayer.”
