Carrying the Gospel?

[AngelRose81]

Simple question here…Can someone tell me if it is allowed for a woman to carry the Gospel? I visited another parish today and a woman carried the Gospel in and then back out at the end of Mass.

 

[YADA]

If a deacon is assiting at the Mass the Deacon processes [carries] the Book of the Gospels into the Church at the beginning of Mass … if there is no Deacon, a Lector [reader] may process the Gospel’s … and woman may read either the first or second Readings …

At our Mass, the Second Lector processes the Book of the Gospels when a Deacon is not present …

The Gospel’s are not to be processed out at the endo of Mass … We come to Mass to hear the Word Proclaimed and recceve the Word [Eucharist] … we are then sent to be Christ to the world … not to recapture the Word and take it out …

I will look for a GIRM reference if you like …

 

[AngelRose81]

If a deacon is assiting at the Mass the Deacon processes [carries] the Book of the Gospels into the Church at the beginning of Mass … if there is no Deacon, a Lector [reader] may process the Gospel’s … and woman may read either the first or second Readings …

At our Mass, the Second Lector processes the Book of the Gospels when a Deacon is not present …

The Gospel’s are not to be processed out at the endo of Mass … We come to Mass to hear the Word Proclaimed and recceve the Word [Eucharist] … we are then sent to be Christ to the world … not to recapture the Word and take it out …

I will look for a GIRM reference if you like …

Thanks for the quick response. There was not a Deacon at this parish and the lady that carried in the Gospel was a lector. So I guess it was ok.

At my home parish we have a Deacon or one of the male lectors carries the Gospel, so I had just never seen a woman do it. Thanks again!

Oh and can you please get me a reference in the GIRM so that I can have it for future reference? Thanks!

 

[YADA]

From the UCCB Web page Quote:

• In the procession to the altar, when no deacon is present, the lector, wearing the appropriate vesture, (2) may carry the Book of the Gospels elevated slightly. In that case, the lector walks in front of the priest, otherwise with the other ministers (GIRM 194).
• Upon reaching the altar, the lector makes a profound bow with the others.(3) If the lector is carrying the Book of the Gospels, the lector goes to the altar and places the Book of the Gospels on it. Then, the lector takes up a position in the sanctuary with the other ministers (GIRM 195).
  And this Quote:
  At the conclusion of the Mass, the lector does not process with the Book of the Gospels. The Lectionary is never carried in procession. The lector may join in the procession at the end of Mass in the same order as in the procession to the altar.

Here is the link for the entire document:
usccb.org/liturgy/girm/lit3.shtml

I hope this helps
Respect Christ - Vote Life

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 2002 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) approved for the USA, which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :

"**A. MASS WITHOUT A DEACON **
*The Introductory Rites *
120. Once the people have gathered, the priest and ministers, clad in the sacred vestments, go in procession to the altar in this order:
a. The thurifer carrying a thurible with burning incense, if incense is used;
b. The ministers who carry lighted candles, and between them an acolyte or other minister with the cross;
c. The acolytes and the other ministers;
d. A lector, who may carry the Book of the Gospels (though not the Lectionary), which should be slightly elevated;
e. The priest who is to celebrate the Mass. "

If there were an instituted lector (which only males can be) he should do the readings and be the one to carry the Book of the Gospels. From the GIRM:
“101. In the absence of an instituted lector, other laypersons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. …”.

More on this is in GIRM n. 99 and 194-195.

 

[Biblioassistant]

I’m a reader and I’ve carried the book of the Gospels in at the beginning of Mass. We don’t carry them out at the end though.

I’m glad you emphasized the phrase, elevated slightly. Some readers carry the book WAY over their heads. I can’t - my arms would hurt (and I think it looks silly).