Gospel from the lectern when there is a pulpit?

[StatCrux]

If there is a pulpit, must the gospel be read from there? The homily?

Right now there is both a lectern and pulpit, but the pulpit is unused.

My understanding is that an ambo is a combined lectern and pulpit . We don’t have this. We still have them separately. The GIRM only references an ambo.

Citations are appreciated.

Thanks,

SC

 

[benedictgal]

I think that in some of the older churches, there were two stands. One was for the proclamation of the readings, while the other was for the proclamation of the second Gospel (the beginning of St. John’s Gospel) from the TLM, now the Extraordinary form of the rite. Two of my parishes in the city still have this configuration, although the second “pulpit”, for lack of a better word, is now being used as the cantor stand.

From what I understand of both the GIRM, the ambo, pulpit and lectern seem to be one in the same, as there doesn’t seem to be a differentiation between the three. Nonetheless, the word of choice in the GIRM is the ambo:

1. In the celebration of the Mass with a congregation, the readings are always proclaimed from the ambo.

Now, regarding the ambo itself, this is all that the GIRM has to say:

The Ambo

1. The dignity of the word of God requires that the church have a place that is suitable for the proclamation of the word and toward which the attention of the whole congregation of the faithful naturally turns during the Liturgy of the Word.117

It is appropriate that this place be ordinarily a stationary ambo and not simply a movable lectern. The ambo must be located in keeping with the design of each church in such a way that the ordained ministers and lectors may be clearly seen and heard by the faithful.

From the ambo only the readings, the responsorial Psalm, and the Easter Proclamation (Exsultet) are to be proclaimed; it may be used also for giving the homily and for announcing the intentions of the Prayer of the Faithful. The dignity of the ambo requires that only a minister of the word should go up to it.

It is appropriate that a new ambo be blessed according to the rite described in the Roman Ritual118 before it is put into liturgical use.

I don’t know if this is the answer you seek, but, that’s pretty much all that I can find in the GIRM. Redemptionis Sacramentum doesn’t say much about it.

 

[benedictgal]

The only other reference to the ambo that I found was in the Introduction to the Lectionary (Second Edition):

The Liturgy of the Word at Mass

The Introduction teaches that because it is through the Scriptures that God speaks to his people, the biblical readings for Mass with their accompanying chants from the Sacred Scriptures may not be omitted, shortened, or, worse still, replaced by nonbiblical readings. In Masses with the people," the readings are always to be proclaimed at the ambo" (LFM 16).

The first means of effectively communicating the word of God is to assure that the readings are proclaimed in an audible, clear, and understandable voice. Thus, even the singing of a reading " must serve to bring out the sense of the words, not to obscure them." When introductory comments are given before the readings, they must be " simple, faithful to the text, brief, well prepared, and properly varied to suit the text they introduce" (LFM 16).

The reading of the Gospel is the highpoint of the Liturgy of the Word. The Evangeliary or Book of Gospels is carried in by the deacon or reader and “it is most fitting that the deacon or a priest, when there is no deacon, take the book from the altar and carry it to the ambo” (LFM 17). Such a procession is meant to solemnize the entry of Jesus as the Word of God into the assembly. The Introduction then summarizes the ritual details for proclamation of the Gospel.

…At every Mass with the People, the Word of God is proclaimed from an ambo “somewhat elevated, fixed, and of a suitable design and nobility…of harmonious and close relationship… with the altar” (LFM 32). The ambo “must…truly help the people’s listening and attention during the Liturgy of the Word”(LFM 34). It should be of sufficient size, sound, light and have amplification equipment. The ambo is reserved for the readings, the responsorial psalm, and the Easter Proclamation (the Exsultet) (LFM 33). While it may be also used for the homily and the prayer of the faithful, “it is better for the commentator, cantor, or director of singing, for example, not to use the ambo.”

Unfortunatetly, these are the only references that I can find regarding the ambo. Although it may not fully answer your question, at least you’ll get some helpful information. Perhaps there is someone wiser than me who can better answer your question.

 

[John_Lilburne]

In Liturgical Literacy, Dennis Smolarski, provides definitions of terms, including:
“PULPIT … - An alternative name for an ambo or lectern. In many older churches, thre was a special pulpit for preaching in the midst of the assembly, which was not used in the liturgy for the proclamation of scriptural readings.” (Dennis Smolarski, Liturgical Literarcy, Paulist Press, 1990, page 173).

The liturgical books are clear that the homily does not have to be given from the same place that the Gospel is proclaimed (as posted above). The Ceremonial of Bishops has for a Stational Mass of the Diocesan Bishop:
“142 … He gives the homily seated in the chair (cathedra), unless he prefers some other place in order to be easily seen and heard by all.”