How to Ask Your Congregation to Stand Up for the Gospel

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PaulGalls

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I just started reading at mass and NYE night was my fist time. Before I read the Gospel Acclamation I said, Please stand for the Gospel Acclamation. Looking back at this now I am wondering should you ask them to stand for the Gospel and then read the alleluia?
 
As clergy, you have the authority and I’d go so far as to say the responsibility to say “Stand for the proclamation of the Gospel”. Also put reminders in your parish social media, bulletin, etc.
 
No, you shouldn’t. Read what’s on the page in the lectionary for you to read. It doesn’t say to tell them to stand, so don’t.

If people don’t stand at the proper times, let Father handle it.

-Fr ACEGC
 
I find it personally disrespectful if the Congregation have to wait for Father to come over to the lectern and then ask all to stand, but maybe its not my place to do so either edward_george1.
 
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PaulGalls said:
I find it personally disrespectful if the Congregation have to wait for Father to come over to the lectern and then ask all to stand, but maybe its not my place to do so either
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It is not your place to do so, correct. It’s the priest’s place to do so.
 
In almost every parish around here, the reader simply starts the Alleluia* and Father along with everyone else stands. There’s no need for anything else. Example is often the best instruction.

*when we don’t have music. On most Sundays/Holy Days, the musicians cue the timing to stand.
 
Are you clergy? I’m guessing you are not by your question. A lay reader does not read the Gospel, that is left to the clergy (priest or deacon). Standing at the alleluia is very common Catholic practice so most of the parishioners would know to stand.

I am confused by your question.
 
The term “Gospel Acclamation” seems to be causing some confusion, with some thinking it is the Gospel being proclaimed. The terms used in the Roman Missal are:

“The Acclamation before the Gospel” (the heading for General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 62) or

“Verse before the Gospel” (used in GIRM 63) or

“the Alleluia Chant before the Gospel” (used in GIRM 43).

Often it will be clear when to stand, with the Alleluia being sung and enough of the ministers and congregation knowing what to do. But there may be confusion and the requirement of an announcement or gesture.

Some examples of situations where there may be confusion are:

– There is the option to have only the Gospel reading, following Directory for Masses with Children, n. 42. So the Acclamation before the Gospel is directly after the Collect.

– Some Masses have a Sequence, sung before the Alleluia (GIRM 64). I do not think it is clear in the Roman Missal if the congregation should be standing or sitting for this. A decision needs to be made and perhaps communicated.

– At a Mass where there is only one reading before the Gospel “the Alleluia or the Verse before the Gospel, if not sung, may be omitted.” So if it is omitted, what is the cue for people to stand? Particularly if there is silence after the second reading, which may be appropriate according to GIRM 56.

GIRM 43 has: “For the sake of uniformity in gestures and bodily postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the instructions which the Deacon, a lay minister, or the Priest gives, according to what is laid down in the Missal.”

I think saying “please stand” would usually be enough.

[Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
I have been in the Catholic Church for 40 years and for the first 20 this was never an issue - the congregation just stood for the Gospel acclamation. In some churches it still isn’t, for that reason. Then, about 20 years ago, the liturgists in some parishes took it on themselves to give the commentator another line, ie. “Please stand to welcome the gospel” (or similar). The practice started to spread and now we often have the situation that the congregation doesn’t move until asked to do so, and we also have confusion about what are the “correct” words.

Why anyone ever thought it was a good idea to add this to the liturgy is beyond me.
 
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The term “Gospel Acclamation” seems to be causing some confusion, with some thinking it is the Gospel being proclaimed. The terms used in the Roman Missal are:

“The Acclamation before the Gospel” (the heading for General Instruction of the Roman Missal, n. 62) or

“Verse before the Gospel” (used in GIRM 63) or

“the Alleluia Chant before the Gospel” (used in GIRM 43).

Often it will be clear when to stand, with the Alleluia being sung and enough of the ministers and congregation knowing what to do. But there may be confusion and the requirement of an announcement or gesture.

Some examples of situations where there may be confusion are:

– There is the option to have only the Gospel reading, following Directory for Masses with Children, n. 42. So the Acclamation before the Gospel is directly after the Collect.

– Some Masses have a Sequence, sung before the Alleluia (GIRM 64). I do not think it is clear in the Roman Missal if the congregation should be standing or sitting for this. A decision needs to be made and perhaps communicated.

– At a Mass where there is only one reading before the Gospel “the Alleluia or the Verse before the Gospel, if not sung, may be omitted.” So if it is omitted, what is the cue for people to stand? Particularly if there is silence after the second reading, which may be appropriate according to GIRM 56.

GIRM 43 has: “For the sake of uniformity in gestures and bodily postures during one and the same celebration, the faithful should follow the instructions which the Deacon, a lay minister, or the Priest gives, according to what is laid down in the Missal.”

I think saying “please stand” would usually be enough.
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This was a weekday mass and yes there was no second reading. I just spoke with a priest there and he agreed with me, its better to ask them, “Let us stand for the Gospel” then proceed with the alleluia as some people stand, some don’t until the priest comes over and has to ask them.

Thanks for all your answers.
 
As edward_george1 said, that is not your role strictly speaking if your are the lector.

However, as Edmundus 1581 alluded, it is perfectly legitimate if you have been tasked as commentator, which seems to be the case after the clarification from your priest.
 
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Edmundus1581 said:
I have been in the Catholic Church for 40 years and for the first 20 this was never an issue - the congregation just stood for the Gospel acclamation.
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I could see where there may be some confusion when the Acclamation is spoken rather than sung. A previous rubric (or at least, one very common missalette publisher) indicated that the acclamation was to be omitted if not sung, but that changed several years back.
 
In every Catholic Church I have ever attended, the congregation has stood at the beginning of the Alleluia without anyone saying anything>
 
Me too. Even visitors stand when they see everyone else standing. It’s not difficult. When I go to a TLM I’m not always sure what postures to take so I just follow along with everyone else.
 
Cor_ad_Cor said:
I could see where there may be some confusion when the Acclamation is spoken rather than sung. A previous rubric (or at least, one very common missalette publisher) indicated that the acclamation was to be omitted if not sung, but that changed several years back.
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Thankyou for the clarification.

I’ve heard of that, and the rule that the Acclamation is to be omitted if not sung has been the subject of some comment among expert liturgists, which has only muddied the issue of further adding an instruction to stand.

In the parishes where I’ve observed “Please stand to welcome the Gospel” added, the rule you mentioned has not been applicable, however, as these places always either recite or sing the Acclamation. In fact, I’ve never heard of the Acclamation being omitted in Australian parishes under this rule.

I’m grateful for the information that this rule changed several years back. That at least simplifies the discussion.

ps. That’s interesting that it may never have been a rubric, but just an addition to popular missalette. 🙂
 
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The 2010 English translation of the Roman Missal has in the General Introduction:

“63. When there is only one reading before the Gospel:
a) during a time of year when the Alleluia is prescribed, either an Alleluia Psalm or the Responsorial Psalm followed by the Alleluia with its verse may be used;
b) during a time of the year when the Alleluia is not foreseen, either the Psalm and the Verse before the Gospel or the Psalm alone may be used;
c) the Alleluia or the Verse before the Gospel, if not sung, may be omitted.”

[Excerpt from the English translation of The Roman Missal ©2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
I just happened to be looking at OCP’s Today’s Missal in reference to something else; sure enough, the current version still has a note next to the Alleluia saying “omit if not sung”. 🤷‍♂️
 
One thing I would say is that it’s simple: “Please stand” I have seen some who think they are being clever by saying “Please rise”, word playing on the Resurrection, which is quite cutesy, but it’s not as precise as saying “Please stand” which is actually what you are asking. You can “rise” without standing. You can raise your head, lean up, or levitate in a sitting position, all meeting the request to “Please rise”. People need to not try to be so clever because you can FEEL the incorrectness in it! I know that though I’m supposed to be impressed by this cleverness, actually it puts me off.
 
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