Is there a Bible at the ambo in a Catholic Church?

[normdplume]

I’m currently doing research about the Catholic Church. I’ve read that the gospel is read from the ambo. What I’m wondering is if there is a Bible left on the ambo when there is no church service underway, or is it brought out only during services?

Thanks.

 

[Fauken]

What I’m wondering is if there is a Bible left on the ambo when there is no church service underway, or is it brought out only during services?

It’s brought out only during services. And to be more precise, it’s a lectionary, not a bible, as it’s organized by the liturgical calendar.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

There is no Bible at all on the ambo. The Mass readings are contained in the Lectionary, which is rarely (in my experience) left on the ambo between Masses. In those cases, the church itself was locked. Lectionaries are expensive, so no sacristan would leave one out if the church is open and unattended.

 

[Horton]

This may sound a bit confusing but there is rarely a bible on the ambo. Yes, Catholics read the bible and there are readings from the bible at every Mass.

What is used is a book called a lectionary. In every Mass there is 1-2 readings (1 for daily Mass & 2 for Sundays), a psalm, and a reading from the gospel. Rather than having to flip through a bible to find the readings of the day, the reading are complied in order in these lectionaries. The reading are the same in every Catholic Church and go in a cycle of three years. Each parish would have three books, one of each year.

As far leaving it on the ambo, I know in my parish the daily Mass book is left on the ambo from day to day until weekend Masses.

 

[normdplume]

So many things I did not know.
Thank you, all.

 

[po18guy]

Each parish has the Lord Jesus Christ, present in Sacramental form within the Tabernacle. Additionally, He is made present to us at the consecration of the bread and wine. He is infinitely superior to the scriptures, the lecitionary or anything of this earth. Most Tabernacles are directly behind or in close proximity to the altar.

What more is possibly needed?

 

[UpUpAndAway]

The reading are the same in every Catholic Church and go in a cycle of three years. Each parish would have three books, one of each year.

A bit of clarification: there are indeed three lectionaries, one for Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, one for Mass during the week, and one for saints’ feasts. The Sunday lectionary has a three-year cycle, the one for Mass during the week has a two-year cycle and the one for saints has an annual cycle.

I suppose the first two lectionaries might be separated into volumes containing a single year’s readings, but what I’ve described is how they are laid out where I live.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

but what I’ve described is how they are laid out where I live.

And therein lies the critical piece of your statement. Lectionaries come in a variety and the layout and contents depend on which version is purchased from which publisher. Likewise, mileage will vary for whether or not they’re expensive and locked away outside of Mass or relatively inexpensive and left at the ambo full time. I’ve seen all sorts of combinations. (My parish has pricier ones with separate A, B, and C Sunday volumes and a weekday book; where I used to attend daily Mass during a previous job, it was a 6-ring binder reminiscent of a Franklin Covey planner left out at all times for all days/seasons.)

 

[UpUpAndAway]

Fair enough. In the end, my point was that what @Horton described is not the case everywhere. I see now that what I posted is also not the case everywhere.

 

[TomH1]

I’ve read that the gospel is read from the ambo.

Yes, it is. It may be read from a liturgical book called the Lectionary [for Mass], which would already be on the ambo. Alternatively, it can be read from a book called the Evangelion (the Book of Gospels).

The Lectionary is put on the ambo prior to Mass but is put away afterwards. The Evangelion will usually be carried (by the deacon) in the entrance procession and then placed on the altar. It will be taken from the altar and carried in procession to the ambo for the Gospel to be read. Afterwards it is placed on a side-table in the sanctuary.

What I’m wondering is if there is a Bible left on the ambo when there is no church service underway,

The Lectionary, Evangelion, Bible nor any other book is left on an ambo outside Mass. This never happened when I was an altar server (the subject of ancient history) and I have never seen it since.

 

[1ke]

The Church uses both a lectionary and a book of the Gospels, which have the readings for that day organized by the first reading, psalm, second reading, and gospel.

No, a Bible is not on the ambo.

The lectionary and book of gospels are either left in the sanctuary or removed to the sacristy depending on the individual church.

 

[normdplume]

Thanks again. Very helpful.

 

[phil19034]

The Church uses both a lectionary and a book of the Gospels, which have the readings for that day organized by the first reading, psalm, second reading, and gospel.

No, a Bible is not on the ambo.

The lectionary and book of gospels are either left in the sanctuary or removed to the sacristy depending on the individual church.

@normdplume And to add to this very good answer, most parishes are going to put the lectionary away after mass because if it goes missing, it would be very inconvenient for the next mass.

BTW - it is worth noting that in ancient times, before the printing press and when the Bible was very expensive to transcribe, the Church often did chain the Bible to the Ambo so (1) it wouldn’t be stolen and (2) so it could be used outside of Mass.