When the priest blesses the deacon before the gospel

[Tuxedo_Mark]

What’s it for? To allow the deacon to read the gospel or to allow the deacon to give the homily?

 

[Ad_Orientem]

Since the blessing always takes place and the homily may be omitted or preached by someone else, I would say the blessing is for the reading of the Gospel.

In both the ordinary and extraordinary form (at a Missa Solemnis) of the Roman rite, the liturgy says:

Deacon: Your blessing, Father.

Celebrant: May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips, that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well, in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Deacon: Amen.

One could argue that the homily is also, by extension, the “proclamation of the Gospel”; however, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 94, lists “proclaiming the gospel” and “preaching God’s word” separately.

 

[FrDavid96]

What’s it for? To allow the deacon to read the gospel or to allow the deacon to give the homily?

It’s about the Gospel.

However, it isn’t about “allowing” or giving the deacon some kind of permission to proclaim the Gospel. That is, after all, his proper liturgical role.

The words are something like “May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips so that you may proclaim the Gospel with competence and dignity” (I always use the Latin, but the English text simply says “…worthily proclaim…”). It’s also nearly identical to the words that the priest prays silently before he proclaims the Gospel if there is no deacon.

The words of the blessing speak the purpose of it.

*Edit: * I was writing from memory. In the meantime, Ad Orientem provided the actual English translation.

 

[ProVobis]

The words are something like “May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips so that you may proclaim the Gospel with competence and dignity” (I always use the Latin, but the English text simply says “…worthily proclaim…”).

It’s in my handmissal here. *Dominus sit in corde tuo, et in labiis tuis ut digne et competenter annunties Evangelium suum. *

It’s always nice to see some continuity from the older Mass to the newer one.

 

[Tuxedo_Mark]

Thanks!

 

[garn9173]

Since the blessing always takes place and the homily may be omitted or preached by someone else, I would say the blessing is for the reading of the Gospel.

In both the ordinary and extraordinary form (at a Missa Solemnis) of the Roman rite, the liturgy says:

Deacon: Your blessing, Father.

Celebrant: May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips, that you may proclaim his Gospel worthily and well, in the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.

Deacon: Amen.

One could argue that the homily is also, by extension, the “proclamation of the Gospel”; however, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, no. 94, lists “proclaiming the gospel” and “preaching God’s word” separately.

Thanks for posting that. My Parish has two Deacon’s and often wonder what was taking place before the Deacon goes to pick up the book of Gospels.

 

[ProVobis]

Thanks for posting that. My Parish has two Deacon’s and often wonder what was taking place before the Deacon goes to pick up the book of Gospels.

I believe it’s one of the few times a subvoce (low tone) prayer is used in the newer Mass. There may be one or two such prayers during incensing, but I may be wrong.

 

[Ad_Orientem]

I believe it’s one of the few times a subvoce (low tone) prayer is used in the newer Mass. There may be one or two such prayers during incensing, but I may be wrong.

I’ve never heard the term “subvoce.” Is that more like vox secreta or vox mediocris?

At almost every Novus Ordo I’ve been to, the celebrant says some quieter prayers during the offertory and during the lavabo, but with the mic it’s hard to tell if it’s supposed to be vox secreta.

 

[ProVobis]

I’ve never heard the term “subvoce.” Is that more like vox secreta or vox mediocris?

At almost every Novus Ordo I’ve been to, the celebrant says some quieter prayers during the offertory and during the lavabo, but with the mic it’s hard to tell if it’s supposed to be vox secreta.

Correction on my part. Trent actually referred to it as submissa voce, though it was specifically directed toward the canon and words of consecration, in the anathema anyway.

ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds2.v.i.i.ix.html

See Chap V and Canon IX.

I have actually been at Novus Ordo Masses with the Roman Canon (EP1) was said without a microphone. It seems to force the crowd to be quiet.