Where should the lectern be?

[Elzee]

Someone asked me this question and I can’t find anything specific in the GIRM.

If a church has both an ambo and a lectern, I know that the ambo should obviously be in the sanctuary. But, are there any guidelines or requirements on where the lectern should be? Should it (and therefore the cantor) be in the sanctuary or outside of the sanctuary? (I know the cantor would be at the ambo during the singing of the Responsorial Psalm).

Can anyone point me to a document that has some specifics?

 

[jpjd]

Someone asked me this question and I can’t find anything specific in the GIRM.

If a church has both an ambo and a lectern, I know that the ambo should obviously be in the sanctuary. But, are there any guidelines or requirements on where the lectern should be? Should it (and therefore the cantor) be in the sanctuary or outside of the sanctuary? (I know the cantor would be at the ambo during the singing of the Responsorial Psalm).

Can anyone point me to a document that has some specifics?

I always thought an ambo was a lectern. Furthermore, the churches that I have attended Mass in have just one, which is in the sanctuary area.

 

[Vox_Borealis]

I always thought an ambo was a lectern. Furthermore, the churches that I have attended Mass in have just one, which is in the sanctuary area.

The ambo is the place from which the Word of God (and in theory only the word of God) is proclaimed. It is usually, but not always slightly raised and at least somewhat ornate. Also, shouldn’t the ambo be located to the left (facing) of the sanctuary?

It is not necessarily the same as the (a) lecturn, from which announcements, the prayers of the faithful, and the like should be made.

As for the location of the ambo in the sanctuary, that does seem to be the norm, but it is still technically OK (I think) to proclaim the Word from a pulpit outside the sanctuary–some old historic churches, especially larger churches, have a raised pulpit usually on the left side of the church, on one of the pillars.

 

[Vox_Borealis]

As a follow up, the GIRM states only the following about the ambo:

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.

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 Ritual before it is put into liturgical use.

So, the exact location is not defined, though the ambo is described (somewhat) as not merely a lecturn. Also, it looks as though all anouncements and readings can be made from the ambo, but the section implies that only the readings and psalms need be pronounced from the ambo. The passage asumes that other announcements will also be made from another location (perhaps a separate lecturn).

 

[John_Lilburne]

Someone asked me this question and I can’t find anything specific in the GIRM.

If a church has both an ambo and a lectern, I know that the ambo should obviously be in the sanctuary. But, are there any guidelines or requirements on where the lectern should be? Should it (and therefore the cantor) be in the sanctuary or outside of the sanctuary? (I know the cantor would be at the ambo during the singing of the Responsorial Psalm).

Can anyone point me to a document that has some specifics?

From the 2002 General Introduction to the Roman Missal (GIRM) which can be accessed from romanrite.com/girm.html :
“138. … Then the cantor, the lector, or another person announces the intentions from the ambo or from some other suitable place while facing the people, who take their part by responding in supplication.”

“105 … b … In performing this function the commentator stands in an appropriate place facing the faithful, but not at the ambo.”

“295. The sanctuary is the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices. It should suitably be marked off from the body of the church either by its being somewhat elevated or by a particular structure and ornamentation.”

I see 295 as saying the lectern should be in the sanctuary. A cantor and commentator are ministers, therefore their office is exercised from the sanctuary.

An earlier edition of the GIRM, the 1975 edition, had the commentator as outside the sanctuary. It had
“68. As for other ministers, some perform different functions inside the sanctuary, others outside.
The first kind include those deputed as special ministers to administer communion and those who carry the missal, the cross, candles, the bread, wine, water, and the thurible.
The second kind include:
a) The commentator. …
In performing this function the commentator stands in a convenient place visible to the faithful, but it is preferable that this not be at the lectern where the Scriptures are read. …”
(From The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1985, page 30*).

But the 2002 GIRM has nothing like this on the commentator being outside the sanctuary. So I would say that the commentator’s lectern should have been outside the sanctuary before 2002, inside the sanctuary since.

 

[AlexV]

The liturgical books use “ambo” and “lectern” interchangeably. “Ambo” is the more specific term, while “lectern” has more general applications.

The so-called “commentator” (if anyone is actually using this truly ridiculous embellishment to the liturgy) does not use the ambo/lectern from where the readings and psalm are done.

There’s been no hidden or other “change” in the 2002 Missal. Commentators still don’t belong at the ambo. Then again, I hope no one is actually using “commentators”.

It’s hyper-rubricism (and wrongheaded) to start parsing texts for missing paragraphs to imagine that on Dec. 31, 2001 churches should have legalistically moved their “commentators” into the sanctuary. There’s no such rubric, because the clear import of rubric 295 is the liturgical texts of the Liturgy of the Word, not the “commentaries” thereon that (shudder) some few places might feel necessary.

 

[DJJG]

***If the reader is good - then put the lectern right up front in the sanctury; if the reader is lously - put the lectern in the basement (& make sure the cellar door is clossed). ***