Why do we stand and make the three crosses before the Gospel

[atassina]

Why do we stand before the gospel reading? Why do we not stand before the other readings? Why do we make the three crosses before the reading of the Gospel, the cross on our forehead, lips and heart?

 

[Reuben_J]

Why do we stand before the gospel reading? Why do we not stand before the other readings? Why do we make the three crosses before the reading of the Gospel, the cross on our forehead, lips and heart?

The triple sign of the cross on the forehead, lips and breasts expresses:

1. Our minds are to be receptive to Christ’s word
2. Our lips are to profess the word
3. Our hearts are to love the word.

Compared to the other readings, the Gospel reading is surrounded by marks of honor. Only an ordained minister is assigned to read it. The Book of the Gospel is to be carried aloft in the entrance procession and placed on the altar until the Gospel reading to show unity of Scripture and Eucharist, of the table of the Word and the table of Christ’s body and blood.

Before the deacon/priest proclaims it, he bows to the altar and says a prayer for purity of heart and lips. The exchange of greetings, ‘The Lord be with you’ is a reminder that the Lord is truly present with his people and it is he who speaks to them in the Gospel.

The Gospel is important because it contains the words and deeds of Jesus himself.

 

[John_Paul_Jones]

I remember a little prayer an IHM sister taught my 5th grade classroom (what she considered an alternative prayer) she uses herself before the Gospel. I’ve used it so often and it’s been so long I forgot the first prayer I was suppose to use, and whether to use “my” or “our.”

May the Word of God always be
on my mind
on my lips
and in my heart.

May the Word of God always be
on our minds
on our lips
and in our hearts.

 

[po18guy]

From “A Walk Through The Mass” by Franciscan Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M

Standing for the Gospel.

Because of the unique presence of Christ in the proclamation of the Gospel, it has long been the custom to stand in attentive reverence to hear these words. We believe that Christ “is present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the church” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, #7). The priest will again greet us with “The Lord be with you.” He then introduces the Gospel reading while marking a small cross on his forehead, lips and heart with his thumb while praying silently that God cleans his mind and his heart so that his lips may worthily proclaim the Gospel. In many places, the congregation performs this ritual action along with the priest. The Gospel reading concludes with the ritual formula “The Gospel of the Lord” and we respond, “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,” again proclaiming our faith in the presence of Christ in the word. Then we sit for the homily.

 

[Starrsmother]

I was told that we stand at the gospel as it is basically the words of Jesus–so we do so out of respect. While growing up in the Catholic church of the 60’s, we even used to mentally say a little prayer along with the triple cross at the gospel that summed up why we do the triple cross: “May the Lord be in my mind, on my lips and in my heart. Amen.”