Church: A Place Where Mystery Happens - #9

I want to comment on two books today: the Lectionary and the Book of the Gospels. The opening procession ordinarily includes either a laywoman or layman carrying the lectionary or a deacon carrying the Book of the Gospels. Usually the book is carried high up so that it is visible to the assembly. When the members of the procession reach their appointed places, the reader brings the lectionary to the ambo, i.e., the reading stand, places the lectionary down, and goes to her or his place. Similarly, when the Book of the Gospels is carried in, the deacon places it on the altar and then goes to his chair. Why are these actions done?

The lectionary contains the words (really the word symbols) that when spoken in the oral action of proclamation, will become the dynamic Word of God. This book is very precious because it contains the story of faith, the story of ancestors who met and engaged the living God. Here are our roots in the past, when God spoke in various ways, when God's Word called people to heart-felt allegiance. Therefore, Christians have been inclined to produce a beautiful book, something befitting the Word of God. The pages of the lectionary have been arranged in clear, dignified print. The lines are arranged according to the sense of the reading. This is meant to assist the readers so that they will proclaim the readings sensibly and well. The lectionary should be a noble book - carefully and thoughtfully printed and produced. Its cover should be beautiful to behold since it is carried aloft and it is reverenced with incense and the holy kiss. Some parishes have crafted lovely and beautiful covers. Lectionaries in the past, especially those done by hand by scribes, were covered with precious materials. (One immediately thinks of the Book of Kells on display at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland). The use of precious material is fitting for something as precious as the Word of God.

Similarly, the gospel book is quite special because it contains the four narratives that tell us of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. In fact, from the earliest days, we thought that all the other Scriptures pointed to the Gospels. The Gospels enjoyed a privileged place since they were at the heart of the mystery we celebrate, the person of Jesus. Gospel books should be noble and fittingly decorated. They are carried aloft in the procession to the altar at the beginning of the liturgy and later in the procession that moves from the altar into the midst of the assembly and then to the ambo. There the Gospel is proclaimed and is ritually bracketed by incense before proclamation and the holy kiss afterward. Our church has recently restored the Book of Gospels to its fitting place and beautifully produced editions of the Book of the Gospel that contain original art and wonderfully crafted text. Not every parish is required to use the Book of the Gospels. But at least the cathedral and other principal churches should use it.

Each Sunday the parish carefully and reverently handles three books: the Lectionary for adults, the Lectionary for children, and the Book of the Gospels. Each is a beautifully crafted book that skilled readers use to proclaim the saving Word of God. We are grateful!