19/9/04

READING THE GOSPEL
I have seen in some churches, a custom that during the announcing of the Gospel 'Hear the holy Gospel according to.....' the Gospeller with their thumb makes the sign of the cross on the first letter of the word of the Gospel book that will be read. Can you tell me the origin and reason of this practice and is it only to be done by a priest or deacon? 

REPLIES

David Froud 20/9/04

The sign of the Cross made on the book is not a blessing of the text, but merely an explanatory or commemorative sign, which appears to mean, "This is the Book of the Crucified One" It should be noted that this sign of the cross ought to be made, not on the cross found in some Missals just before the Gospel, nor on the words initium (the beginning) or sequentia (the continuation), but at the actual beginning of the text. This informationis from Collationes Brugenses, volume ii page 546) David Froud 

Craig Aburn 20/9/04

The Deacon (or if there is no Deacon, a Priest - never a layman) makes the sign of the cross on the Book of Gospels to show that the cross of Christ is the source of all blessing and that the words of the Gospel are the words of the one who died on the cross for our salvation. This is followed by one small Cross on the forehead, one small Cross on the lips, and one small Cross on the breast -- just before the Gospel reading at Mass. The sign on the forehead is to show that we believe the Gospel, the sign on the lips is to show that we respect the Gospel and desire to spread the Good News, and the sign on our breast is to show that we love the Gospel and want it kept in our hearts. The sign of the cross made on the book is indicative of where the words to be spoken come from. The blessing of the Deacon by the Priest before the Gospel affirms this: "May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips that you may worthily proclaim his Holy Gospel..."


This practice has been in existence since the 11th century.

Craig Aburn
Councillor LG5&6

Craig Aburn 23/9/04

A further point here - in modern Roman practice where a Bishop presides at the Mass, after the Gospel has finished the Bishop takes the Book of Gospels and blesses the faithful with it by making the sign of the cross with the
Book of Gospels.

Cllr Craig Aburn
 

David Froud 24/9/04

With reference to to Craig's mention of the Blessing by the Bishop with the Book of the Gospels The original practice was for the subdeacon to carry the OPEN Book of the Gospels to the Bishop who then kissed the beginning of the Gospel before closing the Book to make the Blessing of the people. 
This practice is still observed in many churches.
David Froud