After years in the making, the Catholic Church in Canada is pleased to have a Canadian edition of the Book of Gospels. Our Book of Gospels contains all of the NRSV Gospel passages from the Lectionary: Sundays and Solemnities and the Lectionary: Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, Votive Masses and Masses for the Dead. Hence it contains all the Gospels for Sundays, Solemnities, Major Feasts, special celebrations particular to Canada (such as Thanksgiving or Remembrance Day), all of the Sacraments as well as those for Funeral Liturgies.
Recognizing that churches vary considerably in size, two convenient sizes of the Book of Gospels have been published. For those with limited space on the Ambo, the “Ambo edition” is the exact same height and width as the Sunday and Ritual Lectionaries (Ambo editions). For better visibility and prominence in a larger space, the “large format edition” is ideal for larger churches.
The use of the Book of Gospels is an integral part of the liturgy which is evident in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. GIRM no.60 states, “The reading of the Gospel constitutes the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. The Liturgy itself teaches the great reverence that is to be shown to this reading by setting it off from the other readings with special marks of honour, by the fact of which minister is appointed to proclaim it and by the blessing or prayer with which he prepares himself; and also by the fact that through their acclamations the faithful acknowledge and confess that Christ is present and is speaking to them and stand as they listen to the reading; and by the mere fact of the marks of reverence that are given to the Book of Gospels.”
GIRM no. 349 states, “Special care must be taken to ensure that the liturgical books, particularly the Book of Gospels and the Lectionary, which are intended for the proclamation of the Word of God and hence receive special veneration, are to be in a liturgical action truly signs and symbols of higher realities and hence should be truly worthy, dignified, and beautiful.”
The “Introduction” of the Book of Gospels mandated by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments notes in no. 7, “the Book of Gospels as a sign of the presence of Christ in his word proclaimed is always accorded a place of honour in the Church’s liturgy.”
876 pages, 27 x 37 cm, two colour printing, ribbon, metallic red stamped hardcover, gold gilding. Font size 17.5.
From the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
MPN: 182-328
ISBN: 9780889977167
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