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Liturgical greeting at the Gospel?

Question

Question

Some deacons or priests put their arms out and gesture at the time of the Gospel and others do not. What is supposed to be done?

--Guessing in Gaton

Answer

Answer

At the greeting, "The Lord be with You," there is to be no gesture with outstretched hands. (See General Instruction on the Roman Missal 2002, 134 & 175.) According to some, this is because in the past, the Book of the Gospels is held by the proclaimer and not free to use the hands. Some of the new books are so big that they do not fit on the Ambo.