a. The Rite of Enthronement of the Word of God takes place as the Mass begins with the procession to the Sanctuary. The procession may include some members of faithful following the two Mass servers bearing the lighted candles. They may include one or two children, teenagers, youths, young adults, a couple, 2 Lectors, a Deacon or Priest carrying the Big Bible.
b. Apart from the Mass Servers, all the other people processing to the Sanctuary should carry small Bibles and stop at the foot of the sanctuary. Only the Deacon or Priest who is carrying the Big Bible raises it up throughout the procession.
When the Priest carrying the Big Bible arrives the foot to the Sanctuary, he announces with a loud voice “THE BIBLE – THE LIVING WORD OF GOD” and the Congregation responds “Thanks be to God”.
Then Priest shows it to the Congregation and then carries it to the place prepared for the Enthronement. After placing the Bible, he then leads the Congregation in the following short Rite of Commitment to the Word of God, saying:
i. The Word of God is indispensable to the Christian Life. Jesus himself says that “man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”. Today, as we enthrone the Bible, the Word of God, especially in this Church, we call on you all to venerate the Word of God and also enthrone it in your homes and share it at your meetings. Above all, I invite you all to enthrone the Word in your hearts and make it your guide always.
ii. Now, I call on you to make your commitment in this regard.
- Do you promise to show greater reverence and attention to the Word of God? Response: Yes, I do
- Do you commit to regular reading and meditation on the Word of God as a family and as individuals? Response: Yes, I do
- Do you promise to strive with the grace of God to obey the Word of God? Response: Yes, I do
- i. Do you promise to endeavor to share the Word of God with others and popularize the study of the Word of God? Response: Yes, I do
3. Then after a brief moment of silent commitment by all, the Priest says the following prayer:
Almighty and ever-living God, you created the universe by your spoken word. In the fullness of time, your Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth, and you call us to listen to your Word, the fountain of wisdom. Help us by your grace to treasure it in our hearts, meditate upon it and share it with others. Since it has pleased you to let your Word be enshrined in Sacred Scripture and be kept in our midst as the testament of your love and presence, we humbly ask you to send your Holy Spirit to enlighten our minds and hearts so as to discover you in your Word, to understand your message for us and live out your teaching in our times. May your Word enthroned today be for us a source of spiritual growth and strength. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Then the Mass then begins as usual. During the Gospel Acclamation, the Priest goes to the Place of the Enthronement and carries the Big Bible to the Lectern from which he proclaims the Gospel of the Sunday, after which he gives the Homily. After the Homily, the Priests returns the Bible to the place of the Enthronement and the Mass continues as usual with the Creed and Prayer of the Faithful.
The Bible remains enthroned until Tuesday, 25th February 2020, the day before Ash Wednesday.
