The Vatican liturgical congregation emphasizes the importance of the Sunday of the Word of God

The Vatican liturgical congregation published a note on Saturday encouraging Catholic parishes around the world to celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God with new vigor.

In the note published on December 19, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments suggested ways in which Catholics should prepare for the day dedicated to the Bible.

Pope Francis established the Sunday of the Word of God with the apostolic letter "Aperuit illis" on September 30, 2019, the 1.600th anniversary of the death of St. Jerome.

"The purpose of this Note is to help awaken, in the light of the Sunday of the Word of God, the awareness of the importance of Sacred Scripture for our life as believers, starting from its resonance in the liturgy that places us in permanent living and dialogue with God ”, affirms the text dated 17 December and signed by the prefect of the congregation, Cardinal Robert Sarah, and by the secretary, Archbishop Arthur Roche.

The annual observance takes place on the third Sunday of ordinary time, which falls on January 26 this year and will be celebrated on January 24 next year.

The congregation said: “A Bible day should not be seen as an annual event, but rather a year-long event, as we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the scriptures and of the resurrected Lord, who continues to speak his word and break the bread in the community of believers “.

The document listed 10 guidelines for marking the day. He encouraged parishes to consider an entrance procession with the Book of Gospels "or simply placing the Book of Gospels on the altar."

He advised them to follow the indicated readings "without replacing or removing them, and using only versions of the Bible approved for liturgical use", while he recommended singing the responsorial psalm.

The congregation urged bishops, priests and deacons to help people understand Holy Scripture through their homilies. He also highlighted the importance of leaving space for silence, which "by encouraging meditation, allows the word of God to be received interiorly by the listener".

He said: “The Church has always paid particular attention to those who announce the word of God in the assembly: priests, deacons and readers. This ministry requires specific interior and exterior preparation, familiarity with the text to be proclaimed and the necessary practice in how to proclaim it clearly, avoiding any improvisation. Readings can be preceded with appropriate and short introductions. "

The congregation also stressed the importance of the ambo, the stand where the Word of God is proclaimed in Catholic churches.

“It is not a functional piece of furniture, but a place that is in harmony with the dignity of the word of God, at the altar,” he said.

“The ambo is reserved for readings, the singing of the responsorial psalm and the paschal announcement (Exsultet); from it the homily and the intentions of the universal prayer can be expressed, while it is less appropriate to use it for comments, announcements or to direct the song “.

The Vatican department has urged parishes to use high quality liturgical books and treat them with care.

"It is never appropriate to use leaflets, photocopies and other pastoral aids to replace liturgical books," he said.

The Congregation has called "formation meetings" in the days preceding or following the Sunday of the Word of God to underline the importance of Sacred Scripture in liturgical celebrations.

“The Sunday of the Word of God is also a propitious occasion to deepen the link between Sacred Scripture and the Liturgy of the Hours, the prayer of the Psalms and the Canticles of the Office, as well as the biblical readings. This can be done by promoting the community celebration of Lauds and Vespers, ”he said.

The note ended by invoking St. Jerome, the Doctor of the Church who produced the Vulgate, a fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible.

“Among the many saints, all witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Saint Jerome can be proposed as an example for the great love he had for the word of God”, he said.