I was taught that before the reading of the Gospel at Mass, after the congregation replies, “Glory to you, O Lord,” that we are to make small Signs of the Cross on our forehead, our lips, and our heart and say to ourselves, “Lord, please put your Word in my head, on my lips and in my heart.” What I observe, not just in my parish but whenever I travel and am visiting a parish, the priest and the congregation make the Signs of the Cross while they say, “Glory to you, O Lord,” not after say it. One cannot say or think two separate thoughts at once. Did I miss a big announcement?  Both prayers express good thoughts/desires. Can you clear this up for me? Thanks.

Rose in Springfield

Dear Rose,

Thank you for your question. The answer can be found in the Roman Missal, the big (usually), red book the priest uses to celebrate the Mass. You will see it either held by a server or placed on the altar from which the priest will pray the prayers of the Mass. 

The Missal not only furnishes all of the prayers for every Mass of the year, it also contains within it the instructions for the priest to celebrate correctly the Mass according to the mind of the Church. These instructions are called The Order of the Mass.

Your question concerns what is to be done and said by a deacon or priest and congregation just before the proclamation of the Gospel. The Order of the Mass gives the instructions for the deacon/priest in red and what is to be said in black, so I will do the same below, quoting exactly the instructions for both gesture (red) and speech (black). We begin with the deacon/priest approaching the ambo:

The Deacon, or the Priest, then proceeds to the ambo, accompanied, if appropriate, by ministers with incense and candles. There he says:

The Lord be with you.

The people reply:

And with your Spirit. 

The Deacon or the Priest:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.]

And, at the same time, he makes the Sign of the Cross on the book and on his forehead, lips, and breast.

The people acclaim:

Glory to you, O Lord.

Then the Deacon, or the Priest, incenses the book, if incense is used, and proclaims the Gospel.

So, the answer to your question may surprise you. The deacon/priest is told to make the Sign of the Cross on the book from which he will read the Gospel and then on his forehead, lips, and breast (the faithful is not mentioned to do these gestures). He does so at the same time as he declares, “A Reading from the holy Gospel according to …”

Interestingly, it seems this practice was actually started by the congregation! Tradition says as early as the ninth century the faithful were making the Sign of the Cross on their forehead and breast when the Gospel was read, and then in the 11^th century, the priest/deacon reading the Gospel started doing it. 

So, while the Roman Missal today says for the priest/deacon to make these gestures, it doesn’t mention the congregation, probably because the faithful had already been doing it for centuries. I think it’s also good practice for people to pray silently as they make these gestures, “Lord, please put your Word in my head, on my lips and in my heart,” as you write in your question. It is an appropriate prayer to open ourselves to receiving the transformative words of our Lord. 

In terms of the timing of this gesture from the congregation, I wouldn’t get caught up in that. When I see people make these three crosses at Mass, some people do it while they say the response, “Glory to you, O Lord,” while others are a second or two later. Being ready and attentive to hear the Word of God and let His Word permeate your thoughts, words, and actions is the most important.

• Father Seth Brown is pastor of Mother of Dolors in Vandalia and St. Joseph in Ramsey. He is also chaplain of Our Sorrowful Mother’s Ministry, chaplain of the Vandalia Correctional Center, and research theologian for the Diocesan Curia