GOSPEL. In the liturgical sense, the short selection from the Gospels which is read or sung in the mass and in the Anglican communion ser vice between the epistle and the creed. It formed a regular part of the service as early as the second century. For two hundred years the reading was continuous, taken up each day where the previous one had stopped; but when the calendar was fully developed under Pope Damasus the selections were chosen to correspond with it. The liturgical gospels were not originally included in the same book with the rest of the service, which allowed special ceremonial veneration to be paid to the book containing them. Thus in the fifth century it was brought in solemn procession, and laid upon the altar at the beginning of the service; a relic of this practice is the present custom of having the deacon deposit it for a while upon the altar immediately before singing the gospel. The
bearing of lights in connection with it was known to Saint Jerome, and signifies the illumination of the world by the Gospel message. The reading is prefaced by the response Gloria tibi, Domine ("Glory be to thee, 0 Lord!"), and followed by Laus tibi, Christe ("Praise be to thee. 0 Christ! " ) , after which the book is kissed by the celebrant. All present have always stood during the reading with uncovered heads, even laying aside their crowns. The recitation of the 'last Gospel' (commonly the first fourteen verses of John, un less commemoration is made of a superseded office by the use of its Gospel) is of later introduction. In the thirteenth century the priest recited it on the way to the sacristy, as the bishop does to day on the way from the altar to his throne. Pius V. in his revised missal gave it its present place. See Mass; EPISTLE.