Q: A Priest is going to the ambo to proclaim the Gospel in a Roman Rite Mass. There is no Book of the Gospels. May he be preceded by thurible and candles in a procession?
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A: Nothing forbids it, but the GIRM envisions that if servers are carrying thurible and candles, it’s because the deacon or priest is carrying the Book of the Gospels — not that he is simply walking toward the ambo.
In some churches, the presider’s chair is on the same side as the ambo, so there isn’t much procession if he doesn’t need to go to the altar first.