The Ambo
THE WHAT?
Sometimes called the pulpit, lectern, or podium, the ambo is the place from where the Word of God is proclaimed during the Sacred Liturgy. The ambo is one of the principal liturgical furnishings in the sanctuary of every Catholic church.
Theologically, the ambo signifies the dignity of the Word of God proclaimed and magnifies its importance. It is the structure from which the Word of God is proclaimed, the Responsorial Psalm sung, and, often, the homily preached. Thus, it will typically be used six times during Mass: the First Reading, the Responsorial Psalm, the Second Reading, the Gospel, the homily, and the Universal Prayer.
THE WORD FOR THE PLACE OF THE WORD
The word “ambo” comes from a Greek word meaning “step” or “elevation.” Since the fourth century, Christians were accustomed to using a raised platform during Mass to chant or read the Epistle (typically a reading from Saint Paul’s letters) and Gospel. Some historians believe it is connected to the platform used by Jewish rabbis to read the scriptures before the people. Spiritually, it is derived from the action of Jesus: “When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, … his disciples came to him. He began to teach them” (Matthew 5:1-2).
A LITTLE HISTORY
As the liturgy developed, eventually two ambos were put in place to distinguish between the Epistle and the Gospel. The Epistle ambo was placed on the southern side of the sanctuary, while the Gospel ambo was located on the northern side. Ambos were designed in various ways, always with a place for the book to be read with several steps leading up to it.
Is the ambo the same as the pulpit? Historically, they were different. Immediately succeeding the ambo in liturgical function was the pulpit. The word stems from the Latin pulpitum, and was originally used to denote a theatrical stage. In medieval churches it became a platform primarily used for preaching. The pulpit was located in the center of the nave (the place where the people stood) and was highly elevated to allow the priest to adequately address his congregation so that they could hear him.
After the Protestant Reformation, pulpits became a central feature of Protestant churches, while in Catholic churches, the use of pulpits steadily declined. In the Catholic church, both ambo and pulpit were no longer in general use by the 19th century, especially in newly constructed churches. Instead there would often be a moveable lectern that was brought out for sermons and taken away for the remainder of Mass. But that, too, has changed.
CURRENT LITURGICAL LAW
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal calls for the ambo to be stationary and not simply a movable lectern. The ambo must be located in keeping with the design of each church in such a way that the ordained ministers and readers may be clearly seen and heard by the faithful.
A MATCHING SET
The altar is considered the Table of the Eucharist and the ambo is considered the Table of the Word. We are fed from both. This intimate connection is expressed artistically in a matching design of the altar and ambo. We have secured the ambo from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook) that matches the historic altar we have acquired from there. It will be installed in the Refurbishment and Renewal project next summer (2026).
UP NEXT
Next week, we will take a look at “liturgical seating.”