we are not being monkeys, there is a reason we do it. Please read this, especially the second paragraph. --
While the assembly prepares, the deacon asks the celebrant for a blessing before he proclaims the Gospel. Absent a deacon, the priest will ready himself by inaudibly praying: "Almighty God, cleanse my heart and my lips that I may worthily proclaim your Gospel." Your parish may have a Book of the Gospels. This book, usually decorated more ornately than the Lectionary, may be carried in procession to the ambo and may also be incensed in reverence.
The deacon or priest then announces the reading. We answer in gratitude and praise for the Good News, "Glory to you, O Lord!" We make three small signs of the cross on the forehead, mouth and heart which embody the prayer: "May the word of God be on my mind, in my words and in my heart" as we aspire to make ourselves one with the word of God. (The new Roman Missal has revived this gesture once again for all to do.)
The deacon or celebrant then proclaims the Gospel and ends with an acclamation, "The Gospel of the Lord." The assembly responds, "Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!" The priest or deacon then kisses the book in a sign of reverence and prays another inaudible prayer: "Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be washed away."
http://www.archden.org/dcr/archive/20021106/2002110601ab.htm
Thank you and God bless you.
My parish has a 'Book of the Gospels' which is carried down the aisle and laid on the middle of the altar. It is then carried to the ambo by the priest with two altar servers carrying candles.
I watch EWTN's Mass every night and not knowing Latin, would you know the Latin for "The Gospel of the Lord." To me it sounds like Verboom Domini?
I thought the Priest blessing the Deacon was a representation of Christ sending His apostles out to preach the Word to the nations.