What does it mean to respond at Mass“We praise you, Lord”?

At Catholic Mass, responding "We praise you, Lord" to the reading of God's Word means acknowledging that the Bible is God's inspired word and expressing gratitude for the revelation of its message. By saying this, the assembled assembly affirms that the reading is God's Word and shows their faith and gratitude for receiving it.

It also means:

à Recognition of God's Word: The response "We praise you, Lord" is an affirmation that the reading proclaimed is God's Word, not a mere narrative.

à Gratitude and Acceptance: The response expresses gratitude to God for revealing His message to us through reading.

à Active Participation: The response invites the faithful to participate actively in the liturgy, listening with faith and reverence to the Word that is proclaimed.

à Union with the Church: This response is part of the Church's liturgical response, uniting the faithful in the celebration of faith.

à Distinction from other readings: Although "We praise you, Lord" is said at the end of the first two readings, "Glory be to you, Lord Jesus" at the end of the Gospel reading, acknowledging Christ as the living Word of God.

Fr. Claudio