Gradual an anthem, psalm, or part of a psalm chanted in the mass between the epistle and the gospel. So called because the chanter stood on the pulpit steps. The name is also given to the book containing the psalms chanted at mass, which was called gradale, or graduate. — Palmer, Orig. Liturg. 2:46; Procter, On Common Prayer, pages 8, 317.
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More