THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE
tables compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

The Lectionary for Mass - Second USA Edition
(Sunday Volume, 1998; Weekday Volumes, 2002)

Weekday Masses for Years I & II
in the
Seasons of Advent and Christmas


The Season of Advent:

Advent is not usually a full four weeks, but between three and four weeks long, depending on what weekday Christmas is in a particular year. Advent begins on the Sunday between Nov. 27 and Dec. 3.
Thus, the readings listed here for the "Third Week of Advent" might not all be used, since the last eight days before Christmas use the readings assigned for Dec. 17-24, as listed at the bottom of this table.

2023 Lect. # Day First Reading Responsorial Psalm Alleluia Verse Gospel
12/4 175 1st Week of Advent – Mon Isa 2:1-5 (or, in Year A, Isa 4:2-6) Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9 See Ps 80:4 Matt 8:5-11
12/5 176 1st Week of Advent – Tues Isa 11:1-10 Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 [no bibl. ref.] Luke 10:21-24
12/6 177 1st Week of Advent – Wed Isa 25:6-10a Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 [no bibl. ref.] Matt 15:29-37
12/7 178 1st Week of Advent – Thurs Isa 26:1-6 Ps 118:1+8-9, 19-21, 25-27a Isa 55:6 Matt 7:21, 24-27
[12/8]* 179 1st Week of Advent – Fri Isa 29:17-24 Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14 [no bibl. ref.] Matt 9:27-31
12/9 180 1st Week of Advent – Sat Isa 30:19-21, 23-26 Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Isa 33:22 Matt 9:35—10:1, 5a, 6-8
12/11 181 2nd Week of Advent – Mon Isa 35:1-10 Ps 85:9ab+10, 11-12, 13-14 [no bibl. ref.] Luke 5:17-26
[12/12]* 182 2nd Week of Advent – Tues Isa 40:1-11 Ps 96:1-2, 3+10ac, 11-12, 13 [no bibl. ref.] Matt 18:12-14
12/13 183 2nd Week of Advent – Wed Isa 40:25-31 Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8+10 [no bibl. ref.] Matt 11:28-30
12/14 184 2nd Week of Advent – Thurs Isa 41:13-20 Ps 145:1+9, 10-11, 12-13ab See Isa 45:8 Matt 11:11-15
12/15 185 2nd Week of Advent – Fri Isa 48:17-19 Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4+6 [no bibl. ref.] Matt 11:16-19
12/16 186 2nd Week of Advent – Sat Sir 48:1-4, 9-11 Ps 80:2ac+3b, 15-16, 18-19 Luke 3:4+6 Matt 17:9a, 10-13
x 187* 3rd Week of Advent – Mon Num 24:2-7, 15-17a Ps 25:4-5ab, 6+7bc, 8-9 Ps 85:8 Matt 21:23-27
x 188* 3rd Week of Advent – Tues Zeph 3:1-2, 9-13 Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19+23 [no bibl. ref.] Matt 21:28-32
x 189* 3rd Week of Advent – Wed Isa 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25 Ps 85:9ab+10, 11-12, 13-14 See Isa 40:9-10 Luke 7:18b-23
x 190* 3rd Week of Advent – Thurs Isa 54:1-10 Ps 30:2+4, 5-6, 11-12a+13b Luke 3:4+6 Luke 7:24-30
x 191* 3rd Week of Advent – Fri Isa 56:1-3a, 6-8 Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8 [no bibl. ref.] John 5:33-36
2023 Lect. # Day First Reading Responsorial Psalm Alleluia Verse Gospel
[12/17] 193** December 17 (Sunday in 2023) Gen 49:2, 8-10 Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17 [O Antiphons] Matt 1:1-17
12/18 194 December 18 (Mon, 2023) Jer 23:5-8 Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 [O Antiphons] Matt 1:18-24
12/19 195 December 19 (Tues, 2023) Judg 13:2-7, 24-25a Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [O Antiphons] Luke 1:5-25
12/20 196 December 20 (Wed, 2023) Isa 7:10-14 Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [O Antiphons] Luke 1:26-38
12/21 197 December 21 (Thurs, 2023) Cant 2:8-14 or Zeph 3:14-18a Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 [O Antiphons] Luke 1:39-45
12/22 198 December 22 (Fri, 2023) 1 Sam 1:24-28 1 Sam 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [O Antiphons] Luke 1:46-56
12/23 199 December 23 (Sat, 2023) Mal 3:1-4, 23-24 Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10+14 [O Antiphons] Luke 1:57-66
[12/24] 200 Dec. 24 (Sunday in 2023) 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29 [O Antiphons] Luke 1:67-79
Note: The first column indicates the numbers assigned to each set of readings in the official Latin Ordo Lectionum Missae, editio typica altera (1981).

Exceptions for 2023:

Notes:

#192 = Alleluia Verses for Weekdays of Advent up to December 16: "These texts may be used in place of the texts proposed for each day." (14 options)
#201 = Alleluia Verses for Weekdays of Advent from December 17 to December 24: "These texts may be used in place of the texts proposed for each day." (7 "O Antiphons")

*Lectionary Note before each of ##187-191: "If today is December 17 or 18, omit these readings and use those given for the weekdays of Advent, nos. 193 or 194."
**Lectionary Note before #193: "The following readings are used from December 17 to 24. If a Sunday occurs during this time, the weekday readings for that day are omitted, but they may be anticipated or used later on another day during the week, especially to avoid duplicating the Sunday readings."

Rationale: The "General Introduction to the Lectionary" (Second Edition, 1981) briefly explains the rationale for the reading choices for the Weekdays of Advent:

"There are two series of readings: one to be used from the beginning of Advent until 16 December; the other from 17 to 24 December.
In the first part of Advent there are readings from the Book of Isaiah, distributed in accord with the sequence of the book itself and including the more important texts that are also read on the Sundays. For the choice of the weekday Gospel the first reading has been taken into consideration. On Thursday of the second week the readings from the Gospel concerning John the Baptist begin. The first reading is either a continuation of Isaiah or a text chosen in view of the Gospel.
In the last week before Christmas the events that immediately prepared for the Lord's birth are presented from the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 1) and Luke (chapter 1). The texts in the first reading, chosen in view of the Gospel reading, are from different Old Testament books and include important Messianic prophecies." (Lectionary for Mass, "Introduction," chap. 5, par. 94.)

Three Parts of Advent: As the above Rationale shows, Advent can actually be subdivided into three parts (not just two), based on different emphases in the readings:
the first focus is on the prophet Isaiah, the second on the "precursor" John the Baptist, and the third on the events just before the birth of Jesus:


The Season of Christmas:

In the Lectionary for Mass, the readings for December 26-28 are listed in the "Proper of the Saints" rather than among the weekdays of Christmas; but they are included here to provide a comprehensive overview of the readings for the Christmas Season, esp. its use of the complete text of 1 John in the First Readings.

The readings for the Solemnities and Major Feasts during the Christmas Season are listed in the Sunday Lectionary: Holy Family (Sunday after Christmas; or Dec. 30 if Christmas itself is a Sunday); Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1); Epiphany of the Lord (Jan. 6, or the Sunday after Jan. 1), and Baptism of the Lord (the Sunday after Epiphany; or the Monday after Epiphany if Epiphany is Jan. 7 or 8). Each of these Solemnities/Feasts has both a First Reading and a Second Reading before the Gospel, as listed on the webpage for Christmas Sundays & Feasts.

Lect. # Day First Reading Responsorial Psalm Alleluia Verse Gospel
[696] Dec. 26 – Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 Ps 31:3cd-4, 6ab+8a, 16bc+17 Ps 118:26a+27a Matt 10:17-22
[697] Dec. 27 – Feast of St. John, Apostle & Evangelist 1 John 1:1-4 Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 [See Te Deum] John 20:1a, 2-8
[698] Dec. 28 – Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs 1 John 1:5—2:2 Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8 [See Te Deum] Matt 2:13-18
202 Dec. 29 – 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas 1 John 2:3-11 Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 Luke 2:32 Luke 2:22-35
203 Dec. 30 – 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas
1 John 2:12-17 Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [no bibl. ref.] Luke 2:36-40
[204]
17
Dec. 31 – 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas
^2023: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
1 John 2:18-21 Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 John 1:14a+12a John 1:1-18
[18] Jan. 1The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (see the Sunday Lectionary) . . .
205 Jan. 2 (Memorial of Saint Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, #510) 1 John 2:22-28 Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Heb 1:1-2 John 1:19-28
206 Jan. 3 (Opt. Memorial: Holy Name of Jesus, #510.1) 1 John 2:29—3:6 Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6 John 1:14a+12a John 1:29-34
207 Jan. 4 (Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, #510A) 1 John 3:7-10 Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9 Heb 1:1-2 John 1:35-42
208 Jan. 5 (Memorial of St. John Neumann, #510B) 1 John 3:11-21 Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 [no bibl. ref.] John 1:43-51
209* Jan. 6 (only if Epiphany is celebrated Jan. 7 or 8) 1 John 5:5-13 Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 See Mark 9:6 Mark 1:7-11 or
Luke 3:23-38 or
Luke 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38
210** Jan. 7 (only if Epiphany is celebrated Jan. 8) 1 John 5:14-21 Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5+6a+9b Luke 7:16 John 2:1-11
[20] The Epiphany of the Lord (Sunday, 1/7/24, or traditionally Jan. 6) (see the Sunday Lectionary) . . .
212*** Monday after Epiphany (not needed in 2024), or sometimes Jan. 7 1 John 3:22—4:6 Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a See Matt 4:23 Matt 4:12-17, 23-25
213 Tuesday after Epiphany (not needed in 2024), or sometimes Jan. 8 1 John 4:7-10 Ps 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8 Luke 4:18 Mark 6:34-44
214 Wednesday after Epiphany (not needed in 2024), or sometimes Jan. 9 1 John 4:11-18 Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 See 1 Tim 3:16 Mark 6:45-52
215 Thursday after Epiphany (not needed in 2024), or sometimes Jan. 10 1 John 4:19—5:4 Ps 72:1-2, 14+15bc, 17 Luke 4:18 Luke 4:14-22a
216 Friday after Epiphany (not needed in 2024), or sometimes Jan. 11 1 John 5:5-13 Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 See Matt 4:23 Luke 5:12-16
217 Saturday after Epiphany (not needed in 2024), or sometimes Jan. 12 1 John 5:14-21 Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5+6a+9b Matt 4:16 John 3:22-30
[21] Sunday after Epiphany Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Exception in 2024: Monday after Epiphany, 1/8/24
(see the Sunday Lectionary) . . .
Note: The first column indicates the numbers assigned to each set of readings in the official Latin Ordo Lectionum Missae, editio typica altera (1981).

Notes:

^Since the Feast of the Holy Family is normally celebrated on the Sunday after Christmas, the readings shown here for one of the days between Dec. 26 and Dec. 31 are omitted each year.
But if Christmas itself falls on a Sunday, however, then the Feast of the Holy Family is on Friday, Dec. 30, as in 2022. For details, see the page on Moveable Feasts during the Christmas Season.

*Lectionary Note before #209: "If the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday, January 7 or 8, the following readings are used for the Mass on January 6."
**Lectionary Note before #210: "If the Epiphany is celebrated on Sunday, January 8, the following readings are used for the Mass on January 7."
***Lectionary Note before #212: "In the dioceses of the United States of America, where Epiphany is celebrated on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8, the following readings are used on the days that follow Epiphany up to the following Sunday. Nevertheless, on Monday after the Sunday on which the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated (that is, the Sunday after January 6), the readings of Ordinary Time begin, and any readings left over from those assigned for January 7 to January 12 are omitted."

#211 = Alleluia Verses for Weekdays before Epiphany: "These texts may be used in place of the texts proposed for each day." (3 options)
#218 = Alleluia Verses for Weekdays after Epiphany: "These texts may be used in place of the texts proposed for each day." (5 options)

Several "Memorials" and "Optional Memorials" of saints also occur during Christmas season; but the readings for the corresponding Christmas Weekday should normally still be used on these days:
Dec. 29 - St. Thomas Becket; Dec. 31 - St. Sylvester I; Jan. 2 - Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen; Jan. 3 - Holy Name of Jesus; Jan. 4 - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton; Jan. 5 - St. John Neumann; Jan. 6 - Bl. André Bessette; Jan. 7 - St. Raymond of Peñafort.

Rationale: The "General Introduction to the Lectionary" (Second Edition, 1981) briefly explains the rationale for the reading choices for the Weekdays of the Christmas Season:

"From 29 December on, there is a continuous reading of the whole of the First Letter of John, which actually begins earlier, on 27 December, the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, and on 28 December, the Feast of the Holy Innocents. The Gospels relate manifestations of the Lord: events of Jesus' childhood from the Gospel of Luke (29-30 December); passages from the first chapter of the Gospel of John (31 December - 5 January); other manifestations of the Lord from the four Gospels (7-12 January)." (Lectionary for Mass, "Introduction," chap. 5, par. 96.)
 


More Advent/Christmas Resources:


Weekday Readings for the other Liturgical Seasons:
Advent and Christmas | Lent | Easter | Ordinary Time: Year I | Ordinary Time: Year II | Saints and Feast Days

Readings from the Lectionary for Mass, Volume 4:
Commons | Ritual Masses | Various Needs & Occasions | Votive Masses | Masses for the Dead

 

Source: Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition
© 2001, 1998, 1992, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.

The Lectionary for Mass used in the USA is based on the Ordo Lectionum Missae, editio typical altera (Latin Lectionary, second edition, 1981).

For the full texts of the readings for the current and upcoming months, 
please refer to the official web-site of the New American Bible, sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
 

Main Lectionary Page 1998/2002 USA Edition 1992 Canadian Edition
Links to Other Websites 1970 USA Edition Roman Missal (pre-Vatican II)

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