THE ROMAN CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
An Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass
Titles of Different but Related Books:
Bible - all the sacred scriptures of Christianity, arranged in "canonical" order (OT & NT, from Genesis to Revelation)
Lectionary - all the readings used at the Eucharist and other liturgies, arranged in order of the liturgical calendar
Missal - all the texts needed for Mass, including instructions, prayers, readings, some music, etc.
Since Vatican II, the Roman Missal is usually published in two parts: the Sacramentary (texts and prayers spoken by the priest at the altar or presider's chair, but not including the readings) and the Lectionary for Mass (all readings proclaimed from the lectern or ambo).
Other Catholic Ritual Books:
Book of the Gospels - more elaborate publications of the Gospel readings from the Lectionary, esp. for use in liturgical processions
Gradual - music and lyrics for sung texts of the Mass, as well as tones for
singing other liturgical texts
Pontifical - texts for ceremonies normally performed only by bishops and popes, such as ordinations and confirmations
Ordos - various publications containing the "Order of Service" (instructions, prayers, biblical readings) for specific rites and sacraments, such as Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation/Penance, etc.
Common Lectionary / Revised Common Lectionary - used by most mainline Protestant denominations today; very similar to the Roman Catholic Lectionary for Mass.
Historical Overview:
Roman Missal / Missale Romanum (various pre-Vatican II editions, based on the one of Pope Pius V from 1570)
same readings were used year after year, on the same Sundays and feast days
most Masses had only two readings: one called "The Epistle" and the other "The Gospel"
readings were rarely from the OT, only on a few feasts, vigils, ember days, and within some liturgical octaves
most weekday Masses did not have proper readings, but used readings from the prior Sunday or a saint's day.
total biblical texts used for Sundays, vigils, and major feasts included only about
22% of the NT Gospels, 11% of the NT Epistles, and only 0.8% of the OT (not counting the Psalms).
Lectionary for Mass (revision mandated by the Second Vatican Council, 1963)
Latin edition 1969; USA edition 1970; use began on the First Sunday of Advent: Nov. 30, 1970
three readings are now prescribed for Sundays & major feasts: 1) usually OT books, 2) NT Epistles, 3) NT Gospel
there is a much greater variety of readings: 3-year Sunday rotation: Cycles A/B/C; 2-year weekday cycle: Years I/II
total biblical texts used for Sundays, vigils, and major feasts now include about
58% of the NT Gospels, 25% of the NT Epistles, but still only 3.7% of the OT (aside from the Psalms).
Revised Lectionary for Mass (second post-Vatican II editions)
Latin edition, 1981 - based on the Neo-Vulgate Bible translation
Canadian edition, 1992 - based on the NRSV translation (inclusive language dispute)
USA edition: Sundays 1998, Weekdays 2002 - based mostly on the NAB translation
Publication of the current USA edition is normally in four volumes:
Sundays and Major Feast Days - Years/Cycles A, B, C
Weekdays, Year I - odd-numbered years, incl. feasts of saints with "proper" readings
Weekdays, Year II - even-numbered years, incl. feasts of saints with "proper" readings
Common of Saints, Rituals, Votives, Various Needs - many more choices of readings than before
Advent - a season of watchful/joyful/hopeful preparation, up to 4 weeks long; begins four Sundays before Christmas (Nov. 27 to Dec. 3)
Dec. 17-24 - the last week before Christmas has readings from Matthew 1 and Luke 1 and special "O Antiphons"
CHRISTMAS - not just Christmas Day itself (Dec. 25), but a continued celebration for two to three weeks afterward
Christmas Season - from the Christmas Vigil (Dec. 24 eve), to Epiphany (Jan. 6), to the Baptism of the Lord (mid-Jan.)
Ordinary Time (I) - the period (varies between 4 and 9 weeks) from the end of the Christmas season to the beginning of Lent
called the "Season
of Epiphany" by Anglicans and in some Protestant Churches
Lent - a season of penitential preparation ("forty days"), from
Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday morning
Holy Week - the week before Easter, beginning Palm Sunday (a.k.a. Passion Sunday) and including the Easter Triduum
EASTER - not just Easter Sunday itself (rule for movable date: first Sunday
after the first full moon after the vernal equinox)
Easter Triduum- "three holy days" from Holy Thursday evening,
to Good Friday, to the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday evening
Easter Octave - from Easter Sunday to the following Sunday (now called "Divine Mercy Sunday" by Roman Catholics)
Easter Season - a total of 50 days (7 full weeks) from Easter Sunday up to and including Pentecost Sunday
Ordinary Time (II) - the rest of the year (up to 34 weeks total), after Pentecost Sunday and ending with the next Advent
called the "Season
of Pentecost" by Anglicans and in some Protestant Churches
Liturgical Colors:
Advent - Purple, except for Rose (optional) on the Third Sunday of Advent ("Gaudete Sunday")
Christmas - White or Gold (not red and green!)
Lent - Purple, except Rose (optional) on the 4th Sunday of Lent ("Laetare Sunday"), and Red on Passion/Palm Sunday
Easter Triduum - White or Gold on Holy Thursday and at the Easter Vigil; Red on Good Friday
Easter Season - White or Gold, except for Red on Pentecost Sunday
Ordinary Time - Green, except for special colors on particular feasts or occasions, as follows:
White - Solemnities of the Lord and the Saints; major local feasts; funeral liturgies (Black also allowed)
Red - feasts of the Apostles, Martyrs, or the Holy Spirit
Masses for Sundays and Major Feast Days: Three Readings - really five!
First Reading - from the Old Testament; except from Acts of the Apostles during Easter Season
Responsorial Psalm - mostly from the Book of Psalms; sometimes other biblical "Canticles"
Second Reading - mostly from the Letters of Paul, but sometimes other NT Epistles and the Book of Revelation
Verse before the Gospel - usually a direct biblical quotation, but sometimes adapted from a biblical text
Gospel - Year A: Matthew; Year B: Mark mostly; Year C: Luke; (where's John? used mostly in Lent & Easter)
Masses for Weekdays, Lesser Feasts, and Special Occasions: Two Readings - really four!
First Reading - semi-continuous readings; alternate between OT & NT; on a two-year cycle
Responsorial Psalm - mostly from the Book of Psalms, but sometimes other Canticles; also on a two-year cycle
Verse before the Gospel - first edition had mostly "common" texts; now specifically prescribed texts
Gospel - same each year; semi-continuous readings from Mark, Matthew, Luke, in that order
Readings for Special Masses and Liturgies:
Saints - four categories, in decreasing order of importance: Solemnities, Feasts, Memorials, Optional Memorials
some saints have their own "Propers" - prayers and readings specifically selected for the particular saint
for other feast days, texts and prayers are recommended from various "Commons" - Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church, Blessed Virgin Mary, Martyrs, Pastors, Doctors of the Church, Virgins, and Holy Men & Women
Ritual Masses - incl. Christian Initiation (of adults or children; baptism, confirmation, and first communion), Conferral of Holy Orders and other Ministries, Pastoral Care of the Sick and Dying, Sacrament of Marriage, Religious Profession, Blessing of a Church or Altar, etc.
Masses for Various Occasions - four subcategories:
for the Holy Church (incl. pope, pastoral meetings, unity of Christians, etc.),
for Public Needs (civil leaders, peace and justice, in time of war, etc.),
in Various Public Circumstances (new year, harvest, refugees, natural disasters, etc.),
and for Various Needs (promotion of charity, for the family, for a happy death, etc.)
Votive Masses - Holy Trinity, Holy Cross, Holy Eucharist, Christ the High Priest, Holy Name of Jesus, Precious Blood, Sacred Heart, Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, All the Holy Apostles, Sts. Peter & Paul, St. Peter, St. Paul, One Holy Apostle, All the Saints
Masses for the Dead - incl. Funeral Liturgies and Memorial Masses, Funerals for Baptized Children, and Funerals for Children who Died before Baptism
Concluding Notes:
There is normally an intentional thematic connection between the Gospel & the First Reading (usually also the Resp. Psalm & Gospel Accl.); but the Second Reading is usually unrelated, since it follows a separate semi-continuous reading pattern.
If one includes all the Masses for weekdays, rituals, votives, the propers and commons of saints, and special needs and occasions, the Lectionary for Mass now covers much of the NT (about 90% of the Gospels, 55% of the rest: Acts,
Epistles, Revelation), but still very little of the OT (slightly over 13%), but this is understandable, given how much longer the OT is.
Bible - all the sacred scriptures of Christianity, arranged in "canonical" order (OT & NT, from Genesis to Revelation)
Revised Lectionary for Mass (second post-Vatican II editions)