The Catholic Lectionary for Mass (1998 USA Edition)
tables compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Readings for the Easter Triduum and the Season of Easter

(Year A: 2020, 2023, 2026, 2029; Year B: 2021, 2024, 2027, 2030; Year C: 2022, 2025, 2028, 2031; etc.)

Date # Sunday or Feast First Reading Responsorial Psalm Second Reading Alleluia Gospel
4/6/23
3/28/24
4/17/25
39 Holy Thursday: Evening Mass
of the Lord's Supper – Years ABC
Exod 12:1-8, 11-14 Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18 1 Cor 11:23-26 John 13:34 John 13:1-15
4/7/23
3/29/24
4/18/25
40 Good Friday
of the Lord's Passion – ABC
Isa 52:13—53:12 Ps 31:2+6, 12-13, 15-16, 17+25 Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Phil 2:8-9 John 18:1—19:42
4/8/23
3/30/24
4/19/25
41 Easter Sunday:
Resurrection of the Lord;
Easter Vigil in the Holy NightABC
Use at least three, or up to
seven readings from the OT,
but always include #3:


1) Gen 1:1—2:2 or 1, 26-31a
2) Gen 22:1-18 or 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
3) Exod 14:15—15:1
4) Isa 54:5-14
5) Isa 55:1-11
6) Bar 3:9-15, 32-4:4
7) Ezek 36:16-17a, 18-28 (diff)
Responses after each OT Reading:

1) Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10+12, 13-14, 24+35
   or
Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20-22
2) Ps 16:5+8, 9-10, 11
3) Exod 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18
4) Ps 30:2+4, 5-6, 11-12a+13b
5) Isa 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
6) Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
7) Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4
   or Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
NT Reading:
Rom 6:3-11

Response after the Epistle:
Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
[refrain: triple "Alleluia"]

[no extra
verse before
the Gospel
,
since the
Responsorial
has a triple
"Alleluia"]
Gospels for Years A, B, C:

A) Matt 28:1-10

B) Mark 16:1-7 (diff)

C) Luke 24:1-12
4/9/23
3/31/24
4/20/25
42 Easter Sunday:
Resurrection of the Lord;
Mass of Easter Day ABC
Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Col 3:1-4
or 1 Cor 5:6b-8
SEQUENCE:
Victimae
paschali
laudes

 
Alleluia:
cf. 1 Cor 5:7b-8a
John 20:1-9
or Luke 24:13-35
(for afternoon Masses)
.
4/16/23 43 2nd Sunday of Easter – A
(Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Acts 2:42-47 Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 1 Pet 1:3-9 John 20:29 John 20:19-31
4/23/23 46 3rd Sunday of Easter – A Acts 2:14, 22-33 (diff) Ps 16:1-2a+5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 1 Pet 1:17-21 cf. Luke 24:32 Luke 24:13-35
4/30/23 49 4th Sunday of Easter – A Acts 2:14a, 36-41 Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 1 Pet 2:20b-25 John 10:14 John 10:1-10
5/7/23 52 5th Sunday of Easter – A Acts 6:1-7 Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 1 Pet 2:4-9 John 14:6 John 14:1-12
5/14/23 55 6th Sunday of Easter – A Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16+20 1 Pet 3:15-18 John 14:23 John 14:15-21
5/18/23
or 5/21/23
58 Ascension of the Lord – A (note) Acts 1:1-11 Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Eph 1:17-23 Matt 28:19a+20b Matt 28:16-20
5/21/23 59 7th Sunday of Easter – A (note) Acts 1:12-14 Ps 27:1, 4, 7-8 1 Pet 4:13-16 cf. John 14:18 John 17:1-11a
.
4/7/24 44 2nd Sunday of Easter – B Acts 4:32-35 Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 1 John 5:1-6 John 20:29 John 20:19-31
4/14/24 47 3rd Sunday of Easter – B Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 1 John 2:1-5a cf. Luke 24:32 Luke 24:35-48
4/21/24 50 4th Sunday of Easter – B Acts 4:8-12 Ps 118:1+8-9, 21-23, 26+21+29 1 John 3:1-2 John 10:14 John 10:11-18
4/28/24 53 5th Sunday of Easter – B Acts 9:26-31 Ps 22:26-27, 28+30, 31-32 1 John 3:18-24 John 15:4a+5b John 15:1-8
5/5/24 56 6th Sunday of Easter – B Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 (diff) Ps 98:1, 2-3a, 3b-4 1 John 4:7-10 John 14:23 John 15:9-17
5/9/24
or 5/12/24
58 Ascension of the Lord – B (new) Acts 1:1-11 Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 opt: Eph 4:1-13
or 4:1-7, 11-13 (new)
Matt 28:19a+20b Mark 16:15-20
5/12/24 60 7th Sunday of Easter – B (note) Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26 Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 1 John 4:11-16 cf. John 14:18 John 17:11b-19
.
4/27/25 45 2nd Sunday of Easter – C Acts 5:12-16 Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 John 20:29 John 20:19-31
5/4/25 48 3rd Sunday of Easter – C Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41 Ps 30:2+4, 5-6, 11-12a+13b Rev 5:11-14 (no bibl. ref.) John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14
5/11/25 51 4th Sunday of Easter – C Acts 13:14, 43-52 Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5 Rev 7:9, 14b-17 John 10:14 John 10:27-30
5/18/25 54 5th Sunday of Easter – C Acts 14:21-27 Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13 Rev 21:1-5a John 13:34 John 13:31-33a, 34-35
5/25/25 57 6th Sunday of Easter – C Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6+8 Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 John 14:23 John 14:23-29
5/29/25
or 6/1/25
58 Ascension of the Lord – C (new) Acts 1:1-11 Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 opt: Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23 (new) Matt 28:19a+20b Luke 24:46-53
6/1/25 61 7th Sunday of Easter – C (note) Acts 7:55-60 Ps 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 cf. John 14:18 John 17:20-26
.
5/27/23
5/18/24
6/7/25
62 Pentecost Sunday:
At the Vigil Mass – ABC
Gen 11:1-9
or Exod 19:3-8a, 16-20b
or Ezek 37:1-14
or Joel 3:1-5
Ps 104:1-2, 24+35, 27-28, 29b-30 Rom 8:22-27 (no bibl. ref.) John 7:37-39
5/27/23
5/18/24
6/7/25
62 Pentecost Sunday: ABC
At the Vigil Mass – Extended Form*
1) Gen 11:1-9
2) Exod 19:3-8a, 16-20b
.
3) Ezek 37:1-14
4) Joel 3:1-5
1) Ps 33:10-11, 12-13, 14-15
2) Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
or Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11
3) Ps 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
4) Ps 104:1-2, 24+35, 27-28, 29b-30
Rom 8:22-27 (no bibl. ref.) John 7:37-39
5/28/23 63 Pentecost Sunday:
Mass during the Day – A
Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104:1+24, 29-30, 31+34 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 SEQUENCE:
Veni,
Sancte Spiritus

 
Alleluia:
(no bibl. ref.)
John 20:19-23
5/19/24 63 Pentecost Sunday – B (new) Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104:1+24, 29-30, 31+34 opt: Gal 5:16-25 (new) (no bibl. ref.) opt: John 15:26-27; 16:12-15 (new)
6/8/25 63 Pentecost Sunday – C (new) Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104:1+24, 29-30, 31+34 opt: Rom 8:8-17 (new) (no bibl. ref.) opt: John 14:15-16, 23b-26 (new)
Date # Sunday or Feast First Reading Responsorial Psalm Second Reading Alleluia Gospel

NOTES:

Notes in the Lectionary:


Octave of Easter:

Date # Day First Reading Responsorial Psalm Alleluia Gospel (resurrection appearance stories)
4/1/24 261 Octave of Easter – Monday Acts 2:14, 22-32 Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 Ps 118:24 Matt 28:8-15 (Jesus appears to the women returning from the tomb)
4/2/24 262 Octave of Easter – Tuesday Acts 2:36-41 Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22 Ps 118:24 John 20:11-18 (Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene)
4/3/24 263 Octave of Easter – Wednesday Acts 3:1-10 Ps 105:1-4, 6-9 Ps 118:24 Luke 24:13-35 (Jesus appears to two disciples going to Emmaus)
4/4/24 264 Octave of Easter – Thursday Acts 3:11-26 Ps 8:2, 5-9 Ps 118:24 Luke 24:35-48 (They return to Jerusalem, where Jesus appears again)
4/5/24 265 Octave of Easter – Friday Acts 4:1-12 Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27 Ps 118:24 John 21:1-14 (Jesus appears to the disciples at Lake Tiberius)
4/6/24 266 Octave of Easter – Saturday Acts 4:13-21 Ps 118:1, 14-21 Ps 118:24 Mark 16:9-15 (summary of various appearance stories)
[The numbers in the second column are the official section numbers from the Ordo Lectionum Missae, second typical edition, 1981.]

Continue to the Weekdays of the Easter Season


Rationale:

The official "Introduction" to the Lectionary (Second Edition, 1981) briefly explains the rationale for the reading choices for the Sacred Triduum and the Easter Season:

The Sacred Easter Triduum:
On Holy Thursday at the evening Mass the remembrance of the meal preceding the Exodus casts its own special light because of the Christ's example in washing the feet of his disciples and Paul's account of the institution of the Christian Passover in the Eucharist.
On Good Friday the liturgical service has as its center John's narrative of the Passion of him who was proclaimed in Isaiah as the Servant of the Lord and who became the one High Priest by offering himself to the Father.
At the Vigil on the holy night of Easter there are seven Old Testament readings which recall the wonderful works of God in the history of salvation. There are two New Testament readings, the announcement of the Resurrection according to one of the Synoptic Gospels and a reading from St. Paul on Christian baptism as the sacrament of Christ's Resurrection.
The Gospel reading for the Mass on Easter day is from John on the finding of the empty tomb. There is also, however, the option to use the Gospel texts from the Easter Vigil or, when there is an evening Mass on Easter Sunday, to use the account in Luke of the Lord's appearance to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles, which throughout the Easter season replaces the Old Testament reading. The reading from the Apostle Paul concerns the living out of the paschal mystery in the Church.
(Lectionary for Mass, "Introduction," chap. 5, par. 99. – emphasis added)

The Sundays:
The Gospel readings for the first three Sundays recount the appearances of the risen Christ. The readings about the Good Shepherd are assigned to the Fourth Sunday. On the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Sundays, there are excerpts from the Lord's discourse and prayer at the end of the Last Supper.
The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles, in a three-year cycle of parallel and progressive selections: material is presented on the life of the early Church, its witness, and its growth.
For the reading from the Apostles, the First Letter of Peter is in Year A, the First Letter of John in Year B, the Book of Revelation in Year C. These are the texts that seem to fit in especially well with the spirit of joyous faith and sure hope proper to this season.
(Lectionary for Mass, "Introduction," chap. 5, par. 100. – emphasis added)

The Weekdays:
As on the Sundays, the first reading is a semicontinuous reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The Gospel readings during the Easter octave are accounts of the Lord's appearances. After that there is a semicontinuous reading of the Gospel of John, but with texts that have a paschal character, in order to complete the reading from John during Lent. This paschal reading is made up in large part of the Lord's discourse and prayer at the end of the Last Supper.
(Lectionary for Mass, "Introduction," chap. 5, par. 101.)

The Solemnities of the Ascension and of Pentecost:
For the first reading the Solemnity of the Ascension retains the account of the Ascension according to the Acts of the Apostles. This text is complemented by the second reading from the Apostle on Christ in exaltation at the right hand of the Father. For the Gospel reading, each of the three Years has its own text in accord with the differences in the Synoptic Gospels.
In the evening Mass celebrated on the Vigil of Pentecost four Old Testament texts are provided; any one of them may be used, in order to bring out the many aspects of Pentecost. The reading from the Apostles shows the actual working of the Holy Spirit in the Church. The Gospel reading recalls the promise of the Spirit made by Christ before his own glorification.
For the Mass on Pentecost day itself, in accord with received usage, the account in the Acts of the Apostles of the great occurrence on Pentecost day is taken as the first reading. The texts from the Apostle Paul bring out the effect of the action of the Spirit in the life of the Church. The Gospel reading is a remembrance of Jesus bestowing his Spirit on the disciples on the evening of Easter day; other optional texts describe the action of the Spirit on the disciples and on the Church.
(Lectionary for Mass, "Introduction," chap. 5, par. 102. – emphasis added)


Related Resources:


1998 USA Lectionary (Main Page)

Season of Advent Season of Christmas Season of Lent Season of Easter
Solemnities of the Lord Ordinary Time - Year A Ordinary Time - Year B Ordinary Time - Year C

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