The Catholic Lectionary for Mass
(1981 Latin & 1998 USA Editions)
compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

An Overview of the Use of the Book of REVELATION
on Sundays, Feasts, and Weekdays

SUNDAYS:

The Book of Revelation contains 22 chapters with a total of 404 verses. Of those, no more than 41 verses total are read on Sundays, and only every third year during the Easter Season (Year C) or on the Solemnity of Christ the King (Year B).
Thus, about 90% of the Book of Revelation is never read at Sunday Masses.

Lect. # Sunday / Feast Second Reading Content
161 Christ the King – B  Rev 1:5-18 Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Coming in Glory
260 Chrism Mass (Holy Week) Rev 1:5-18 Jesus Christ, King of Kings, Coming in Glory
45 2nd Sunday of Easter – Year C Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 Vision of the Risen Lord Jesus
48 3rd Sunday of Easter – Year C Rev 5:11-14 Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
51 4th Sunday of Easter – Year C Rev 7:9, 14b-17 Uncountable Crowd of Elect in Triumph
54 5th Sunday of Easter – Year C Rev 21:1-5a New Heaven and New Earth
57 6th Sunday of Easter – Year C Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 Vision of the New Jerusalem
61 *7th Sunday of Easter – Year C Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 Epilogue: Come, Lord Jesus!

*Note: In some parts of the United States (the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston; Hartford; New York; Newark; Philadelphia; Washington, DC; Atlanta; and the state of Nebraska), the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord is still celebrated on the traditional date, the 40th day of the Easter Season, which is Thursday in the 6th week of Easter. Elsewhere in the USA, the Feast of the Ascension is now transferred to the 7th Sunday of Easter, in which case the readings normally prescribed for this Sunday are replaced by the readings prescribed for the Ascension of the Lord.


WEEKDAYS:

At weekday Masses, only between 16 and 28 verses of Revelation are read every year.

Another 99 verses are read during the last two weeks of Ordinary Time, but only every other year (Year II = even-numbered years).

Lect. # Solemnity/Feast or Weekday First Reading: Year II Content
667 Nov. 1: Solemnity: All Saints Rev 7:2-4, 9-14 The 144,000 & Uncountable Multitude of the Elect
622 Aug. 15: Solemnity: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab Vision of the Woman & the Dragon
647

Sept. 29: Feast: Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels

Rev 12:7-12ab (option 2)

Michael & His Angels Battle the Dragon
629

Aug. 24: Feast: St. Bartholomew, Apostle

Rev 21:9b-14

Names of the 12 Apostles on the City’s Foundations
497 Week 33 - Mon Rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5 Introduction; The Letter to Ephesus
498 Week 33 - Tues Rev 3:1-6, 14-22 The Letter to Sardis; The Letter to Laodicea
499 Week 33 - Wed Rev 4:1-11 The First Vision of Worship at God's Throne
500 Week 33 - Thurs Rev 5:1-10 The Second Vision of God's Throne (Scroll & Lamb)
501 Week 33 - Fri Rev 10:8-11 The Seer Eats the Little Scroll
502 Week 33 - Sat Rev 11:4-12 The Two Witnesses, killed and raised
503 Week 34 - Mon Rev 14:1-3, 4b-5 The Lamb and the 144,000 Followers
504 Week 34 - Tues Rev 14:14-19 Reaping the Earth's Harvest
505 Week 34 - Wed Rev 15:1-4 The Elect sing the Song of Moses
506 Week 34 - Thurs Rev 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a The Fall of Babylon; Rejoicing in Heaven
507 Week 34 - Fri Rev 20:1-4, 11—21:2 The Final Judgment; New Heavens & New Earth
508 Week 34 - Sat Rev 22:1-7 New Jerusalem: The River of Life


OPTIONAL READINGS:

Readings from the Book of Revelation are listed among the many selections that may be chosen for several other categories of special/occasional Masses, especially during the Season of Easter.
The current edition of the Lectionary for Mass (2002) also prints readings for most "Memorials" and "Optional Memorials" of the Saints, but these readings are all still optional. Only the four "Solemnities" and "Feasts" listed above have "Proper Readings."
The various categories of Masses are listed in the second column of the following table:

Lect. # Category Description Reading (esp. during Easter)
970.3 Votives The Mystery of the Holy Cross Rev 1:5-8
977.3 Votives The Most Holy Eucharist Rev 1:5-8
990.1 Votives The Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Rev 1:5-8
536 Saints: Memorial Feb. 24: St. Polycarp, bishop & martyr Rev 2:8-11
565 Saints: Opt. Mem. May 18: St. John I, pope & martyr Rev 3:14b, 20-22
738.2 Commons Common of Holy Men and Women Rev 3:14b, 20-22
797.3 Rituals Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 2. Viaticum Rev 3:14b, 20-22
812.15 Rituals For the Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession Rev 3:14b, 20-22
853.6 Various I.7: For Religious Rev 3:14b, 20-22
996.1 Votives The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Rev 3:14b, 20-22
970.4 Votives The Mystery of the Holy Cross Rev 5:6-12
996.2 Votives The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Rev 5:6-12
828.7 Various I.1: For the Church Rev 7:2-4, 9-14
878.7 Various I.12: For Persecuted Christians Rev 7:9-10, 14b-17
1018.1 Dead Funerals for Baptized Children Rev 7:9-10, 15-17
977.4 Votives The Most Holy Eucharist Rev 7:9-14
990.2 Votives The Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ Rev 7:9-14
562 Saints: Opt. Mem. May 12: Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs Rev 7:9-17
714.2 Commons Common of Martyrs Rev 7:9-17
818.2 Rituals For the Dedication of an Altar Rev 8:3-4
708.2 Commons Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab
550 Saints: Memorial April 11: St. Stanislaus, bishop & martyr Rev 12:10-12a
714.3 Commons Common of Martyrs Rev 12:10-12a
1012.2 Dead Masses for the Dead Rev 14:13
563 Saints: Opt. Mem. May 12: St. Pancras, martyr Rev 19:1, 5-9a
732.1 Commons Common of Virgins Rev 19:1, 5-9a
738.3 Commons Common of Holy Men and Women Rev 19:1, 5-9a
752.13 Rituals Christian Initiation of Adults Apart from the Easter Vigil Rev 19:1, 5-9a
802.13 Rituals For the Conferral of the Sacrament of Marriage Rev 19:1, 5-9a
1012.3 Dead Masses for the Dead Rev 20:11—21:1
792.16 Rituals Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 1. Anointing of the Sick Rev 21:1-7
939.4 Various III.25: In Time of Earthquake, or For Rain, or For Good Weather,
or To Avert Storms, or For Any Need
Rev 21:1-5a, 6b-7
1012.4 Dead Masses for the Dead Rev 21:1-5a, 6b-7
613 Saints: Opt. Mem. Aug. 5: Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome Rev 21:1-5a
702.2 Commons Common of the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church Rev 21:1-5a
708.3 Commons Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary Rev 21:1-5a
732.2 Commons Common of Virgins Rev 21:1-5a
828.8 Various I.1: For the Church Rev 21:1-5a
1018.2 Dead Funerals for Baptized Children Rev 21:1a, 3-5a
553 Saints: Memorial April 23: St. George, martyr Rev 21:5-7
714.4 Commons Common of Martyrs Rev 21:5-7
738.4 Commons Common of Holy Men and Women Rev 21:5-7
702.3 Commons Common of the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church Rev 21:9b-14
828.9 Various I.1: For the Church Rev 21:9b-14
812.16 Rituals For the Consecration of Virgins and Religious Profession Rev 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
792.17 Rituals Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 1. Anointing of the Sick Rev 22:17, 20-21
797.4 Rituals Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Dying: 2. Viaticum Rev 22:17, 20-21

Note: Despite its length, this table includes only a few additional verses from the Book of Revelation that are not already used on Sundays and Weekdays (the first two tables above).
There are only 15 additional verses (Rev 2:8-11; 8:3-4; 14:13; 19:5-8; 21:5b-7, 9b; and 22:21), and some of these are very rarely chosen or needed (e.g., "Dedication of an Altar").


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